Milestones
Chelita Kahutianui o-te-Rangi Zainey, Waitaha/Ngāpuhi/Ngāti Kahu/Ngāti Haua
Māmā, writer, Kai Rongoā, spiritual mentor, and certified breathwork facilitator.
At the end of this month, I reach a new milestone – 10 years of service in the Māori Healing Arts and a decade of commitment to my own personal healing journey.
People often ask me, “Are we ever done with healing?” and once upon a time, I would have responded with, “I don’t think so!” But last year, I reached a new atea (space) in my journey, which left me sitting in a place of feeling, for the most part, free from the burdens of trauma that I had carried for most of my life.
Healing is a deeply poignant human experience to be celebrated every step of the way because the reality is that it is not an easy journey to undertake.
To heal oneself is to relieve te wairua, te hinengaro, te tinana, te whānau from the bonds of trauma, pain, and suffering, the obstacles and blocks that can be preventing us from embracing a rich and joyful life.
We say if healing were easy, everyone would do it because to heal is to acknowledge all parts of ourselves, our suffering, and the external human experience that has influenced and shaped who we are and often prevents us from being who we really desire to be.
Kei te mihi, kei te mihi, kei te mihi… Acknowledge, acknowledge, acknowledge. I have said this in the context of this column before – acknowledgement is key.
Disconnection leads to ‘dis-ease’ – is something I share when teaching Rongoa Māori, and the point at which we are often disconnected is the place undoubtedly where the trauma lies. To return back to the cause of one’s suffering, to acknowledge its existence, to stare it down, to bear witness is to relive what has happened to us in our darkest moments, and it is a precious experience to be held with much reverence.
To hold space and guide others into these long, dark nights of the soul is no small undertaking and one that requires an immense depth of compassion, understanding, and mastery.
The Ara or pathway of healing is a multifaceted one; it is often not a linear or clear path, but perseverance to acknowledge the most uncomfortable parts of ourselves will leave us with true gifts – a greater capacity to experience life free from trauma, free from emotions that are causing harm, free to welcome in a fuller, richer, more authentic life.
We like to say that the body never lies – and in my professional journey as a Māori healing facilitator and teacher, I can testify to this. Trauma has an insidious way of locking itself into the body, into the mind, into the heart, and its burden can be a heavy one to carry. But by committing to self, committing to a journey of healing, we can truly achieve mastery over how we are showing up in this world.
If you find yourself considering a healing journey, or perhaps you are already on one, make sure you take your time, ensure you connect with genuinely serving trauma-informed practitioners, and look to somatic therapies (such as breathwork) to help release stored emotions and experiences from the mind/body systems, build a supportive community around you, and always take the time to acknowledge yourself and to celebrate your milestones every step of the way.