Matariki this year felt really enriching and empowering. Every day and weekend, I nourished myself and what I needed change in my life. I connected with my Aho Matua, journaled, allowed myself to cry and breath, I laughed, I ate good foods, I actually relaxed for this first time all year and I tapped into the mana of my tipuna wahine. Over this time, it had been 13 years since my Great-Grandmother passed and nahana awau I whakatipu I te wa I pepe awau, therefore, many things I did were envolped the ahuatanga she gave me, but towards myself and growing a deeper more loving relationship with myself. One of the things I remembered growing up which served me during this Matariki period was her saying "Ki te kore koe e whakahawea atu, e whakapara atu koe ki nga tangata e kaha aroha ana koe, he aha e korero pera ai ki koe ake?" (If you wouldn't say it to someone you love, why would you say it to yourself?) To this day, she still remains my poutokomanawa, taku kuini, taku mareikura mai te toi o nga rangi. Nearly every day or anytime the shadow work got a bit much, I would remember these affirmations she would say to me Matariki which guide me to the light. I hope you don't mind if I share them with you too hei taonga, in hopes that you too can find solace and love in them also. " He kaha koe, He whaitake koe mo ake, E arohaina ana koe e ahau e hine, Ko koe te mana me te mauri o te aroha " I share this with you all, to encourage and liberate the voice of Matariki, that we look deeper into ourselves. And yes, although we, a Ngai Maori, breathe a life of togetherness, community and wholesome selflessness, I plead that in the midst of that, you do not forget about yourself too - However Matariki may look to you, that you do not forget about sustainable platform for yourself, just like Hiwa I Te Rangi.