While I was in India at Shri Mataji’s Birthday celebrations the New Zealand collective graciously invited me to attend the North of the North Island, New Zealand Sahaja YogaTour.
Upon my return to Australia I prayed with all my heart to remove any family and financial obstacles that came my way. To my amazement everything flowed so well. It was like playing a game of Patience, sitting on the fence, waiting for the right time to act on my desires. I had no doubts in my heart.
A few obstacles appeared but I was determined to go, as I felt it was my duty and responsibility to go. For so long I had desired to go deeper, to devote myself to face myself, to face my family, the Maori people and to help work out the collective issues in New Zealand and enjoy giving realisation to as many people as possible.
When I arrived in New Zealand a sweet yogini, Shirley, offered me a ride to Ahipara some 4-5 hours away, to meet up with the collective. Just north of Auckland, we had car problems, and unfortunately Shirley and her car were destined to return to Auckland for repairs. There was no way I was going to miss out on the Tour; so I made my own arrangements. I rang and asked my father to meet me half-way. So I caught a ride to Whangarei, 2 hours away, on a huge freight truck. The truck driver was the sweetest Maori man. We had much to talk about, and travel time went so quickly. We met my father and his new wife, Belle, and then drove to Kohukohu, another 2 hours away.
So many phenomenal experiences happened in “Aotearoa” which means “The Land of the Long White Cloud”. On 25 April, we toured 90 mile beach on a 4 wheel drive bus, the journey so beautiful, so mystical, full of so much joy, being with the collective and learning so much of the local history. The landscape is so lush, an abundance of colours of greenery. It is unbelievable how in the North the most barren land of sand has been transformed into a man-made pine forest which creates work for locals as well as income for the government and local iwi ( family) trusts. This in return is a never-ending cycle of life, as well as an eye-opener for the tourists. There is so much to see, including the wild horse population. This was one of the longest days of my life, in slow motion. Time was truly of the essence, so omnipresent.
The highlight of the day was visiting Cape Reinga which has great historic and spiritual significance in Maori mythology. It is known as “Te Rerenga Wairua” - the departure of spirits - where the spirits of the dead are believed to leap off the headland and climb down the roots of the 800-year-old pohutakawa tree, and descend into the underworld to return to their traditional homeland of Hawaiki ( the heavens).
As you walk down the path to the light house, look to your right and you can see this sacred place, this tree, growing on the cliff edge. Looking to the left you see the beautiful views of the ocean - being Anzac Day this was special as well. This is where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. The waves cross paths and integrate into one grand ocean.
A few of us paid our respects, by taking time to sit, to pray for all the spirits to take their rebirth. Many ventured on to the lighthouse for photos, and Denis so humbly sat on the top of the hill, giving realisation to 2 young European women. We travelled on, having fun on the sand dunes and cruising down the beach in style. We celebrated back at camp with a barbeque feast.
The following day, we moved on to Coopers Beach, for our next program. A few of us chatted about how New Zealand, with all its glory, is so beautiful in nature, and the people, too, are in tune with nature. The peace is all around them. No wonder many have no desire to look inside.
We camped at Bay of Islands, near Pahia, for 2 nights. What a heavenly place, surrounded by water, and hills! I had a strong pull to go to Waitangi; so Uncle Upendra and I went. When we arrived we were greeted by this angelic being called Dollarina. She was literally waiting to for us to receive Mother’s Love. She had just returned to work after having a major operation. She was frail, yet enthusiastically she opened her heart to realisation in Maori and attended our program in Kerikeri that evening.
I chose to do the full tour with a guide to learn the history and receive a copy of the original Treaty. For those who don’t know about the Treaty of Waitangi, it was signed in 1840 as an agreement between the British Crown and Maori. It established law and order in New Zealand while guaranteeing Maori authority over the land and culture. The treaty protected Maori land in exchange for British sovereignty.
Waitangi Day is a National holiday in New Zealand. A dawn ceremony is celebrated annually on the 26 February at “The Treaty Grounds” where the government and Maori people unite in prayer, where sacred and meaningful discussions are held.
Firstly we were shown the Maori war canoe, built in 1940, which is used during Waitangi Day celebrations. We moved on to the Treaty Grounds where we learned about the Treaty, where questions from tourists were answered by our guide. There are 3 flags flying high at the mast to mark the actual place of the signing by the representative chiefs and the Crown.
We entered the meeting house, a place of learning. To Maori, this house is a reflection of the woman’s body. Entering the house you enter the womb. Inside you see carvings of all the tribes of the people throughout Aotearoa. You can see the rib cage, which means the women are the backbone of the people. There are three main poles: the pou mauri (the memory pole); the pou tokomanawa (the heart pole); and the poukaitiaki (the pole of protection or the protector of the people). I quietly admired many of the carvings. The carvings of the tongue signify the Maori language as being a verbal language, a sweet language. Finally, I returned to the mast, at the “Four Directions of the Wind”. Here I sat in meditation for a short time.
Wow! What a precious moment! I left full of Mother’s blessings, so honoured and forever grateful, so content to know Mother has vibrated this land forever, and forever this will make a difference in the future of Aotearoa.
On our return to Whangarei, so many overwhelmingly wonderful personal events happened for me, holistically. The wounds of my family’s past are deep for my siblings, but I have been graciously blessed with Mother’s Love and forgiveness. New relationships with my father and my grandmother have been established with much dignity.
Roger desired so much for his mother’s carer (an extremely hardworking Maori woman with such a huge heart) to attend the program. So he took me to meet her. We managed to talk her and her niece into attending the program at Tikipunga.
During the program the heavens opened. As the library had a glass ceiling, we witnessed Shri Vishnumaya (Goddess of Lightning) in full display, clearing Whangarei. Roger opened the program with such confidence. I was asked to give realisation. As I stood, my family arrived - Grandma, Belle, and Dad - amidst the raging storm. To my own surprise this brave warrioress, confronted with her family, proudly spoke with an open heart about Sahaja Yoga. What a divine gift to give my father his realisation at a public program! Afterwards I witnessed him, struggling vibrationally, but he never took his eyes off Shri Mataji’s photograph.
This journey was so deep and meaningful for me, to make me stronger than the memories and strive forth as a Soldier of Love. The amazement of my growth is supreme. My connection with Aotearoa is as strong as my connection to Mother. When I was there, I felt like I had never left, and now that I am here, I feel I am there. I am neither here nor there; I am the spirit, forever omnipresent, with Mother in my heart.
Many thanks to Shri Mataji for having this tour in her absolute attention. To Uncle Upendra, thank you for the joyous laughter, your wisdom, your sweet innocence. To Uncle Dave, thanks for sharing your dynamic influence of Joy. To Aunty Trish and Julie, you truly are saints. To Akhila, you are a blessing from above, a true angel. To Roger, my Kamo brother, you are the best! To all the New Zealand collective, thank you for your generosity of Love.
Arohanunui (an abundance of Love)
Merenia Ashwell
(Photograph: earthobservatory.nasa.gov)
Tags: Aotearoa, Maori, New Zealand, realisation, Sahaja Yoga, Shri Mataji, Waitangi
