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 colours simple and plain but each contains all the colours of light, shining through each layer to reveal the next. I started with a face [...]

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 to go for a picnic in the park AND she has NO helmet! And she ZOOMS past! Now one would think, ahh hullo where is [...]

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 those brown birds (I don’t know their name) there’s heaps that hang around in our garden. They have a long call and they are actually [...]

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 much and YUM! It’s not everyday you get kahawai given to you. But part of the kōrero that came out was about community living and [...]

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 support me at netball, every Saturday you were there. You always supported me at all my school and sporting endeavours. You were my rock – [...]

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 but know that you will always have what you need in any moment and life will never give you an experience you cannot manage. So [...]

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 get out and over to the beach more and now that summer has arrived there is even more reason to! So a wai reflection today. [...]

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 life carrying our bag of compulsions on our back. We may drop off some along the way, but if the very thing that brought about [...]

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 felt this deep longing too… And a yearning for lands I have not yet been but feel a strong pull to go to – other [...]

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 another, inspiration, words of encouragement, or no words at all… When I started painting a rock a day on January 1st 2011, I did not [...]

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? – Just because someone is an awesome singer and has their music on a CD, it doesn’t mean they’re rich.” She accepted that and then said, [...]

I’ve been in a state of excitement and tiredness today. Tired probably because I am full of chocolate haha but excited because I am inspired and uplifted and hopeful for the future. Some days are just like nah – so many things happen where you just want to go and have a moe and not do anything, things seem like they’re not going your way and other days are like full of life and energy and always so positive. No [...]

Tō mātou waimarie kua tae mai ngā reo waiata ataahua kei waenga i a mātou. Kāore he kupu. There are no words for the beautiful waiata that are gracing our space at the moment. I don’t know how many times I have said this year I am in awe, but this time I really am in awe! Kei te paopao te whatumanawa i te ataahua ō ngā waiata. Kei te rongo hoki i te wairua o ngā mātua tūpuna i [...]

You know, some people may be disappointed about a National led govt, I certainly was in the first instance but all that aside, we have some pretty talented, charismatic, intelligent Māori in the house! And I think we need to celebrate that. It’s unfortunate that we’re spread across different parties but this is how we as Māori have existed for years. We are tribal, we have our own kawa, our own tikanga and ways of doing things. And that’s ok. [...]

At the end of the day – we are all human. We feel, we laugh we cry. We all have hearts. So why do some think that their lives are more important than others? Why are we so self-indulged? It’s all about us. It’s all about me me me. There is nothing that distinguishes you from me. We might look different, we may speak different languages but underneath these many layers, we all have the ability to feel. What makes [...]

Well I’ve just returned home from a 60th birthday and I’ve been having a nohi at the election results. My goodness, why am I not surprised? National are back in the house but I’m happy for one thing and that is my party vote for GREEN counted tonight. No longer can we rely on our govt for our health and wellbeing. No longer can we rely on our govt to deliver the things they say they will deliver. No longer [...]

What matters today, right here, right now? So many things swishing around in this brain of mine – a realisation that this year is nearly over and in 36 more days it will be 2012! My goodness – time is so precious, every day we must embrace, each day has meaning, every minute important and sometimes hard in amongst the storms that blow through now and then. Today’s rock is from the Mohaka river – a beautiful white-ish stone, slightly [...]

I remember the feeling of selling my first piece of art work, there was nothing quite like that feeling! I can’t remember the exact amount I sold the artwork for, it didn’t matter, but that feeling of satisfaction – wow, unbelievable, awesome, yay me! How does success feel? I remember playing a national touch final – the hooter goes to signal the end of the game and you’ve won and you know you’ve won a gold medal – but it’s [...]

I love it when I talk to our old people – they are just a big kete of knowledge. We visited a lovely koroua today to capture some wonderful kōrero about a traditional Māori way of fishing. It was so beautiful to watch. These gifts handed down from our ancestors – these are real taonga – special treasures that need to be shared so that they can live on into the future. But I can understand the concern of our [...]

When you let go of expectation, it’s amazing at how things turn out. I always feel so enlightened after I’ve painted a rock and have totally let go to the process. There is something about letting go that is so fulfilling and so hard at the same time! Most times I think I know what I’m going to paint, why I’m painting it and the story that will go with it but when brush is down and I’m writing my [...]

You will know the truth and the truth shall set you free – I was reminded of these words yesterday, words I had learnt many years ago. I am not religious, but these words of Jesus really touch me deeply. And as a child I actually had a good relationship with Jesus, I thought he was kinda cool – but not in a religious way. I am not against religion, people can believe in whatever they want to and I [...]

Memories of a Crescent Moon… Sitting high in the sky on a crescent moon is like lying in a hammock, swinging your legs over the side watching the day float by… A crescent moon reminds me of a cup runneth over, full to the brim of goodness… A crescent moon balancing on another crescent moon on another crescent moon… Like seeds in a pod waiting to hatch to come out into the world, waiting for the full moon… Ahhhh… there [...]

Green green green! It’s been on my mind all day today! I love green – it is one of my favourite colours. I haven’t actually used green for a long time on my rocks because I haven’t had green paint so I just had to mix some green paint today to curb my desire for green! Green is a healing colour for me. It’s fresh and calming and there is something about it that makes me come alive. I remembered [...]

We were just talking tonight about learning in mainstream school and ahakoa te aha – even though there were so many things not good about mainstream school for us as Māori – I learnt to read, write and spell in english – in spite of everything. I read today that Te Reo o Taranaki won an award at the Te Reo Māori awards which are happening now – YAY!!… in spite of everything that our whānau have suffered we have [...]

You know, I really love weeds and just today we pulled all of our weeds out of the garden but not until the weeds had established themselves overtime and grown into big wild bushes! Weeds grow like forests do I reckon – that’s my observation anyway. First these plants grow and then those plants grow until you’ve got a forest of weeds! Have you taken note when weeds do grow how many special and varied weeds there are? There are [...]

I painted this rock today directly in front of my eyes – I held it up in front of my eyes and I painted it there. I wouldn’t normally do this of course but I had just been to the Osteopath and I was consciously holding my spine in place lol! Let me just explain that again so it’s clearer. Normally I would place the rock in my hand, on the floor or on the table and I would look [...]

Well – one of my lovely friends Jack Gray suggested yesterday that maybe one day, you all should write the kōrero for the rock of the day. And I thought that was a brilliant idea and so did a few others, so I said why not tomorrow which is now today – so here it is!! I look forward to hearing all your wonderful kōrero for today’s kohatu – and thank-you to you all who have shared so much already. [...]

Well today I thought I could just come to my blog and start writing my kōrero for the day but oh no – hullo – 8.30pm, no kōrero, 9.30pm, no kōrero and then 10pm is looming and here I am. So I thought bugger it, I will tell you about my lack of inspiration right now and my taking it all for granted that I could just come here to my computer and all the words would just come spilling [...]

Looking back over the past 316 days I’ve come full circle and gone back to painting koru and circles again. It feels kinda nice actually, back to balance, restoring the passion and motivation that kick started me in the first place. When I stop for reflection times like this – each rock a reflection of me, the day’s offerings, emotions, my kōrero and other’s kōrero too…triggers that remind us of something, reminisce, be inspired… It really does feel like I’ve [...]

It’s been one of those days full of stuff! I don’t know what to call it – a mixed lolly bag, four seasons in one day, ups and downs, a roller coaster ride – haaaaa – āpōpō will be different I’m sure – ceremony, quiet, taking stock, redefining, planning, change, change, change… It’s one of those troughs where you come to realisations about many things, that life does not wait and you have to take the bull by the horns [...]

I ngā rangi tata nei, kua rere atu tōku wairua ki tōku kainga i Parihaka. Me pēhea te timata i te kōrero nei? I’ve just been tuning in back home to Parihaka – Toroānui marae where whānau have gathered for the beginning of Taranaki Tū Mai. I’ve been listening via Te Korimako o Taranaki and have been blown away by the kōrero of our whanaunga Ruakere. It’s interesting because this kōrero, these waiata are not new to me but there [...]

Whenever he sung, he sung from his heart. Michael Jackson for me is THE most amazing artist and musician that has ever lived. No-one in my life time has ever come close to him. And I want to honour him today because as I watch the story of his life unfold, I realise he was an amazing human being who inspired many, right from a child to the day he died. He was one of the most sensitive, cleverest and [...]

It’s important to tell our stories. Looking back over the past 300+ days I can see the importance of story as a way of connecting with one another, to be inspired or moved in some way and to add to the conversation and share our own stories. It’s the sharing of our stories that helps us make sense of the world. The stories we tell and share that have been fashioned from our own lives, that are then told, passed [...]

I haven’t painted a small rock like this for a while but out of all the rocks that I have painted this year, these tiny ones although small, are the most special to me. One of our friends called in tonight, just to have a kōrero and say hi. It’s those thoughts and small gestures of caring and aroha that can make all the difference in our lives. Making time to stop in and spend time with friends or whānau [...]

So many things floating around in my mind… actually, whizzing around in my mind right now! Emotions – sad, angry, helpless, confusion, tears, tiredness, grateful, moved, overwhelmed… Appreciation for life, for those I have in my life. Remind me to never put off spending time, to show someone you love them… never leave a visit or kōrero to a loved one, until next time… because next time may never come. It has been a tough few days for many and [...]

Flying on a plane in the realms of Ranginui today, the bumps and noise and then moments of smooth – I’ve learnt to ride with it although not pleasant at times, but it does not last forever. The Power of Now – this moment is all there is. If I try and will the bumps and turbulence away, it makes it even worse and it feels like forever before it stops and then the smooth times, enjoying those moments wishing [...]

I’ve always loved the stars. As a kid we lived in a village away from bright lights and tall buildings (not that the buildings in Rotorua were tall lol) so the stars we could see from our house were amazing. A blanket of magic… I had a wonderful day today (ahakoa te wā pouri) with a group of people from such diverse backgrounds – geologists, biologists, physicists, artists, philosophers, ecologists… who all shared their perspective on the evolution of the [...]

The first word that came to mind when I was painting this kohatu was mangopare – the hammerhead shark. A symbol of strength and tenacity. Just as I had finished putting the final touches to this kohatu, I received a phone call from Todd with some sad news. I have no words at this time other than I am grateful, I am grateful to have life, to have my loved ones in my life and if you have not told [...]

I hold the earth in the palm of my hand. I am 100% responsible for my actions. I take responsibility for myself, to treat myself with respect and love. I take responsibility to care for the earth. I have the ability to bring about change. Change begins with me – right now. Arohanui, Jo x

Don’t you just love a bloody good laugh! You know that deep belly laugh that hurts your puku and you just can’t stop laughing for ages! Now I’m not going to tell you what we were laughing about tonight (it’s a surprise and you’ll hear about it in a book later!) but oh my goodness – funny – the very thought of it had us in fits of laughter! Laughing is SO SO GOOD – it exercises “funny” muscles in [...]

We’ve had heaps of birds around lately including the tui who are out in full force – I was delighted the other day to see a tui land on our harakeke plant to eat the kōrari (flax flowers) and that was after it had a feed on the neighbours kōwhai tree – my goodness! There are many birds that are kaitiaki for me – the kahu (hawk) is one, the tīrairaka (fantail) and the kererū (pigeon) or kūkupa. There are [...]

