Image: Toby Hall
Reflection, Connection, and Wellbeing in Mental Health.
These celestial markers that we have all celebrated over the last few weeks signal the beginning of the Māori New Year – a time for deep connection, remembrance, thanks and setting intentions for the year ahead.
We do hope you were all able to celebrate this special time over the long weekend. Winter can be challenging, so another public holiday is always welcome, and this time of Matariki is an opportunity to nourish ourselves.
However, as we return to our desks and other mahi, we present you with a wero – a challenge.
Matariki is, after all, a season (a moon cycle, not just one day) for pausing, reflecting on the year gone by, and setting intentions for the future. Matariki is also the name of the main star in the cluster and is connected to wellbeing. So, we invite you, on your return to work, to reflect on how the principles of Matariki can guide your practices, communities and ongoing mahi.
Unity in Celebration
The theme for this year’s holiday is Matariki mā Puanga – to highlight the star Puanga, also known as Rigel. The focus on Matariki mā Puanga invites us to embrace inclusion and diversity, honouring all. Puanga is an important star and the marker of Matariki for many iwi, as the Matariki constellation itself is less visible in some parts of New Zealand.
While the stars that mark the beginning of the Māori New Year vary in some regions, there are shared, underpinned themes of ceremony and celebration. This is a good reminder of the many ways to approach challenges and care for ourselves and others when the intended outcome is the same: good health and mental wellbeing.
For those of us working in and on mental health and wellbeing, Matariki is a time to reflect on our practice. We can look to the four walls of Te Whare Tapa Whā for inspiration: taha tinana (physical health), taha hinengaro (mental and emotional health), taha whānau (family and social health), and taha wairua (spiritual health), which all rest on the foundation of connection to whenua (land).
Reflection and Remembrance
One of the key principles of Matariki is to think of those who walked the path before us and remember those who we’ve farewelled since the last rising of Matariki.
This time of year also stands as a reminder to look within, to acknowledge our challenges and achievements and to give ourselves permission to rest and restore.
For those of us who work in mental health, this could be as easy as encouraging tangata whai ora to incorporate a new, small but impactful action into their routines, such as journaling, meditation or sharing stories.
Journaling and meditation help us to process emotions and figure out what’s working well and what might need to change.
These things can help us gain clarity about an event or how and why we reacted a certain way. We can strengthen resilience by remembering what we’re capable of or the challenges we’ve faced and overcome.
Sharing stories within whānau helps strengthen connections, provide support, and combat feelings of loneliness. It can also help us to honour the memories of loved ones.
These are tools for health and wellbeing that can continue on in our daily lives and practice.
Honouring Hinengaro and Wairua
Wellbeing is a holistic concept with our hinengaro (mind) and wairua (spirit) as important as our physical health.
Matariki encourages us to nurture both through practices like mindfulness, karakia, and connecting with nature.
One of the many Matariki walks and events could be a way to encourage tangata whai ora to get the body moving and be out in the fresh air.
Lighting a candle in memory of those who have passed could bring some closure and introduce a beautiful ritual of remembrance. Too confronting and raw? Reframe it by lighting a candle for those who have inspired or paved a path for us.
Even taking a moment to stargaze and look for the Matariki cluster can help to feel grounded and spiritually fulfilled.
Whanaungatanga: Strengthening Connections
Matariki is a time for gathering with whānau, friends, and community. Sharing kai, telling stories, and participating in community events fosters a sense of belonging and strengthens social bonds. These connections are essential for our mental health and wellbeing.
Who and where are the communities that you and your tangata whai ora can connect or reconnect with?
Gratitude and Abundance
Celebrating Matariki means recognising the abundance in our lives and practising gratitude.
Focusing on what we have rather than what we lack can shift our mindset. Gratitude helps us appreciate the present moment.
You could encourage tangata whai ora to start a gratitude jar and fill it with simple thank you’s. You could suggest a nightly practice of reciting three things they are grateful for.
Now is as good a time as any to introduce life-changing practices.
Kaitiakitanga: Caring for Ourselves and Connecting to Whenua
Kaitiakitanga is the practice of nurturing, caring for, and protecting our people and our environment.
During Matariki and beyond, we can embody kaitiakitanga by looking after ourselves, supporting others, and taking responsibility for the wellbeing of our community and whenua (land).
For those with the energy to do so, that may mean planting trees or cleaning up local spaces. But it can also mean simple and easy actions by thinking about the footprint we leave. What household items could be swapped out for a more sustainable option? Is it possible to walk to town today rather than drive? Is there a friend or neighbour to check in on?
What vegetables or herbs could you start to grow this weekend? Or can you spend time at the local park or in your backyard?
Spending time in or thinking about our natural world can make a difference in how we feel about our environment and ourselves.
Looking to the Future
Moemoeā ngā Wawata
Write down your hopes, dreams, and aspirations for the year ahead and beyond. This is a common practice during Matariki but is especially relevant here at Equip, being in our bones: Equip – moemoeā ngā wawata.
Moemoeā means dream or vision
Wawata means to desire earnestly, long for, yearn for, daydream, aspire.
Talk to whanau (family) and friends about their aspirations. Check in with colleagues and your team about theirs.
Final words.
These rising stars are our reminder that our unique connections to place, culture, and community shape wellbeing. And that wellbeing is a shared journey and responsibility.
Matariki and Puanga can be your anchors for hinengaro and wairua. Take time to reflect, connect, and care for yourself and those around you.
Because reflecting on our past, celebrating the present, and looking to the future can help create a foundation for a healthy, connected, and resilient Aotearoa.
Mānawatia a Matariki mā Puanga – may this season bring you peace, connection, and inspiration for the year ahead.
