Mānawatia a Matariki - New year greetings!

During our yoga this term we spent the last two weeks setting intentions- called a Sankalpa in the yoga tradition I am trained in.

This was to honour and mark the beginning of Matariki, the re-emergence of the star cluster known as Matariki or Pleiades. To harness the energy of this powerful time, the power of the stars and ritual, to bring our desires and wishes from our hearts and minds into fruition...

The kaupapa involved focusing on one of the nine stars-

Hiwa-i-te-Rangi - The Wishing Star... 

... sending our wishes, hopes and dreams to the stars ...that is one of the roles of Matariki wā, when the star Matariki rises she brings with her her children, one of which is Hiwa-i-te-Rangi, the wishing star...so now is the time to release your wishes and dreams for the coming year.

In yoga we use the power of Sankalpa - a resolve or intention for that which you wish to bring into your life - this...