I started painting this rock today and then I said to myself, stuff it, I’m going to paint this rock with my right hand! And so I carried on, painfully at times lol painting this rock with my right hand. I’m left-handed, but there are sports that I can play right-handed such as golf. And I also use scissors with my right hand but the funny thing is, I can only use scissors with my right hand, not my left-hand [...]

When I think of red and yellow I remember my assignments I used to do in primary school. Yellow borders of koru and wriggly squiggles surrounding words telling stories that I can’t remember. But I remember the colour and the patterns. When I think of red and yellow I remember the waiata (song) – red and yellow and pink and green, purple and orange and blue… I can sing a rainbow, sing a rainbow, sing a rainbow too…listen with your [...]

I am always in awe of nature – the rhythms, shapes, colours, sounds, movements… When you see something in nature that resonates with your soul, that really touches you…how does that make you feel? Like standing at the foot of a majestic mountain, or a raging river, or looking into a flower. Connection… Today’s kohatu is inspired by the kōrari – the beautiful flower that sprouts from our native harakeke (flax). Eight of our nine harakeke plants that we’ve been [...]

Green is one of my favourite colours (with purple) and I don’t know if anyone noticed, but I haven’t used green for a long long time! And the only reason I have green today is that this is a recycled rock from the rock pile that already had green paint on it! I don’t actually have any green paint in my paint collection right now, perhaps it’s been for a reason but it just hasn’t been there to choose from [...]

I visited the Osteopath today – don’t you just love the French, they’re so passionate and expressive when they speak – well this one is anyway! Anyway, while he was fixing me up and talking a lot lol, we got onto history and where we come from and I realised that some people just don’t get it and in order to understand, fully understand someone else’s perspective, you really have to put yourself in their feet. And even then, that [...]

I’ve been fully aware that ever since I returned from overseas, the rocks I have painted have definitely taken a turn. No longer do they always begin with the koru, they are now starting from anywhere. A part of that for me was about stepping out into the unknown, letting go of what I thought was the only thing I’ve known and allowing something different to come through. It was about trusting, taking a risk and as I near the [...]

Listening to my ocean music today, I painted this rock. Hearing the waves, the flow of water and dolphins playing and singing beneath the sea… There is something about dolphins that move me – perhaps their friendly loving nature, I feel like I’ve known them many times before… And they are becoming more frequent in my thoughts especially since I dreamt of a dolphin migration a few rocks back… Yesterday, I had a sudden overwhelming desire to be home – [...]

So we’ve won the Rugby World Cup which is fantastic – you can feel the energy around the country at the moment. There were thoughts today about how the country would be if we had lost – I’m pretty sure the energy would have been a lot different! But celebrations aside, we have a real game on our hands not just here in Aotearoa, but around the world. Our environment needs us and our environment needs us now. And right [...]

So this is the day! We’ve just finished pizza and are now getting ready for the game of the year – the All Blacks vs France!! It’s going to be an exciting game I know that much!! So why rugby for me? Why am I so interested in this game, why am I interested in rugby in general, why is the country rugby mad? Why rugby for me? Because it is in my blood. Rugby has been a part of [...]

I’ve painted two stones today – one for my darling niece Rawinia who turned 10 today (left rock) and one for my dear friend Di. Ngā mihi aroha ki a kōrua i tēnei rangi whakahirahira! So I have two stories that merge into one because when I painted these I painted both at the same time so both stories are contained in each of the stones… For Rawinia: I remember when you came into this world, you waited for everyone [...]

We went to the beach today – it was a beautiful day and there were so many bits of driftwood laying about all over the place! I was in heaven, waves lapping into shore, a chillybin full of food (well not exactly – but there were two blocks of dark chocolate!), a good book to read and a beach full of driftwood! I sat in one place for a while, grabbed a stick and started to play on the many [...]

I felt like I was in a scene from Finding Nemo when I was painting this lol Like a whole lot of seaweed or hair or grass growing from the earth but under the sea… And then the bit at the bottom, like little seeds ready to sprout to push up through the surface, getting ready to rise and bear fruit. Yellow is everywhere right now – bright and sunny! On the kitchen bench at one time there was pineapple, [...]

People are brought into your life for a reason – you may know them for many years or you may meet for a few moments in conversation, in the street, but every person has an important message. As a teenager, I rarely paid attention. I was too busy living my life to even see opportunities for learning but not long after when I did start to pay attention, I realised that every person I met had a story and somewhere [...]

Teia says to me, that’s not a lot of paint on there and Todd says, wow that’s different lol Even the people I live with have expectation of what my rocks should or could look like and so when something looks a lot different to what I usually paint… it stands out. And yet I feel very comfortable painting this. This rock feels old, and the symbols feel old, like rock art left in caves, on rocks, on trees as [...]

So many things I could talk about today… The way the kōwhai flowers from the neighbours tree fall onto our driveway creating a bright yellow carpet, soft… The kōrari (flax flower) – I love, it’s bends and curves and many colours, it stands poised like a dancer, elegant and graceful… A conversation with my mother is never a dull moment – she makes me laugh, sad and hurt all at the same time…I miss her, I miss her early morning [...]

Now I know I’ve got a bit of a challenge posting this rock tonight because I will be competing with at least half the country watching the All Blacks vs Australia game, which also means most of Australia too and a good portion of the rest of the world who will wait anxiously to know who will play France in the final. And I must say, I’m slightly nervous despite not following rugby all year, I’m still nervous! There is [...]

We’ve just got home from Taradale so I’m posting my rock that I painted yesterday… There’s a party going on inside this house and I’m out in the garage painting my rock for the day… It reminds me of a starfish with all it’s arms (or legs); amazing little creatures that look stiff when you see them on the side of a rock but I imagine they move quite gracefully with their water vascular systems that actually help them move [...]

When choosing a photo of a rock that I’ve painted, I don’t necessarily choose the best looking photo but the photo that portrays how I feel and what I want to say at that time. And most times it’s the best photo! This photo speaks volumes about a journey that I am on. It is a lonely pathway, one that feels like people are looking at you funny, either that or they’re going in a totally opposite direction. This journey [...]

I thought it was about time for a change of scenery – looking at all those devastating images of oil on the beach and wildlife – now dead – can get a bit depressing after a while… but it is the reality at the moment…so very very sad, devastating, you can only try and express the feelings that are conjured up by this…and I’m not even there. I watched and cried as people cried, their lives affected so deeply, no [...]

I remember when I first started painting kohatu 13 years ago – I would always start with the koru and then everything would flow from there. For a while, I did not sway from this, I was tūturu to the koru, the whakaaro behind the koru, it’s meaning, beauty, balanced shape, it was also very healing for me to paint. But there are some things that after a while need to change. It’s a bit like our traditions and values [...]

Oil. Slimy, greasy black pile of fresh cow dung substance, you remind me of tar – melted on a hot day. You smell SO disgusting, how could I possibly be addicted to you? Why do I treat you as necessary? Imagine a large drill penetrating deep; deep into your being, affecting every part of you – mind, body spirit, tampering with the balance, unable to stand the pressure, the pain, like a sharp sharp needle… so sharp you shake uncontrollably, [...]

I was low on energy today but was very inspired by a host of wahine Māori on Native Affairs tonight who are either politicians in Parliament or aspiring new politicians – all very strong women. It was pleasing to see and made me think, if we had more wāhine Māori in Parliament, not only would we have a powerful and vocal Parliament but we would have a dynamic group of wāhine leading our country – yes! I’m also very concerned [...]

This is another post I’ve been wanting to share for a while. We live in a disease focused society, a struggle mentality, victim mode, especially here in Aotearoa where we have a history of colonisation – something that has had a huge impact on Māori and ultimately the rest of the country. We are so focused on being the ambulance at the bottom of the hill, putting a band aid on the problem rather than getting to the root of [...]

Today’s rock is full of things… life’s many intricacies… I started the day listening to Steve Job’s kōrero at Stanford University. I’ve listened to this many times…but I want to share some of those words as I feel they are important for the time. “Sometimes lifes gonna hit you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith… You’ve got to find what you love… and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is [...]

When opportunity knocks be prepared. I learnt a big lesson tonight, I learnt to be prepared, as opportunity can present itself at any time and at any place! I went along to Green drinks with Metiria Turei tonight and it was fantastic. No big huha, just an informal evening, sharing conversation with others and meeting new people. Metiria Turei spoke briefly and so did the local candidate for the Greens Darryl Monteith and then the night was left to socialising, [...]

Who do you reckon wins? The teacher of course! I’m totally and absolutely convinced now that school squashes children. School here in Aotearoa is a regimented colonial SYSTEM that is all about fitting children into boxes, preparing them for the workforce for a lifetime of conformity. Todd and Teia spent three days making her a mask and costume for her fancy dress evening. She was going to be a cheetah as they were doing a study on Africa. And then [...]

I started writing today about all the things I remember as a child… I remember as a little girl, my mother tying my hair in a plait. Sometimes she would brush it and then curl it into little ringlets… I remember when I was four years old, walking hand in hand across the road with my big sister to kindy. I remember when I was three years old, my brother came to stay and he and his wife had their [...]

I wonder sometimes after I’ve painted a rock – now where did that painting come from? There is nothing particularly exciting about what I have painted today, in fact it looks like a whole lot of painted shapes slapped onto the rock lol But I’m ok with that…now… at the beginning of the year it would have been a different story! And it’s just as much about the process… But then when I place it somewhere to take a photograph, [...]

I’m coming to the end of my fourth decade – so do the calculation if you want! Well actually I’m a couple more years away but I feel like my life is just beginning… I really do! I’ve been through so many healing journeys over the past years, in fact my whole life has been one healing journey. But I really do feel like life is just beginning and it’s exciting! And at the same time I feel there is [...]

It’s one of those days where I’m neither here nor there…just observing… being quiet within myself and just being. The sun came out today, so was nice to feel warm again, just for a moment… I’ve painted my rock earlier today; the All Blacks are playing Canada shortly and the WARRIORS are taking on Manly tonight in the final of the NRL so I know no-one in Aotearoa and probably Australia will be on Facebook to be reading about the [...]

I decided to write about today’s rock by looking at the rock, seeing and feeling what I had painted and then writing… Ripples, layers, peeling off unwanted memories of times gone by… Orange – vibrant energy spreads like wild fire, exploding into something new… Lines of the land, stretches of vast landscapes, pathways that lead to somewhere – but where? History repeats itself, remembering lost ones, times gone by, but time to move on… Bursts of creativity spreading in new [...]

It’s a great feeling to achieve something. To finish a project or an art work, to achieve a goal that you have had for a while – it is SO satisfying. But do you ever feel once you have achieved something, a kind of emptiness or a what now feeling like huh, that’s over, what am I gonna do now? It’s great to celebrate once you have achieved a goal – to take a step back and admire the work [...]

I’m painting this rock today for Brazil and the Xingu indigenous people who are fighting to protect their indigenous lands from the Belo Monte damming project that has been approved by the Brazilian president. The Belo Monte dam project will be lethal and will cause widespread flooding to indigenous lands and rainforests. It will displace thousands of people and have huge effect on the natural eco-systems of the region – all in the name of progress. My heart goes out [...]

