An Indigenous Approach to Māori Healing with Papatūānuku

Abstract

This paper reveals the significance of the female role in the healing of mother nature (Papatūānuku) and all her progeny for Māori living in Aotearoa New Zealand. I discuss how understanding the synchronisation of the male and female energies can balance the spiritual health, wellbeing, and healing of Māori and their whānau (families). My own whakapapa that traverses back to the beginnings of time informs my methodology which acknowledges the wider whānau concept and links with both the living and the non-living ancestors of nature. These divine feminine descendants and spiritual guardians are identified as the essential foundation of traditional Māori healing. I examine the interconnectedness of Māori (ordinary, natural) people being a living consciousness with an innate ability to link in with the ancient mother energies of nature and all her progeny. The unconditional love of the ancient mother energies of nature are the spiritual source of healing for Māori and can be instrumental in balancing the natural order of the male and the female roles within the self, the whānau, and the wider whānau unit of mother nature.

Waitara

He whakaaturanga tā tēnei tuhinga i te tohu o te tūnga o te wahine i roto i ngā tumahu o Papatūānuku me ana uri katoa ki te Māori e noho nei i Aotearoa. Ka matapakihia e au mā te mātauranga mahitahitanga o te pūngao tāne me te pūngao wahine e whakarite te hauora wairua, te hauora me te tumahu o te Māori me ō rātau whānau. Ko tōku whakapapa e hoki nei ki te kore ki te tīmatanga o te wā te hua o taku tikanga mahi e whakaae ana ki te ariā whānau whānui ka whaiheretahi ki te hunga ora me te hunga mate o te ao tūroa. Ko ēnei hekenga māreikura kaitiaki wairua e tohua ana ko te tūāpapa o te tikanga tumahu Māori. Ka arotakehia e au te whakahononga o te iwi Māori koia nei te koiora mauri ora mau momo ki te hono atu ki a pūngao tūroa me ōna hekenga katoa. Ko te tuku aroha herekore o ngā pūngao tūroa te pūtaketanga o te tumahu mō te Māori; te mea hai whakarite i te paparangi o te tikanga tāne tikanga wahine rō whaiaro, rō whānau me te whānau whānui o te ao tūroa.