Antipodal Posting – Seven Stars of Matariki

Antipodal Posting – Seven Stars of Matariki

Happy…Canada Day, Independence Day and Matariki

Celebrations seem to be underway everywhere we look.

I’ve never been the most enthusiastic of global citizens in terms of embracing indigenous culture and ceremony. Probably because I’ve never found the connection and often find the promotion of one culture over another as self-serving. Nevertheless, due to our travels, I continue to find myself unexpectedly learning things once considered unforeseeable.

Geothermal Forces

Unsurprisingly, Maori culture is one such thing, and something that I still greet with mixed feelings. A language once on the cusp of extinction roughly thirty years ago, the Maori is taught in schools as one of the three official national languages (the other being New Zealand Sign Language – a distinct form of signing from American Sign Language, Australian Sign Language (both referred to as ASL) European Sign Language and the roughly 300 distinct forms that exist.

Why sign language hasn’t merged into a few ostensibly similar forms to facilitate the relatively small population that uses it I’ll never understand. Especially when there are such strong examples of the Scots and Italians using four or five clear gestures that are universally understood. But I guess this isn’t an immediate issue, as Spencer isn’t learning NZSL but rather Maori. A language of limited geographic scope, but like the forms of sign language, shares some familiar ground with other Polynesian languages. But still…

Geothermal Geyser 

Because of our move to New Zealand, we’re exposed to the Maori culture through local popular culture and Spencer’s education. While not particularly keen about Spencer learning a language of limited use, such as Maori, rather than something more broadly practical such as an Asian or European language, we take it as it comes. All as a part of living in New Zealand and accepting the culture of our current home. I suppose that all learning can be considered positive if put in the proper context.

For Spencer this means that she is learning a handful of words and phrases, such as numbers and colours, but also local traditions. Again, probably a positive lesson in understanding our world, tolerance, as well as empathy and perspective.

Last Friday was the Matariki celebration at Spencer’s school.

Passage from beach to the Three Sisters

In addition to a reminder of how painful these obligatory school events are, Matariki marks the Maori New Year through the return of the tangible and intangible. A convergence of things that can be directly observed and those, which are only observed through reflection. During this period, the constellation we refer to as Pleiades becomes more visible in the Southern hemisphere. The Matariki legend refers to the seven stars of Pleiades as the Stars of the Seven Sisters. It is the returning of these seven sisters that serves as a reminder of claims the spiritual return of those we’ve forgotten. A reflection of the past and future of our lives.

Strangely, I like this idea. I appreciate the idea of making direct observations of celestial bodies and noticing how the world is always changing, moving past us. The idea of seasons of remembrance is good as well. This allows us to make the loss, or the distance, in a measured and important manner, but then also moving beyond the past and into the future.

Three Sisters at Low Tide

It’s amazing how various societies have turned to the stars for guidance, both physically and spiritually. As amazing as the stars are beautiful, they serve to guide us to new worlds, through familiar waters and reflective pursuits.

Matariki provides me with a reminder of the losses that we’ve experienced, missed opportunities and the things that remain incomplete. However, the idea of an annual reflection also spurs me to take the losses in stride, to mourn them and move on. Perhaps most importantly, to not only move beyond, but to learn and look forward to the year ahead.

Time marked geologically

For Spencer Matariki marked the memory of all the Princesses she met at Disney who she now misses. For me, it was lamenting the time I waited in line to see the Princesses, sometimes while Spencer had fallen asleep during the wait.

In the observation of Matariki, I hope that you all have a great Canada Day or Fourth of July, or both. As we look upon the stars in the coming week, weather permitting, we’ll have you all in our minds. Hopefully our stars will align and our paths will cross again in future days. For our friends in Calgary, Stampede Week will soon be upon you and memories will again be fleeting.

Be well.

For all that's behind us and for everything that lies ahead...