A different kōrero today to what I’ve been posting over the past few days! And perhaps I’ve spoken about this before, maybe, maybe not… there are so many days to go back through now! Photography is all about light. Whenever I take a photo, I’m always looking for the light – how does it fall? In what spaces? What patterns does it make? What does it reflect and how will it make the photo feel?… What kind of mood will [...]

I woke at 4.30am this morning! Great – jet lag is well and truly here and my body clock is still on Istanbul time and my spirit is in some ways too… I keep looking for Turkish food recipes online lol And I was SO grumpy today, it was like I didn’t know what to do with myself – I knew I was tired, but it took me a while to actually go to sleep but when I eventually did, [...]

I got off the plane last night here in Gisborne; raining and cold… and then when we left the airport it was like driving into a ghost town. Seriously. There was one other car on the road and that was it. Talk about a big shock! I had just come from a city of 14 million people, I lived in a lively part of Istanbul where it seemed the city never slept…and then came home to quiet, what felt like [...]

Written while flying from Singapore to Aotearoa – Sun 25th Sept Aotearoa time… Flying in amongst the stars right now, a clear night, not a cloud in the sky. I saw lights below, strong lights like someone lived down there and then I realized it was a star and then a whole lot of stars appeared like sparkling gems – cool! I also notice a bright bright star – could this be Venus? Or perhaps Jupiter? But no teapot so [...]

Sitting in a quiet space at Changi Airport Singapore. I discovered this place hidden and when I sat, it sent me straight into reflection, piano music playing in the background, sunrising, even the planes flying in and out added to the rhythm of the moment… My journey into power… has just begun, each day another step into knowing, becoming, being, understanding, listening, remembering… life’s many intricacies… I’ve seen beauty in many things, not just in trees and ocean and nature [...]

I just finished painting this rock as the sun rose in Doha – and what a beautiful sunrise – three suns rising at Doha airport over parked plane tails as another plane takes off into the sunrise. How lovely! A welcoming for a new day and I am so tired I’m nearly ready to go to sleep! I’m hopeful for a sleep on the plane during this next eight hour flight to Singapore although hopeful is a good word as [...]

I’m leaving Istanbul in a few hours and I must say I’m feeling a lot lighter. Physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, I feel like I’ve left a few things behind for good. It’s an odd feeling actually; it’s like the rain that fell last night for the first time since I’ve been here was a cleansing, a renewing, a letting go of past… and I’ve certainly felt heart connections here, especially to the people and the land. Those side streets that [...]

I’ve lost count how many times people have tried to sell carpets to us – yes, these carpets are amazing, so many different kinds… but we soon realised that a lot of friendliness in the street and invites in for apple tea were all opportunities to try and sell us carpet! We even had two young men, come with us on a complete tour of the blue mosque to lure us to their family carpet shop! Now I know that [...]

Well I was going to a workshop today only to get there and it had been cancelled! But kei te pai – I had an adventure on the way back, found a book festival and a few more side streets and things happening about the place. There is no shortage of things to do and photographic opportunities! Anyway, rā whānau to my big sister today!! Big sisters… hmmm where do I start? They can be annoying at times constantly trying [...]

I am totally fascinated by the side streets here in Istanbul – specifically those that I walk past and experience everyday… I was led down one today, this live acoustic music was playing and I sat to just listen and experience the music as it wafted out the door. There were three of us in the street, I’m not sure if the two young ladies were listening or whether they were seeking the quiet away from the busyness of the [...]

Catching up on sleep today. I woke at 10am Istanbul time and went on a bus tour, came back and slept for another four hours! I reckon I’ve tuned into Istanbul time now, but am heading home on Thurs – back to a different timezone, different weather… I’ve really enjoyed the weather here. Even though it has been up in the 30s, it’s easy to tolerate, more humid than burning hot but not too humid. And most times there is [...]

He atua – he tangata He atua – he tangata Those words are sounding in my ears as I write this. It reflects some of the korero of today’s eco-sapiens round table forum for ISEA. Atua – it is not what our European colonisers have labeled a single “god” but rather a collection, a community, aspects of the environment that guide us in our everyday lives and that perhaps hold the key to change – change needed to continue life [...]

Today I had more insight into how the Turkish people operate and have come to the conclusion that they are very industrious! They are not people that sit on their butts all day – they are definitely doers. On every corner you will see someone selling something – grilled corn on the cob (which I’m yet to try), bread (you can get full on one of these!) and of course bottled water – in every space someone selling water. And [...]

I’ve been feeling a little homesick now and then. Yes I am having an amazing time but there is a part of me that longs for air, the sea… home… I’m sitting in a park as I write this. It has trees and I was so excited when I came across it so I decided to sit on a park bench and write. A pigeon stopped by just before and I was visited by one this morning too – it [...]

Such an eventful day – I don’t know where to start! I listened to some interesting kōrero at the conference today and I painted this rock while sitting in on one of the panel sessions… very interesting ideas about perception and participation, intuition and energy… and during the keynote speaker, I wrote a whole lot down that came spilling out like lava from a mountain – so many things being stirred up in my thoughts… So some of the random [...]

Uncontainable – it’s part of the title of our exhibition which is opening here in Istanbul tomorrow at 6.45am. It reminds me of being uninhibited or unable to be contained or locked up, locked into a way of being or thinking… I wonder if culture is like this? Seeing and meeting the diverse range of people here in Istanbul and also thinking about our own people back home, the many cultures that exist within our societies… how much of our [...]

I am in love with turkish delight. Not the turkish delight I remember as a child – actually that was horrible. I’m talking about REAL turkish delight – oh my gosh! I am going to try and bring truckloads back with me haha – it is going to be one of my most important items to bring home… And with it no doubt will come the people, the stories and experiences of walking in crowded streets, feeling like you’re running [...]

Merhaba – kiaora – so I’ve made it to the heart of Istanbul and am right in the thick of things – busyness everywhere! 24/7! But what did I expect right? 14 million people in one city, of course it will be busy! It’s Saturday the 10th here in Istanbul as I write this – Mon the 11th Sept in Aotearoa… and I think I have the timing right now – 9 hours behind home… So where do I start? [...]

Someone needs to invent a dictophone thing that can dictate your thoughts as you have them. That’s the wonderful thing about LONG plane rides is that you have a lot of time on your hands in a limited amounted of space… So many things going through my plane brain – I call it because it is slightly not all there, lack of oxygen, lack of sleep and just not thinking right but I wanted to carry on with the journey [...]

So I’m up at 6.30am this morning painting my rock because when I get to Singapore tonight there will be no time to paint a rock and photograph it and then upload it online! So here it is! And I must say that I really enjoyed painting this early in the morning instead of in the late afternoon. And it’s an important rock for me… Last night I said that this was a journey about coming into power and I [...]

Today I began my journey to the other side of the world… as I walked out to the plane at Gisborne airport, a kahu circled up above just in front of the plane – ahhhh – he tohu tēra – kua marino te huarahi kei mua i a au… So a lovely sign from one of my kaitiaki – the kahu (hawk), forever on the paths that I travel, supporting and looking after me… Today I began my journey – [...]

What a day! That’s all I want to say – nah just kidding : ) But it has been one of those days – so many things to do, sending this thing to this person and that person, doing this, doing that, organising this and that, emails, marking students work, things to do downtown, packing suitcase which means putting everything in a pile for now, checking flights are all cool and I have got the right day, oh and painting, [...]

Has anyone seen the Bee Movie? Oh my gosh – this is such a COOL movie! We watched it last night and were in fits of laughter and the animation is awesome! It’s a family movie, very well made and with an important message, actually, I think more movies with important messages need to be made like this – engaging, colourful and funny! So what is it’s message? The importance of bees and the cross pollination work they do for [...]

I had to look back through all 200 and something rocks to see if I had titled a post, “going with the flow” – and I hadn’t! So there you go – going with the flow has been me over the past few days, preparing myself for the long journey ahead, not wanting to stress about things that need to be done before I leave and just doing one thing at a time until it’s done! And sometimes things haven’t [...]

Compassion and Love – the two things I believe that have the ability to heal. Apparently the world is supposed to be ending next year and if not next year, with the way we’re carrying on, we’re certainly heading that way somewhere into the near future… I can’t help but think at a time when we are perhaps so vulnerable, natural disasters happening so often now that even the skeptics have started to listen a little bit. So many contrasts [...]

How often in a day do we judge? In my quest to be non-judgmental, I learnt a cool thing to help me, and that is to ask a question when I find myself being judgmental of others and that question is,”hmmmm I wonder about that?” A simple question that puts whatever you are judging into a state of wonderment where you think of it as something unknown or new – something you “wonder” about and want to know more about [...]

Today’s kohatu is definitely “me” right now – kicking back and relaxing just for the moment… It’s nice to allow myself the luxury of doing this now and then, to watch a movie, read a book or just do nothing! There is a lot of work to do – yes – but being able to re-energise oneself is an important part of bringing balance into one’s life and I have a long journey ahead next week, so am enjoying the [...]

Do you see white or do you see blue? Do you see grey or do you see brown? Isn’t it funny when we see something, we only see what we want to see? And in choosing what we want to see, we miss out on what is in front of us, the whole picture. It’s a bit like the media and their one sided views shaping their stories according to what their readers want to hear or what they want [...]

I have a mind map on the wall with a BIG “Mahi To DO” in the middle and a whole lot of things around the outside to complete before I leave. Well not all before I leave but most before I leave. But I’m looking at it and thinking, that’s a lot of things around that circle and that is totally an artist’s circle! Not in a straight line one thing after another. Although I do have one of those [...]

To be in awe like a child, satisfied with the simplest of things… Oh to be a child again, to remember freedom with no boundaries or limitations. To understand life in all it’s beauty and wonder… Excited in the present, no knowledge of past or future, just present… How to return to that place of knowing and understanding, to live, I mean really live. Sharing, loving, giving, happy with what is… no need for material things, just living, right here, [...]

Tuia i runga Tuia i raro Tuia i roto Tuia i waho Tui tui tuia I remember this waiata from ages ago at school! And like most Māori waiata we learnt in mainstream school (which was very few), I really didn’t know what any of them meant. So now when I recite these words, they have a whole new meaning for me. The tūī is one of our native birds that is identified by it’s beautiful iridescent feathers and white [...]

I cast my mind back to Jan 1st 2011. FEAR. Fear was fully there and I remember sitting at my computer thinking, shall I push the button or shouldn’t I? I sat there for at least two hours. I remember it was late. All sorts of things going through my mind – people are not gonna like what you do, why would they want to look at a rock and why would they want to listen to anything you say? [...]

I love this rock but I didn’t really enjoy painting it to begin with because I was quite agitated. It’s another revived rock that I found in the garden, a rock I had started months, maybe years ago but never finished. So another green spiral underneath, another rock to be healed from another time and space… And as always with perseverance, I always make it through. And I love this rock now! I worked my way through that initial block, [...]

This is a pretty fired up rock! It contains all sorts of things – fed up, had enough, drive, passion, annoyed, over it, move on, get off your ass and do something, so you can’t be bothered, head down butt up, stop being lazy, get your a into g and do something about it, grow up, move on, get a grip, stop making excuses, go and live somewhere where you have to walk miles to fetch water and food, be [...]

