The rain keeps falling. The drive here to the river was a bumpy one, dodging rocks that had fallen from cliffs up high… but we got here! A swollen river beckons even though I can’t see it, I know it is there, flowing a strong current… We are at Ruaka marae beside the Wanganui river [...]
Rain dribbles down a thick glass window – well worn it has had many eyes look out to contemplate with nature – like thin shreds of lace hanging down, some slow some fast, rain crystals, each one unique, shining reflections upon reflections, alive… We are in Ohakune at the moment – and this is my [...]
I know she will probably freak that I have called a rock after her – but Marama Davidson – rā whānau ki a koe e hoa!! I have no regrets hehe! And it actually illustrates very clearly what I want to talk about today. So thanks Ma for a beautiful name and the inspiration! We [...]
A reflective time of year marks the beginning of a new… change, connection, relationships, healing – all have been strong themes this year, woven into life’s intricate web… I love the spider web – resilient and beautiful, it is one of nature’s many wonders that always amazes me. How could this be possible? What is [...]
So we’re back in Rotorua with whānau and we’ve just come from Te Puke after spending the last few days with whānau and what a wonderful time it has been! I’ve said this before recently – there is something about this time, something in the air, so much aroha in the air, everywhere there is [...]
What a wonderful day today! Chilled out, relaxing and just cruising with good kai (all day!), great company and a great place in the country to be winding down at the end of the year. I’ve so enjoyed this – with minimal connection to the internet and no one really sending me emails wanting anything [...]
I decided that I would write the story for this rock with my three nieces. And these are the thoughts that came to mind from all of us. It has been a great day – all the family getting together for a yummy hangi! We haven’t seen each other for ages and all the mokos [...]
I was putting healing cream on my niece’s excema this morning and she just sat there, fluttered her butterfly eyelashes and was enjoying the touch and attention to her skin. Today I picked up my Mum from the resthome and she loved to have kisses on her face, me touching her soft skin with my [...]
Out of space into the daylight a brand new day, fresh, alive… brightness… I come alive again… Yay! So I’m here with whānau and looking forward to the next few days ahead. It was so lovely to come to Rotorua and to the sun! I love the rain and the coolness but my body was [...]
Every little bit counts. Going back over the year, I am reminded of all the wonderful things that have happened! We remember the big bits because they stand out but there are those little bits that are just as important. In fact they are often the most challenging because the results are not so obvious, [...]
This time of year has in the past been a time of mixed feelings. Xmas – overindulgence, consumerism over-the-top, extravagance, stress and expectation. I was down town the other day and I saw this family buying their Christmas presents and my first thought was, can they afford to buy presents or is there an expectation [...]
It’s that time of year again – the silly season has arrived! But this year is different. Can you feel it? There is definitely something in the air… The past few days have been quite different. My body is telling me it wants to feel warm, but outside it is cold and rain. We’ve had [...]
Back in the early 90s I read a book called “Crystal Mission”. Today, many years on, I started reading this same book but an updated version. And I’m like WOW – I was actually reading this at 20 years old! It’s an interesting book about a man’s journey, synchronicity, the power of crystals, the energy [...]
Man oh man – I’ve been going back through the year, reminiscing with rocks and words from all of us and I’m like WOW – there is so much awesomeness! Real gems! Such insight and colourful kōrero and I’m just buzzing at all the kohatu I’ve painted and the imagery that has been captured of [...]
Thoughts today of swimming through murky waters, polluted, searching for spirit… A feeling of clearing out, the physical experience we have on earth – putting that aside for a moment and just searching, searching… And then there within the darkest part of water, a light… Spirit knows, and life does not always go according to [...]
Well the house was a flurry of visitors today! From 10am onwards, we had nine people visiting throughout the day – so it was pretty full on and before you know it – it’s dinner time and the day is coming to a close! But it was a fantastic day – wonderful kōrero about all [...]
I was sitting in a cafe today reading a wonderful book about indigo children – a book that made me smile from ear to ear. What amazing and insightful words had come out of children’s mouths, I was totally inspired. So as much as I don’t like to quote from books, I want to share [...]
You know when you’ve forgiven someone. You totally and completely accept them for who they are. TOTAL ACCEPTANCE = FORGIVENESS = HEALING Today has been a wonderful time of healing and forgiveness. Often fear and pain block our pathways to healing, we fear something happening again and don’t want to have the same experiences over [...]
Often we question life – why me? Why now? But if we lived “in” the questions and really tried to understand life from an experiential level and continued to ask the questions with a sense of curiosity and wonder, perhaps we will one day find our way into the answers… Arohanui, Jo x
It has been one of the most important things in my life up until this moment – to know myself and who I am. Why am I here? Where have I come from and where am I to go? And who am I in this moment? My life’s many journeys and experiences all contributing to [...]
Layer upon layer upon layer in between gaps and shapes and on top of layers – the paint went on to this rock. Even though the layers were going on, there was a feeling of taking layers off. Each strand, each line linking with the next to create a never ending flow of energy. The [...]
There’s this lady that bikes past our house. She looks middle age from what I can see in the few seconds I see her as she zooms past! And she carries a big basket on the front, you know like those ones that can hold flowers or vegetables. She is dressed nicely like she’s ready [...]
It’s lovely waking up in the morning at 5am to chirping birds outside the window. And there have been a couple of new sounds I’ve been hearing lately – so beautiful! Sometimes there are birds that we ignore or don’t think are special because we don’t have stories or connection to them, but you know [...]
We were out again today capturing kōrero from a koroua about a traditional form of fishing. I’m constantly in awe with the way our tūpuna (ancestors) lived – they were very on to it! Anyway, we came home with three kahawai today and when we were given them we were like WOW – thank-you SO [...]
Dear Mum, It was lovely talking to you today. You always remind me of what’s real, love, unconditional love and what I should be grateful for. I reminded you today of who I am, as I do each day I talk to you. And we reminisced about the old days when you would come and [...]
No matter how hard you try to go against the flow of life, the wind will always turn you to the experiences that will carry you forward to do the work you were meant to do. Life is not always what we want it to be, and we do not always get want we want [...]
I was out at Wainui today for a hui and man it was so nice to be by the sea again… The sound of waves roaring in, the wind blowing a warm blow and feeling the sand beneath my feet and in between my toes, grounded…ahhhh… Where have I been all spring? Geez, need to [...]
This rock is an extension of yesterday’s rock but instead of being focused on the outside, this rock is about looking in. Today another part of myself was revealed to me. I experienced again a releasing of the past and oh boy what a wonderful release and realisation it was. Many of us wonder through [...]
I had a deep yearning today to be in other lands, it was only for a few moments but the yearning was SO strong. I thought about my time in Turkey and in that moment wanted to be there with the people and the land. And I thought about other places I had visited and [...]
A gift to another – it does not take a lifetime for a gift given to have an affect on another. Sometimes it can happen in an instant where something given or shared can transform someone’s life forever. It may be a hug, a smile, a surprise visit, an unexpected gift, loving thoughts sent to [...]
Teia comes home from school yesterday and I was playing the beautiful sounds of Majic and her brother Robbie. She goes, “that’s that girl aye?” And I said, “yeah what’s her name?” And she says, “Majic! Aaaaaahhh!” – and a BIG smile on her face. Then she says, “she’s rich aye?” Me – “huh? – [...]