He purapura i ruia mai i Rangiātea e kore e ngaro
A seed sown in Rangiātea will never be lost
Acknowledging who we are and the strength of our connections with people and places that are dear to us help feed and nurture our wairua. These are important and sometimes overlooked parts of our approach to health and wellbeing.
Spirituality and wairua
Spirituality can mean different things to different people. It can simply be about the things that bring meaning and purpose to life.
For example, it can involve cultural connectors like whakapapa (genealogy), atua (ancestors), karakia (prayer) and tikanga (custom). It can also be learning to celebrate who and what we are, where we have come from, and where we’re going.
Nourishing our taha wairua is a personal journey. Knowing and feeling contented with who we are, and spending time reflecting on or doing things that make us happy are examples of ways to nurture our wairua.
Nourishing your taha wairua
Here are some other things you could do:
- spend time in te taiao (nature) – go for a bushwalk, swim in a river, walk on the beach or simply stop to smell the roses
- catch up with family or whānau
- do things that connect with and celebrate your culture
- ground into your whakapapa – visit your maunga, awa, ūkaipō or marae
- give yourself permission to reflect and evolve
- learn what keeps you feeling calm, peaceful and content
- gather new skills – studying helps you develop and grow your knowledge and mātauranga
- ask someone you admire to be your mentor or tuakana.