I was out in the back yard choosing my rock today and much to my delight, I found lots of little surprises! Well actually they’d been there all along, I just didn’t stop for long enough to notice them and really see what was there! I didn’t realise how many found treasures I had gathered over the years – walking on sandy beaches, white sand, black sand…gathering shells, stones, broken glass, pieces of driftwood in all kinds of unusual forms, [...]

I find a rock to paint, choose my paints from an old adidas shoe box, (damn you adidas and my adidas shoes I love so much!) I gather brushes, tray and water…a warm spot somewhere beckons and I paint… Paint my way over the rock, I feel the lines… when I first look at the rock, I look with my ears and my hands and then my eyes see where I should go… I used to always start with the [...]

Every day before school I would look forward to opening my lunchbox to see what was inside. There would always be a surprise in there, a delicious chocolate of some sorts (that was actually no surprise!) and kit kats were my favourite! I would savour the taste, eat around the edges first, then bite into the middle part…yummy! I was brought up on chocolate – as you can see – a chocolate in your lunchbox everyday just like painting a [...]

I came to the end of another book today. The book is called “Seasick” by Alanna Mitchell – the hidden ecological crisis of the global ocean. It was a very real wake up call – if there is no ocean, life as we know it on planet earth will cease to exist. Water – wai – has over the past few years been at the forefront of everything I do. Water – without it we would not survive. Here in [...]

Not often do I speak directly about the rock that I have painted, the photos that I have taken and my interpretation of them. Most times I allow them to speak for themselves. But today was different. I did my usual adventure outside to find a rock to paint and I went straight to the “small rock” pile. I have piles all over the place! But today was small rock pile day! And the rock that you see in the [...]

I got home today and sat thinking hmmmm what am I gonna do? Not like I haven’t got lots of things to do because I’ve got heaps to do and then Todd chimes in and says, “you can do whatever you want to!” And I thought, too right I can – I am in control, I am the master of my own destiny. I can choose what I want to do at any given time… So I wrapped myself up [...]

Colours of passion and fire and action and balance. I photographed this rock outside in between rains although the rain was ready to fall again as I took this – you can see by the drops… So what to talk about today… A longing to be home again, sometimes…memories of childhood eating chocolate everyday. Everyday we always used to get chocolate in our lunch boxes but I will talk more about this on Monday…you’ll soon know why… I wonder about [...]

Now and then, I ask myself, how do I do this? It’s nearly Sept and somedays I feel I don’t have anything to say and I’m doing stuff and then time to paint the rock…it’s part of my day now but when I look back over just the past week, I still can’t believe it sometimes! Anyway…had that little burst of expression! So another heart day today. Thoughts of friends and whānau who are celebrating their birthdays and thoughts of [...]

I’ve been thinking heaps about what is happening in our world today – actually it’s probably no surprise to any of you who know me or to those of you who follow the rocks…not a day goes by where I am not thinking about what I can do to help heal our planet and people. In December last year I had a dream. Not many of my dreams stay with me like this one but I remember it so vividly. [...]

Today I stumbled on lessons – more lessons and answers to questions… And then I found myself listening to more questions and words like imitation – imitating others, superficial, conforming, constraints, limitation inhibiting freedom to be self… So my notes to myself today again ask: who am I? What are the borders I am placing around myself, within myself that are limiting my freedom and my ability to be me? What am I comparing myself to? Know thyself…these words have [...]

I’m sending a message today from my dear friend Ilka who is collecting 1001 Cranes for Japan. In her blog post on April 16th, she talks about creating paper cranes and sending them as a gesture of peace, prayer and heartfelt love for the people of Japan. I believe in collective consciousness to bring about change in the world, and I believe that one voice can make a difference, so many voices, many actions of conscious intent can make a [...]

I was given these two stones to paint while in Australia a couple of months ago and they’ve been sitting next to my rose quartz since I brought them home and today I was ready to paint them. The smaller stone is the smallest I’ve painted this year! It’s about 1.5cm. These stones are quite different to what I normally paint; they are flatter, lighter in weight and are a lovely earth brown colour. And like the rocks from home, [...]

I am totally (totally!) convinced now that you can bring forth whatever you want in your life just through pure intention and trust. I’ve experienced intention in action over the past year in the most amazing ways, it has been a strong validation for me that anything is possible! Like a domino effect, one thing leads to another, opportunities present themselves sometimes in the most unlikely of ways but I am open none-the-less and awareness of self and what is [...]

In my tiredness, I’m writing a post about my carbon footprint. I’m totally conscious of it, but how can I “give back” to the environment what I am taking from it as I fly to the other side of the world next month? There are little things that I’m doing already; the normal things that everyone should be doing such as recycling and composting kai! Everyone does this already right? But what else? If I woke up one morning and [...]

Does anyone else read the newspaper from right to left, from back to front? As I painted today’s rock (from right to left) I was reminded of my apparent dsylexia, getting words and things around the wrong way… It could perhaps have to do with the fact that I am left-handed why I paint from right to left although I don’t do this all the time and there are actually some things I do with my right hand such as [...]

I sat to paint my rock today and I had all these thoughts in my mind about what it was going to be (actually I started with four rocks and called it four stones lol) and then all of that went out the window! And then once I had finished “one” rock, I thought oh this will look kind of cool with this sort of photo in this kind of setting and then…NOT to be. I even chose all the [...]

Today’s rock and the three rocks before have all been very small rocks! I enjoy painting the small rocks, despite them sometimes being harder to paint! There is something about these tiny gems that is appealing… Perhaps it is because they can fall easily into a pocket to be kept cosy and warm or held safely in the palm of your hand…such small wonders…I wonder which larger rock they have come from and how many flows of water did it [...]

Do not hold on to past grudges…unless you want them to hang on like leeches sucking the life out of you… They do not serve you in the present nor will they serve you into the future. Life is for living, enjoying every moment, let go of what is limiting and allow yourself to welcome the new. Arohanui, Jo x

Ross Bennett reminded me of an experience we had while I was living in Taranaki a few years back. I was working on a project with him and one day while delivering the final product to his house in Oakura, I ran out of petrol – big lol So I ended up on the side of the road out the coast waiting for Ross “to the rescue”…and while I waited a storm was brewing… The wind started to pick up [...]

E iti noa ana na te aroha. Even though my gift is small, it is given with love. I went to the mailbox today and there tucked inside was a yellow parcel, addressed to me, from John Broomfield. I was excited to open it and I knew what it was – a book written by John called “Other Ways of Knowing”. It had come from the South by boat, from John’s house at a beautiful placed called Te Wairua. On [...]

A smooth blue sheet behind a painted textured rock… Texture is bumpy and rough. It adds colour, excitement and a sense of satisfaction like you’ve worked hard all your life. I like smooth but there is something about a rough texture that makes you want to touch it and see what is there and where did all those little holes come from? Texture is not perfect nor is it linear, it is not calm or flowing although the bumps and [...]

Our tamariki these days are so lucky. Many still have their grandparents on both sides and some even have great grandparents and great great grandparents! I only knew one of my grandparents and she passed away on my ninth birthday. But I have vivid memories of her that I will never forget. She used to wear reading glasses that would magnify her eyes ten times! My other grandparents I did not know and can only remember them from photos and [...]

We have a white picket fence at the front of our house. Wikipedia defines a picket fence as: a variety of fence that has been used mostly for domestic boundaries. Symbolically: a picket fence, ideally white, is seen by some as a symbol of the ideal middle-class suburban life… Hmmm… funny how a fence can define the “ideal” life. But I don’t see our fence like that at all. In fact I can’t wait for it to come down! We [...]

Just before I wrote this I was having a look back through all the rocks I had painted, the photos I had taken and the stories I had written so far. It is Day 213 today, so I’ve looked back over the past 212 days and wow! I was pretty stunned by what I had achieved. I asked myself, how did I do that? Did I really do that? Oh my gosh! And as I was looking through from Day [...]

Tonight I heard many stories of past told by Māori from around the country, and as I listened I was taken back to my childhood memories of growing up in a village, a close knit community that was the first 12 years of my life. Even though most of the kaikōrero were of my parents generation, there was a familiarity about their stories; the abundance of kai, a sense of family extending far and wide, community and the importance of [...]

One of the most stunning things I remember about living in Taranaki are the amazing sunsets. In summer, the sky would glow a rich red-orange-pink that lit up the sky and the earth. I spent many summer evenings following a sunset and capturing the magic before the sun went down and I soon realised that the time between that beautiful glow and the sun disappearing beyond the horizon, was a very short window. It was a short window of opportunity [...]

We went to Pecha Kucha tonight and I left there feeling so full and inspired! There were so many different stories – funny, sad, informative, inspiring kōrero and I just couldn’t help but think, how wonderful it is that we can share our stories in an open environment where there is no expectation about what we should talk about and people are open to receiving whatever. We may not even agree with what has been shared but we acknowledge the [...]

Be kind, because you never know what a person has experienced in their lives or what they are experiencing now. Everyone wants to be loved and accepted. Be kind to one another because you never know, what you say to another may be your last words to them, and if they were your last words, is that what you would want to say? Be kind, we are all dealing with “stuff” and those who aren’t have mastered the art of [...]

Ko te pū te more te weu te aka te rea te waonui te kune te whe te kore te pō ki ngā tāngata Māori nā Rangi rāua ki Pāpa ko tēnei te timatatanga o te ao, ko tēnei te timatanga o te ao… I was in the shower today and just started singing this waiata. You never know what song is gonna come out in the shower! It is about the beginning of time, from nothingness – the realm [...]

Winter is well and truly here! Right now, I’m picturing my maunga back home in Taranaki with a beautiful korowai mā, not really wishing I was there right NOW though, its blinken cold enough here in Tūranga! Hōngongoi is our Māori word for July but like all words in our Māori language, each word tells a story and has a deeper meaning. Hōngoingoi also means to crouch in front of a fire, which is fitting for this time of year [...]

I have memories of going into the bush to play alone as a child. I would build my home there and felt quite at home… I loved being alone. As a teenager, I never liked being alone and I always felt the need to be with others. Later on, I relearned the joy and importance of being in solitude to reflect, to go within and be with oneself… such a hard thing to do at times. I spent four years [...]

I never know what is going to come out on the rock until after I’ve painted it. And today’s rock is a different one – not my “usual” spiral painting, although the spiral is still there. But that is the joy of creating something in the moment, painting intuitively and just allowing the brush to do it’s thing. I was thinking about my paintings on kohatu and even though I draw inspiration from my connection to the environment and being [...]

I love the way of light; it’s ability to reflect the essence of nature in a single moment, lighting a pathway to a space or place, I see light in everything… Light expresses mood and feeling, light is a giver of life, it has the ability to bring out beauty and wonder, sadness and mystery. Just as a painter who paints a portrait needs to know where the light falls, and so a photographer must “see” light to really capture [...]

If the ocean was to disappear, life as we know it would not exist. Water. Such an important part of life. And as my understanding of life’s intricate systems are revealed to me, my desire to care for the ocean and our waterways has become even stronger. This life form depends on that life form in order to survive and if this life form ceases to exist then so does this one… everything is connected. And when I see our [...]

I was driving through a community today and it took me right back to when I was growing up. Everything seemed so familiar, the housing, the narrow road… I thought about the tight knit communities that to some degree shape us and have an affect on us in our later years, the experiences that are embedded in our cells like growths, at times out of control… But at some stage we have to leave the comforts of familiarity and take [...]

It’s the name of a movie I just finished watching. Two woman are in a coma, one is a bullfighter and the other is a dancer. The dancer has been in a coma for four years and has been cared for by a man who loves her. He talks to her everyday, he washes her, he reads to her. He shares with her his experiences of the day. He does her hair, her makeup, everything that she would do for [...]

Wrapping myself up in a blanket of aroha and warmth, feeling the need to hybernate for a little bit, heal some more and regroup for the new journeys ahead. There was an amazing frost this morning – I have not seen one like this for a long time. I remember them often growing up in Rotorua and we would stand on the grass with bare feet and feel the ice beneath our feet and pretend to skate on the ice [...]

“Ko hūpē, ko roimata hei whakamauru noa i te mamae e kai kino nei, ā, mā te wā rawa te rāwakiwaki e whakangaro.” “Mucus and tears will ease the intense pain and eventually in time the depression will recede.” Death is something that challenges me. My grandmother passed away on my ninth birthday and it was my first experience of death that I can remember and my first experience of a tangi, that I can remember. From that moment on, [...]

We had a massive time at Matapuna training centre today. We were there to tautoko the Tomorrow People concert – an awesome kaupapa presented by Te Urunga Tū – a group of parents who want to create a future for their tamariki (children) WITHOUT fossil fuels. There was an amazing lineup of musicians which included Maisey Rika and Ria Hall – both awesome kai waiata with important messages, plus a whole lot of local acts including Te Kura o Waikirikiri, [...]

I learnt three things today… 1. Now I see that I must give what I most need… 2. The mystery of wood is not that it burns but that it floats… 3. Those things that we need to work on most, are right there in front of us, the lessons, the challenges, the experiences are right there and will continue to present themselves until we learn. It was hard for me to write yesterday. The more I tried, the harder [...]

We had a lovely whanau come over tonight and bring us some kai (food) as a koha (gift) for something that Todd did for them today. We were pleasantly surprised because we were not expecting them to come over and say thank-you let along bring us some kai! It was really lovely to have this whanau in our home and to see how appreciative they were. We didn’t actually realise how much of an impact it would have on them [...]

I want to say THANK-YOU to everyone who has stopped by these pages to share your whakaaro, your thoughts… To those who have followed the journey right from the very beginning and those who have recently joined the ride – thank-you!! I was thinking today how people come and go in flows, they’ll stay for a bit and then leave again almost like they came for a specific purpose, a certain time of year, a certain rock that perhaps had [...]

I was reading John’s book today and I laughed so hard, like deep down in my puku laugh, childhood laugh and SO loud I reckon the neighbours could hear and if anyone walked in on me, they would have thought I wasn’t all there – ha! But it was SO funny! And I haven’t laughed like that for such a long time which is kinda sad because our days should be filled with laughter and it makes you feel so [...]

Sometimes when I paint a rock, it’s easy. I can paint it in ten minutes. Other times like today, it will take me forever! But I’ve learnt to just go with it, to work through whatever the block is, because each rock like this rock with many layers, is stripping away the internal layers of conditioning that have said to me in the past, you can’t do this (yes I can), this is not good enough (in whose eyes?), people [...]

Gosh, it’s taken me a while to write this post! So I’m just gonna have a “spilling out” session and anything goes! I wonder if it’s all the political stuff that I’m exposing myself to lately. It does make me angry and it does put a bad feeling in my gut sometimes, like I wanna spew. Especially the ignorance of some people toward things Māori. I am Māori, I am of this land and it affects me. So perhaps I’m [...]

This is my mantra for the day that I created this morning as I sat down to do my healing codes. It may not make sense to you all, but it makes perfect sense for me and has guided me throughout my day. I have nothing to fear Making mistakes are important steps in my learning journey they allow me to refine my journey my art, my story and bring forward my truth for all to see One step at [...]

Leadership has nothing to do with your ability to accumulate riches. If you are well educated, you are not necessarily a leader. Leadership is humility, patience and compassion. Leadership is passionate and courageous. Leaders speak their truth and know when no words are necessary. Leadership is not race or religion. Leadership is not age or gender. Leadership is not power and control. Leadership is resilience. Leadership is the ability to solve problems. Leadership is solutions. Leadership does not judge or [...]

I was up early this morning to catch the bus to the airport and as I waited, I saw a woman sleeping, tucked into the corner of the bus stop. It was raining a little and I thought, oh I hope she hasn’t missed her bus, maybe she needs to be woken up? She had a big suitcase, a pile of clothes placed neatly on top and a few bits and pieces hanging off the bag. I looked across the [...]

I’m in Auckland for the night performing live with composer and sound artist Leah Barclay as part of the ACMC sonic art concert being held at the Auckland University music school – gosh that was a mouthful!! So we’ve had our rehearsal and I thought I would paint my rock and post before we head off to the concert! And this rock is going to be singing for us tonight, Leah has composed a piece called ‘Dhakan’ and there is [...]

I watched a documentary today – a pilgrimage that our whanaunga from Pakakohi and Ngāti Ruanui in Taranaki took to Ōtākou. It was a pilgrimage to remember those ancestors who died while imprisoned for fighting against land confiscations by the crown. I was moved to tears and as I listened to the names of those tūpuna (ancestors) who never survived, I felt the mamae (pain) of those whanau who still carry the effects of this today, whose ancestors to this [...]

You know when you’re out somewhere, maybe at an exhibition opening or at a hui and you meet someone you have never met before, do you ask them, “Who are you?” or do you say, “What do you do?” Often I will ask, “Where you from?” as a way of making a connection with the person and perhaps I might know someone they know or they might even be related to me! It just seems like a natural thing to [...]

Mate atu he tētēkura, hara mai he tētēkura. As one fern frond dies, another arises to take its place. I cried big tears today. It was great! Sometimes things happen that prompt us to face what it is that we need to face in order to release it and allow healing to take place. Sometimes we need to lose something, to release something in order to gain and learn what our next step will be. And such is life… Much [...]

I’ve had three people in the last couple of days say to me that the rocks I have painted for them (one over 12 years ago!) have pride of place in their home… I am so grateful that people appreciate these kohatu – as the word “kohatu” says, they are special gifts! And they are special gifts because they come from special places with special energy and special stories… And I’ve always known them to be special, from the moment [...]

I love stretching… I listen to my body and find places where stress is stored, then breathing in to exhale again, I let go… allowing the energy to flow again… Its amazing how your body responds when you listen… giving your attention for just a few moments can bring great healing and release… Arohanui, Jo x

We were talking the other day about how cheap it is for kids to buy fizzy drinks these days… and the amount of sugar that is in them! I remember walking into the supermarket first thing in the morning on a number of occasions, and there were these young kids walking out of the supermarket with two bottles each (big ones) of fizzy drink! I don’t think people get how “bad” sugar is especially in excessive amounts and I know [...]

I want to tell a story today, it is one of many stories that pop up now and then from Miss 6 and 3/4 year old Teia… We were having dinner tonight (roast chicken!) and she says quite confidently, “I think the wish bone can come from either the leg or the wing.” “Oh” I said having an internal chuckle! Now my initial thought was to correct her, but I thought, no, I will allow her that moment of confidence [...]

This rock is very definite today; the lines and colours are solid and permanent. Trust is a big word. I’ve started to write about this in many posts before, but for whatever reason the kōrero didn’t feel right, so I left it… and now it has come back! And sometimes the things that are hardest to post are the most important. Issues of trust have presented themselves to me often over the past month and when I look back on [...]

I was walking today, being present in my surroundings and I was amazed at how much I took in. I walked to town which is only half an hour but in that time I saw so many things… scenes presented to me, full of messages, I would have missed them if I was not fully present. So I experienced many things today but the highlight was during the walk home, seeing the old lady who lives in the white stucco [...]

I’ve just looked back over the past few days and realised that the rocks I’ve painted have been either white, grey or yellow! Maybe a bit boring, but for me the colours suit my moods and what has been going on in my life at the time. And I’ve definitely been in a contemplative space lately, thinking lots about the future and the coming six months. And perhaps these colours also reflect this time of year… So a blue rock [...]

Why do I paint koru? A friend prompted me to write about this, when she asked me what the circles that I paint mean to me… For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been drawn to circles and spirals. As a child in school I used to create borders for my assignments that were continuous koru. I would watch nature’s many patterns and shapes and am still in awe of them today. So nature inspires me to create [...]

I heard this kōrero today from Trevor Moeke – the regional manager for Te Wānanga o Aotearoa here in the East. It was at the wānanga graduation that he spoke about kina… and he went on and on and on about kina… But the gist of his kōrero was about how kina is such a delicacy and when we eat kina or even before we eat the kina, we salivate and work up to eating it and then when we [...]

Marie my osteopath was talking to me about the physical body today and how we have to keep our bodies moving, in “motion” otherwise we get tense and tight and things shut down. Which makes perfect sense ne? It was like a revelation for me, not because it was something new but for the first time I saw an example of the connection between the physical body and our emotions (the solution also contained in the word emotion) and how [...]

As we head into the second half of the year, I find myself delving deeper and deeper into my life, why am I here, what is my purpose? The restlessness and the tiredness I mentioned a few days back, it all make perfect sense with where I’m at… And where I’m at is listening; listening to my soul speak, to find those things that move me to action, those things that will take me to the next step in my [...]

We watched Operation 8 tonight at the Dome Cinema here in Gisborne. I don’t know where to start with this documentary other than, I cried, I got angry, I laughed in bits too but deep down in my heart I realised that nothing has changed from when our ancestors lived to today… I thought about those who had gone before, I thought about my own family, my life. I thought about those mokopuna at Ruātoki who will never forget the [...]

It’s one of those times when I’ve got so much to do and I want to do everything at once! And restless – so so restless, but tired at the same time. I’m tired from all the travel and have only just got my feet on the ground again… and it won’t be long before the next journey begins and each journey has been a stepping stone to the next journey.. So this restless time is one of those “intermission” [...]

I’ve been prompted today to think about what really matters… Life is not about waiting for the right moment or having regrets but taking action and living, really living with love in your heart and appreciating every moment… I believe everyone wants to love and be loved, to be cared for, to be joyful and full of life and vitality and to achieve their heart’s desires… I am grateful for my mother who today reminds me of life’s precious moments, [...]

We’re here at Pungarehu marae beside the Wanganui river and I’ve just come to the waters edge… This river is beautiful – I hear sounds travel up the river and echo all around me… When I bend over to wash my hands in the awa (river), I think to myself, how far up the awa have those sounds come? The native trees in front of me on the other side of the river are like all the ancestors lined up [...]

In Wanganui at the moment with Todd for his final te reo o Wanganui wananga… I love wānanga for many reasons: They bring people together to share kōrero and stories about many different things. People leave with a full kete – with new ideas and perspectives, often challenged. Overwhelming at times, they can take you to depths and places that you would never have been to before Having been at many wānanga and reo wananga there is so much sharing [...]

I flew from Gisborne to Auckland, Auckland to Wanganui today. The trip to Wanganui was at night and it was the first time that I’ve flown with a full moon. I’ve heard that the second full moon is the Māori moon, and this is the moon that was shining tonight. I looked out the window as we took off and saw the bright light and even though I was not on the side that the moon was on, it was [...]

Puanga kai rau – an abundance of food at Puanga… Ngā mihi o te tau hou Māori ki a tātou! Happy Māori New Year to us all! They say that the Māori new year begins on the new moon in June which was on the 1st of June and today the 15th of June is a full moon… I was in North Queensland when the new moon appeared so I’m having my own Māori New Year celebration right now on [...]

So I’m home and grounded but I feel like I’m on cloud nine! And there’s more to come! It’s amazing what intention can do. Speaking your truth and being who you are can create magic everyday and bring to fruition those dreams you first thought impossible. My vision is: “Inspire, Uplift and Heal through Nature and Creativity” and everyday I live with this intent I myself am inspired, uplifted and healed in many wonderful ways. Arohanui, Jo x PS – [...]

The kahu (hawk) followed me all the way home today. Every corner I turned, the kahu was there… I’m used to seeing kahu while driving but today was extra special – so many! I must have saw at least 20 of them flying and it all started in the morning when I woke up at Trudy’s house. There was a kahu circling down below… At one point a kahu stopped just as I drove by and I looked to the [...]

I was pleasantly surprised when I boarded the plane home today and the guy at the counter said to me “kiaora” and then as I left he said, “Tēnā koe” I thought, wow that is SO awesome that someone has taken the time to learn our reo and is using it to greet people as they leave Australia. It really made me feel looked after on my journey home to Aotearoa today… It was a very special experience for me… [...]

Di gave me The Alchemist by Coelho to read and so it is coming home with me, kind of like a companion… I first heard about it 13 years ago when I was taking photographs on the Kaituna River. One of the rafting guides mentioned it to me and I thought, wow that sounds like an interesting book… but never got to read it until now. So it was gently put into my lap…the timing may not have been right [...]

Cousin Tina picked me up today so it was nice to catch up with her and reminisce about the times we’ve spent together and how far we’ve come since then… And then catching up with cousin Kiri was, as always a joyful and interesting experience! But so wonderful to spend time with her again too! Whānau is grounding, is memory, is cruising, is aroha, is whakapapa, is reminiscing, is connection is comfort… Nice to be grounded and spend time with [...]

Memories of times gone by, beautiful healing with Di, present moment, going with the flow and just doing what ever you feel in any point and time… Challenging, growing, changing, new beginnings, every day a new life… Arohanui, Jo x Happy birthday to my darling niece Ani who turned 16 today. How appropriate that a lot of my memories for healing are when I was 16 years old and that I can gift this rock to the next generation… Arohanui [...]

I woke this morning in the bush, a stunning day and something happened that took me back in time to when I was a teenager going through a lot of stuff and I realised that this was a part of my healing. It was so profound I knew it was for me… So I left the beauty and connection of bush today, off to another journey to heal. I put my feet in the sea again, to wash away those [...]

In nature – seeing is feeling… the leaves talk to me… I was out in the bush today, creating in nature. I found a beautiful spot with a rock in the middle and I painted it. As I painted I tuned in to the land, the birds, the trees and thought about the snake and my fear and excitement all in the same breath… As I felt the snakes presence in the landscape I also thought about my colonized view [...]

This place is so alive. Floating Land is over and I’ve said goodbye to my sacred space beside Lake Cootharaba and am now at Ross and Tamzyn’s sacred space just out of Cooroy. The first thing I noticed is how alive this bush is. Spiders SO big and my fear of being in that very space that is so much a part of me. This aliveness, this health and wellbeing, this connection to nature, it has made me realise that [...]

Sunday 5th June – today is the last day of Floating Land and the conversations about water are coming to an end although I feel they have just begun. One of the things I remember in amongst all the korero was not an answer but a question…What If? And so it has prompted me to ask my own questions… What if I had a voice? What if my story was heard? What if we all valued our natural environment and [...]

Floating Land is nearly over and I’m feeling a little sad to be leaving this beautiful place but realize my attachment to the land and water here is something that I need to let go of in order for me to continue on my journey. I’ve been conscious of this attachment to time and place, that feeling like you’re having to be somewhere at a certain time but being here has enabled me to see that if we trust we [...]

I woke up this morning to birds singing and when I came down to the space there were birds there as well just as they were when I first arrived. I feel like this journey is coming to a close… the lake has been such a place of healing and reflection for me… a space of giving, sharing and aroha… I jumped on a rock today to paint it and also shot some video of me painting. It was quite [...]

These two ducks went swimming by today. Well, paddling or swimming, whatever they do to move in the water! I’m not really into ducks but these ducks were something else. I couldn’t help but notice them gliding peacefully through the water, leaving a trail of patterns behind them. And such a beautiful colour… anyway, no ordinary ducks these were, but I wonder if it is this place that is opening me up to the beauty within me and within the [...]

There’s this amazing tree in the space beside the lake where I am working at the moment. It’s like this totem pole in amongst all these other trees which are also like totem poles. I took photos of it today and it is very feminine as Ilka said and to me it looks like a woman wearing a korowai contemplating life, strong, centred and focused. She is being nurtured by this korowai, it’s like a cloak of her ancestors, supporting [...]

Something shifted in me today. I’ve felt something shift everyday since I arrived here. I knew I would come to this place and that it would be healing for me but I did not realise the beauty and sacredness of this place and that it would affect me so deeply. It’s absolutely beautiful. The spirit of this land is alive – I watched the lake today, the natural ripples and the man-made ripples…the water reflecting my emotions and reflecting those [...]

I feel so privileged to be working with these natural pigments of the earth. It feels right and the more I paint with these ochres the more I want to work with them. The colours are so rich and deep, vibrant and alive. And when I am painting it naturally gets all over my hands… I painted this rock today – its about two metres long, bigger than what I normally paint! It has many koru for all the stories [...]

I had my first workshop today – it was a stunning day! I woke up this morning after last night’s rain knowing that the land had had its cleansing and now it was time for the sun to shine again… And people came to share their stories about water… One woman paddled over on her canoe and I thought wow, that’s cool! And then I met another woman from Taranaki – so nice to make that connection – actually, every [...]

10am Sat 28th May 2011 I’ve arrived at Boreen Point to feel the space I will be doing workshops in and I am taken back to my childhood where we had lakes all around us, the water lapping in and out, unlike the sea that is rugged and wild. This water, welcoming me, embracing me for the next few days. This is a different land – but I feel connection and I knew I would, not like the connection that [...]

8.30am At midnight last night (Thurs 26th) after I had packed my bags, I had this overwhelming feeling…I realized that everything I had done in my life was bringing me to this next journey. It was a pretty big revelation for me. And as I sit here at the airport writing this, I look out the window and see these formations and I realise they are old pa sites. They have a bulldozer on top of them digging them up [...]

I know you fallas know what I’m talking about! Trudy and I were talking about this concept of time today – geological time versus human time – and then there is Māori time! Most times you go to a hui and most times things run OVER time! I say most times because there are some hui where things do run on time and as planned! So generally speaking I am! Anyway, I think it has its place. We are an [...]

I got lost today. It took me three hours to travel from Hamilton to Miranda – I actually ended up driving in a BIG circle! But it was interesting…I travelled to parts of the landscape I had never been to before. So as frustrated as I was driving round and round in circles it reminded me of those undiscovered inner landscapes we all have, those ones we don’t allow ourselves to visit. We go against the flow of things so [...]

I want to talk about this photo today. It reminds me of being “rough around the edges.” You know when you’re not exactly perfect and you are perceived to be less, but you have heaps of other amazing qualities and what you don’t have in intellect or education you make up for in life experience and a whole lot of lessons learnt. Never judge a book by it’s cover – yes it’s very cliche and I don’t like sounding cliche [...]

I’m on the road again soon, on a journey to another land, to experience the spirit of that land and to connect with the hearts and stories of those who will be there. I feel like I’ve been preparing for this journey for a long time. It’s going to be special, very healing for me, healing for everyone and how fitting that water will be the feature every step of the way… Water is healing, water is health and wellbeing, [...]

I was reminded today that it is really important to pay attention to our tamariki… Many of our tamariki are being let down by those who are supposed to be caring for them. And caring is not just about providing those basic needs of food, shelter and clothing. Caring is about nurturing, paying attention, taking an interest in what our tamariki do, giving praise, spending time every day, listening and learning and most of all showing our love… Children respond [...]

I’ve always been fascinated by how peas grow all in a row in a pod! Nature is so intelligent and perfect. How do peas in a pod grow like that? They remind me of sacred things, protected, to be nurtured and cared for, held in a blanket of love… I think we all yearn to be cared for, to be held sacred… and in our lifetimes, if we are loved, we grow confidently with purpose and we see the sacred [...]

Our Māori language is so beautiful. It is conceptual and meaningful and every word tells a story. One word can mean many things and within all of those meanings, there is connection to the environment, to the land, to everything… When I started learning Māori full immersion, my life changed. I saw the world in a whole new way. My Māori eyes were seeing things that I did not think existed. I was no longer locked behind my pakeha eyes [...]

I’m planning my last session with art students tomorrow and I’m thinking to myself, what is the most important thing that I would want to be sharing with them right now? What will have the most impact on their lives and creative careers from this moment forward? I came up with a few words… Being vulnerable. Taking risks. Putting yourself out there. Risking all, even if you do not match up to people’s expectations. And know this is ok. The [...]

It’s been a while since I’ve painted a simple koru, so decided to paint one today… When I look back over the rocks I see a pattern; I have a rock that is quite lighthearted or maybe two and then I have another rock that is quite heavy in what I write about and that has perhaps taken me longer to paint. I feel like I’ve just come out of one of these heavy moments and now in that calm, [...]

There’s a heap of political stuff happening at the moment. And I’ve seen some quite disturbing things lately… One of them is a page that has been created here on FB in opposition to a Māori MP and I’ve seen shocking comments in other forums to do with things relating to Māori. It has been a reality check for me that racism is still alive in this country. It annoys me. It annoys me because most of the comments that [...]

The last two days, I’ve really tried to be present with everything I’ve been doing. When I’m cooking, I’m cooking, when I’m reading, I’m reading! I’m so used to multi-tasking, doing lots of things at once but I’ve realised that when I have more things to do than what multi-tasking allows me to do, it’s impossible to do! I used to be a strong advocate of multi-tasking but now I”m not so sure… And you know what, doing one thing [...]

I watched a daddy long legs spider do something very interesting today. When I first saw it, I thought it was in a frenzy because it had been caught in a web of another spider but when I took a closer look, I realised it was spinning around in its web almost to the point where I couldn’t see it! Has anyone seen this before? Spinning round and round and round, my gosh, I wondered if he (or she!) was [...]

I really thought I wasn’t going to be posting this rock today! I finished painting it around 6.30pm and then hullo – realised I had no natural light left for photos! So it was back to other options – tungsten light, light under the algae or light from the light box! So the light box it was. Whew. So there is a planetary alignment happening right now, visible in the early morning sky. Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Earth all [...]

We are a society of followers following the leader. There is so much potential out there, but most people will settle for just cruising along following others! I understand this because I’ve been there, but wouldn’t it be the coolest if everyone lived to their full potential and brought to fruition all those wonderful ideas that they have brewing? And trusted themselves and believed in themselves and all that stuff? Easily said than done, but wouldn’t that be cool? I [...]

I’ve always been of the mind that we shouldn’t shape artists, but rather, give them the tools to explore and find the artist within themselves. Miss 6 year old Teia, she draws these amazing pictures of people that have limbs that stretch all the way across the page or curl around to reach up to the head to move some hair off the face. One leg is often bent to take a pose, like a ballerina and hair is always [...]

Yesterday I heard a version of the waiata ‘Totara Tree’ (composed by Wiremu Nia Nia) sung by the beautiful Maisey Rika. Here is a link to that version. http://bit.ly/mIC9zO I’m not normally in the habit of posting words by other people, but I wanted to share this waiata as it is everything I want to say today… Once I stood like a Totara tree Gently swaying in the breeze I hear the whispers in the air And I cry… I [...]

To make it right. One of our pahake told me, this is what ‘ka tika ra’ means… I understand fully how our tūpuna felt when their land, their foundation was taken from beneath them. Every time I return home to Taranaki, I feel that mamae still, I see it in the land and I see it in the people… It makes me appreciate people who fight for their right to be heard, to be able to walk freely on their [...]

I was watching this koroua on Māori TV tonight and he was sharing his knowledge about how our people used to live. He talked about a special way of preserving kumara and in the end I figured out it was the same process (but done in a different way) of dehydrating food that we know today. So food was dehydrated and preserved in a special way where the food literally lasts forever. So whenever our people went hunting for food [...]

I’ve been asked recently, “where do you find your inspiration to write and create everyday?” Well, I don’t think about it and just do! When painting these rocks, I don’t think about what I’m going to paint at all and just allow the brush to paint. I also randomly gather up a few colours from my paint box and use whatever I have chosen. At times I’ve used colours that you wouldn’t think work together, but after painting the rock, [...]

I’m amazed at all the wonderful comments that I get with the rocks each day and how profound they are! I was reminded of this today…sometimes I think my words and my paintings are quite subtle and not obvious as to what their meaning is and then next minute someone crops up with this meaningful kōrero that just stops me in my tracks – literally! Many of the comments resonate so much with me and I am even more amazed [...]

When I went outside today to hang the washing out, the ground was still wet from recent rain and my first thought was to put my jandals on so my feet wouldn’t get wet. But then I thought nah, I’m gonna go in there and squish my feet around in the water and feel the earth in between my toes…and so I did! It was the best feeling ever! It was like my feet were having a drink and being [...]

I remember when I was living on the mountain in Taranaki, I had a pink bubble around my whare to give some healing, loving energy to the land and for protection. There were battles fought on the land, conflict, and people died on that very land where I was living and yet I felt such calm and peace in amongst all that…it was the living that I had to beware of… I’ve read so many posts today about Osama Bin [...]

Life is so fluid sometimes isn’t it? – well my life is anyway! Probably because I allow it to be and I think this is important because we get stuck doing the same old same old without growing, exploring and learning! So today’s kōrero is about change. The different journeys we embark on, the people we meet and the growth that we experience along the way. Change is an important part of life and if we are not changing then [...]

It’s the day after returning home from being on the road. Driving can take a lot out of you and I always need at least one day to recover from a big journey – most times two days are needed! So it’s been an “intermission” day – you know just like at the movies when you have a break at half-time to go and buy some chocolate haha! So a cruisy day of reading, eating a little bit of chocolate [...]

We came home to Gisborne today. It’s so nice to be home and grounded for the next few weeks before heading off again! I often think about home and where I consider home is. Home for me is in my tribal area of Te Arawa where I was born, where I grew up and where I lived for 24 years. This is where my mother comes from and where my roots are. I also have special places in Rotorua that [...]

On our way through Waverley today, we stopped off at a glass studio. It was outside this studio that I painted this rock. And yes there was a glass studio in Waverley! Here we met a couple who are both artists working in a variety of mediums including glass, clay and sculpture. So there was an immediate connection… But what was also cool was the fact that we had connected with people who knew people we knew, they had lived [...]

Tūngia te ururua kia tupu whakaritorito te tupu o te harakeke… Cutting back the harakeke at Puniho over the past two days reminded me of an internal detox, not just physical but an emotional and spiritual detox too…an emptying out and letting go of things that are no longer needed, making room for growth and change. The whakatauki above talks about this also; by cutting back the harakeke, nurturing it, paying attention to it and putting it to good use, [...]

I’m looking out the window at the harakeke and tī-rākau swaying in the wind and am reminded of the whakatauki, “whatu ngaro ngaro te tangata, toi tū te whenua – people may perish but the land still remains.” Power lines are down, road signs have been blown over but the land remains… I’ve always known harakeke to be a resilient plant, to withstand the strength of the most fierce wind, rain, cold, dry and still its roots hold strongly to [...]

Hokia ki tō maunga kia purea ai koe e ngā hau a Tāwhirimātea Return to your mountain to be cleansed by the winds of Tāwhirimātea Wow!! Kei te tino pupuhi te hau i te kainga nei! Arrived home in Taranaki last night (Sun) and wow – there’s a storm blowing through…Now staying at the marae out the coast at cousin Jason’s and Rahera’s house and yep we’ve definitely come home to be cleansed by the winds of Tāwhirimātea!! The power [...]

Today in Aotearoa it is ANZAC day – a day to remember all those brave soldiers who went to war to fight for our country. Me mihi atu ki a rātou mā, rātou i tū kaha i te pakanga, ko rātou kāore i hoki mai… I think about war, the war that my tūpuna fought in, the war that many of our tūpuna fought in and died. And I wonder, what this was all about? I wonder what it would [...]

I’ve never really been one to celebrate Easter. When I was going to a Catholic school, we celebrated this time of year because its what you did at a Catholic school so it became a part of our lives. I vaguely remember having easter eggs when we were young, but I don’t remember any big celebration… Like Christmas, I think Easter has lost it’s real meaning and has become another opportunity for commercialism and the promotion of products that actually [...]

I never know how these rocks are going to turn out until I’ve finished painting them, and they are never finished until I feel they are. Sometimes, they don’t come out like I thought they would, in fact I’ve been surprised quite a few times! There are some that resonate with me more than others, but ultimately, most of them are not for me or about me… When I choose the colours, I choose without thinking. Often I’ll look at [...]

I’m still on the theme of breath today…I spent a good hour this morning trying to play a kōauau that Todd made me – not as easy as it seems! It’s all in how you use your breath, a bit like a normal flute…but once you get it, the sound is stunning… As I was painting this rock I was listening to Hirini Melbourne’s Te Waonui a Tāne, an album of Māori waiata (songs) relating to our ngahere (forests) and [...]

I had a wonderful conversation with a good friend in Oz today. We always have wonderful conversations that are profound and timely. She reminded me of my connection to the earth, the sensitivity I have to the land, my connection to water and my understanding of water as life, who we are and where we come from and to air, the breath of life and what it means to breathe in and breathe out… And this rock is representative of [...]

It’s a funny title for a post but have you sat and watched ants in action? As I was painting this rock today, an ant walked by (literally!) carrying a piece of chocolate in it’s arms (or legs) I saw it carrying this massive thing that was twice its size and after a closer look I realised it was a piece of chocolate! God knows where the chocolate came from! I was really taken back by this ant’s determination – [...]

Doesn’t it feel great to finish something? You know when you are doing something that needs to be done and you focus on it, you wanna throw it at the wall at times and then yay, it’s finished! Or even nearly finished is good too because you know you’re on the home straight – yus! Well guess what I’ve been completing today? TAX! Yes my tax and it feels bloody good to be in control of it all and getting [...]

I’m in one of those breathe in breathe out moods where my wick is a bit shorter than normal lol – you know when things just really annoy you and you find it hard to be tolerant… I find that the underlying beliefs, past experiences and habits that make up who I am, dictate to me how I react to a situation. In a way, if I’m not aware of them, they control my life… So anyway, that’s the mood [...]

I remember as a child listening to the sea inside a shell. I thought it was the most amazing thing being able to hear the sea even when I wasn’t there…I never grew up by the sea but our visits to Maketu and Taranaki were always times of anticipation and excitement. To smell the fresh salty air and to feel the ocean breeze was always a real buzz for me – a reconnection to home, a reconnection to Tangaroa… So [...]

Am sending Papatūānuku peace and calm right now just after hearing of a severe aftershock in Christchurch, earthquake in North Queensland and tornadoes in the US… I don’t know what to say other than it’s at times like this that you just want to send Papatuanuku and the world lots of aroha thoughts! Geez…hang in there Christchruch! And I know what a tornado feels like…I remember in Taranaki a few years ago, 2006 if I remember right, one swept through [...]

This is the third time that I’ve painted black on to a rock and I must say I’m warming to it more and more! Black has always been a dark and gloomy colour for me, one that you see lots of at tangi! I always make a point of not wearing black to tangi because there is already enough of it to go around! I wonder why people wear black to a funeral? Because it’s a sign of mourning? I’m [...]

I love uku and the works of art that are fashioned from Papatūānuku. There is something about clay – natural and of the earth, grounding… We went to an exhibition opening tonight and although some of these students were first year art students, I was amazed at the work they had created and could see huge potential for them. It was very inspiring for me as an artist who has been creating for the past sixteen years to be experiencing [...]

I believe in collective consciousness. I believe that as a global collective we can make a difference. We can bring about change, change that will affect all our lives here on earth, change that will affect the earth. I believe that what is affecting me here in Aotearoa is also affecting you in your part of the world. And what is affecting you is also affecting me. You are not alone in your world and I am not alone in [...]

It was a real challenge to paint this rock today. Layer upon layer upon layer and finally after the fourth layer – something that I felt happy with! It reminds me of my first big painting on canvas – my life mandala. There are at least 10 layers on that painting and I even stripped some of the paint off during one session! But painting that was like painting layers of my life, a process of letting go, working through, [...]

It’s been one of those days where I’ve just felt like curling up with a book. One project has ended and a few others are waiting on the horizon but I’m just wanting to catch my breath for a little bit… I’m in that in between space again; reflecting, resting and re-energising… Purple. It’s one of my favourite colours with green. Purple has always been a wairua (spiritual) colour for me – deep; it implies a certain mood and feeling [...]

Six Pixels of Separation – It’s the title of a book I’ve read at least five times by Mitch Joel and it speaks about how we are all connected. So if I don’t know you then I will probably know someone who knows you who knows someone you know that I know too…I think you get the picture! Anyway…today I painted my 100th rock for 2011! I’ve been looking back over the past 99 days and am appreciating the wonderful [...]

I was inspired today by a kōrero from an Irish woman who had been blind from birth but didn’t realise she was blind until she was 17 years old. Her parents instilled in her from three years old, a belief that she could see and so she went about her life – physically blind but still able to see. I was amazed at this story. She did have her challenges but her message was that anything is possible. We put [...]

We have some lovely Māori kupu and pāua is one of them! pāua – A delicious seafood eaten by Māori especially yummy fried with onions, garlic and did I say creamed? pāua – A clingy child (or an adult) in some cases. Can also be a close friend. pāua – The name of the purple colour that is beneath the top layers of this rock. pāua – the beautiful shell of many colours that houses the delicious seafood. Often used [...]

This is the first day that I’ve really felt the cold! I’m sitting with a blanket wrapped around me as I post this – not wanting to accept that winter is coming! Although I think I’ve softened a bit since living in the East. When I was living up the mountain in Taranaki – now that was cold! It snowed and you could see your breath – you know when you breathe on a cold frosty morning? I remember as [...]

I don’t think we play enough! We take life too seriously sometimes – I know I do! There are days where I wish I was a child again, with no responsibility, free to play whenever and wherever and not have to worry about the world and what is happening in it. Oh to be a child again! Just the other day in a post I was talking about self responsibility and now I want no responsibility lol And yesterday I [...]

Yesterday’s new moon has prompted me into another ‘getting organised’ mood. So today I’ve been doing exactly that! Getting myself organised for the months ahead, planning for new projects, revisiting ideas and turning them into action plans! I’ve also been doing tax for what feels like forever but am feeling good about being in control of it and getting it done! So am balancing my creative pursuits with giving attention to the business side of things. This is what I [...]

I have no words today and will let my rock speak for me… Arohanui, Jo x

GDP = Gross Domestic Product Why are we so concerned about gross domestic product? Why do we value our economy more than we value community? Why do we value the tangible things and fail to acknowledge the intangible? I studied economics in school because I thought it would be useful. I never really got it, even after studying hours on end for exams. I passed my exams (just!) but I still don’t get it. My understanding of the situation here [...]

We went to a traditional dyeing wananga today and saw the most beautiful thing…PARU! For those who don’t know what paru is, it is an amazing black mud, high in iron salts that is used by Māori as a natural dye, especially in weaving and for the dyeing of natural fibres and materials. This paru was as black as black can be! When you think you’ve seen black – you haven’t seen black until you’ve seen paru. As I was [...]

I’m still on the orange earthy theme – just can’t help myself when I start working with a colour! Sometimes it just goes on into the next rock! So I’ve called this one “splat” because I’m in a splat mood whatever that means! I felt like being loose with the paint brush today, slapped on the paint, didn’t wait for it to dry and then piled on another colour…wanting to let go of painting fine detail to enjoy the spiral [...]

One of the many colours in this rock is called manuka honey. It is a creamy colour that is not visible but it is there! And as I write this I am listening to a Kuia from Ngāti Kuri talk about manuka honey and its healing properties. Saana Waitai Murray is her name and her whānau have created a sustainable business for themselves beekeeping in the far North creating pure manuka honey!! The best in the world she says! And [...]

I started painting this rock a while back. I can’t remember exactly when – maybe a year or two? It was one of those rocks that I started painting, then part way through I looked at it and didn’t like what I saw so it got put in the “not satisfied with this” pile. So I’ve breathed new life into this painting…the old purple paint underneath merged with the new layers of white and red paint… I am reminded in [...]

I watched a video today on Facebook – Te Whānau ā Apanui and others had come to tautoko (support) a flotilla of yachts in Auckland on their way to the East Cape in protest of the Government’s decision to allow oil giant Petrobras to drill for oil offshore. I had goose bumps watching them do their haka, just as I did watching a young Māori woman at parliament do her haka the other day in protest of the Takutai Moana [...]

The earth is shedding some skin, letting go of those things that no longer serve her or humanity and replacing them with love… I know when I go through change, there is a shedding of skin, a detoxing of my physical body, an emotional cleansing and a spiritual release. I think about what can happen during detox; the initial stage of discomfort, headaches, agitation…I believe the earth is experiencing her own detoxing, her own release… So much change in the [...]

I got a call from a research company tonight and was really annoyed that my evening had been interrupted!! I reacted and ended up sitting on the phone for a good 15 mins answering questions that I wasn’t really hearing because I was too busy reacting to the situation and mumbling under my breath! At another time I might have been ok to answer questions but this was the wrong time! But it was my own fault! I could of [...]

Today is Day 84! Wow! 84 days ago I decided that I would paint a rock a day…I remember that day…yes I’m going to do it, nah I’m not! Yes I will, no I won’t, yes I will, yes I did! The fact that I was going to be painting a rock a day was enough of a challenge for me, but to also tell the world about it? That was a major for me. My first rock on Jan [...]

I flew home to Gisborne from Taranaki today and captured some wonderful photos from the sky. I was hoping to capture Taranaki maunga as we left but I was on the wrong side of the plane!! So settled for some of the rugged Taranaki coastline instead…which of course is beautiful! But as we left Wellington I looked across the water and there he was in the distance…aaaahhh…I felt like he was doing a big mihi to me…kia kaua e wareware [...]

Sometimes we get so busy that we forget to stop, relax and listen to whats going on around us and more importantly what is going on within us. I’ve been so busy this year, well actually last year’s busyness has flowed into this year. It’s been a good busy though, doing things that I’m passionate about and love to do but it’s so important to just take stock and breathe… Jacquie a good friend of mine texted me the other [...]

“Until something is raised to consciousness you really can’t respect it or treasure it” I’m in the middle of putting the last touches to my video for tomorrows presentation and I came across these words from a dear friend… They will begin my video presentation tomorrow. Kua hoki mai au ki Taranaki! I’ve come home for a couple of days to give an artist talk at Puke Ariki about the kaupapa that I’ve been working on for their latest exhibition. [...]

I’m not really into painting flowers on rocks but when miss Teia came home from school today, I listened to her story about the sun and the earth as I painted this rock…so today’s korero is all hers! Jo: So what have you been up to at school today? Teia: Oh learning about the sun…The sun isn’t really the sun, it’s actually a star. But it doesn’t come out at night time so it’s actually a day star. You know [...]

I’ve been listening to stories today that I recorded in the Taranaki community at the end of last year. When I first had an overall view of the stories I saw there were similar thoughts and themes that ran through all of them. But when I listened more closely, I realised that the people and their stories were actually quite different. “Landscapes of the Heart” is a project I’ve been working on over the past few months with Puke Ariki [...]

I’m watching the night sky tonight, not because everyone is saying that there is going to be an extra big moon in the sky but because I always like to see the moon when its full. I feel the moon when it’s full…does anyone else feel that? You just know when it is in the sky, this massive circle…even when it is not visible, you know that it is there… One of the first stories I heard about the moon [...]

There was a memorial today for the recent Otautahi (Chch) earthquake and I’m so grateful that there was live coverage where we could all tune in. It was a HUGE turnout to remember those who had lost their lives and to support those who mourn their loss. The rescue workers were honoured for their work to save lives and to recover those who had perished. It was also a time for the community to band together as one to remember [...]

Todd comes home today and tells me that he bumped into a woman downtown that says she has started painting a rock a day after seeing my rock of the day project! I thought how cool is that, that what I am doing with my rocks is actually inspiring others to do the same! I love that visual of a stone being dropped into water and causing ripples…and it only takes one stone… And actually I’ve had many ripples created [...]

All I want to say today is PEACE…

Have you ever sat and observed a praying mantis? I’ve been doing exactly that over the past few days – there’s been so many around. They seem to like the comfort of our home because whenever I try to put them outside, they just find their way back in! They are such amazing creatures! I am amazed at how alert and on to it they are. They have a certain elegance and beauty about them. One landed on my arm [...]

I feel for those in Japan right now. The media presents sometimes a conservative view of the effects on human life, perhaps to not instill fear in the people but the reality is right in front of our eyes. There is major loss of life, no doubt about that. And it is in times like this that there is a need for people to reach out to each other, to love and care for each other. My thoughts also are [...]

Silence… I enjoyed the silence as I painted this rock, relaxing after a morning of sharing with art students…I am amazed at what can be achieved in silence. A still mind, reflection, contemplation, relaxation… Not too many words today although this rock speaks volumes! Kia pai nga rangi whakata – have a good weekend. Arohanui, Jo x PS – When choosing colours sometimes they jump out at me and at other times its not so obvious which ones to paint [...]

I had my first class today teaching art students about the business of being an artist. It was a great day! It’s not something that many artists or aspiring artists would want to be learning or would even think about learning and so being as practical and as creative as possible in the delivery was essential! At the end of the day, I realised how passionate I am about sharing what I have learnt with others and how much I [...]

When I picked up this rock from outside it was full of water. It had been raining and the rock had absorbed a lot of the rain so my first thought was to dry the rock to paint on…but instead I left it wet and painted it!  It reminded me of how precious water is and the need to preserve it. I thought to myself, how cool that this rock can hold so much water and wouldn’t it be even [...]

Teia came home from school yesterday with a crown that she had made and quite happy with herself that she had done a brilliant job of it! And it was a beautiful crown, one of the better ones shes made so far. She’s probably created about 10 in all her 6 years of life… Which is my point really. What is up with all the crown making in mainstream schools? Since childcare and then kindergarten and now her second year [...]

My art is not defined by another person. It is personal, intuitive and has many layers. I believe we all have the ability to create art. Art is not just a painting on the wall or a sculpture or a design; art can be a song, a dance, a few words, any kind of expression of a person and who they are. Art can make people smile, it can make people cry. It can make people angry. For me, art [...]

I love Autumn. It’s in between summer and winter, not too hot, not too cold and the colours of autumn are so vibrant and exciting! Its still warm at the moment but you can feel a hint of coolness in the air… I walked out to the garden today and was happy to see the monarch butterflies floating by. We didn’t see them for a while and our swan plants were empty for a couple of months! The kamokamo have [...]

I had written a whole post about another kaupapa (topic) before I wrote this and then I got really angry when I saw something on TV which made me want to talk about respect. Then I heard some other korero from a couple who were one of the first whanau to find out that their son had passed away as a result of the earthquake. SO! So many thoughts going through my mind at the moment… Words such as healing [...]

A short post from me today but an important one about community. I’m overwhelmed at the amount of support coming in to Otautahi from the rest of Aotearoa and around the world but I love seeing how the community of Otautahi have rallied together to clean up, feed themselves, help each other and rebuild their lives. I listened to Mark Soloman this morning on Marae speak about the importance of community as has Bob Parker the mayor of Otautahi (who [...]

I’ve been trying to think of a way of describing my kohatu and the depth of their meaning for me. Last night at Pecha Kucha a woman came up to me and said, “I love your rocks, they are sacred geometry.” I almost jumped out of my chair (well actually I was sitting on the floor as I do lol) These words rang so true for me… A lot of people look at what I do and say how much [...]

It is the day after the earthquake and I’ve seen so many things today; loss of life, destruction, grief, but also hope. I don’t think there is anyone in Aotearoa who doesn’t know someone in Christchurch at this time and I can only say that our thoughts are with all especially those who have lost loved ones or still wait for news and hope that they are alive. This rock is for hope, hope for the future and that we [...]

I don’t know what to say other than much aroha and thoughts of hope to all those in Christchurch at this time. I’m watching the news on TV and am seeing total devastation and loss of life that has come about as a result of this earthquake. Mother nature is ruthless and I can’t help but think we have done this, human nature has done this and now Papatuanuku is responding. When will be wake up people? When will we [...]

I decided to title this post “evolution” because this rock painting in its short lifespan has evolved into something different than what I originally thought was going to be the finish! So beneath the white paint is a totally different design! But thinking about this for my rocks and how they evolve and change over time has prompted me to write about whats been on my mind today! Evolution – what does this mean? I’m still unsure about what my [...]