52. Daughter of the Ocean

Deep in a dream she visited me
so I sat with the others, down at her feet
Descended from Tangaroa and daughter was she
of Rakataura from the Tainui canoe

Over all does she reign who dwell in the Sea
whether fish, whether taniwha, coral or whale
and here was this woman imparting to me
the story of Waikanae, while I was on leave

There are Waikanae many all over the World
all over the country as well this coast
but this single name links them together
a singular fountain of info and story

This is the place, of "bleeding hearts"
of where the forlorn come to be cured
and where all the healers come near and afar
and offer their love, their hearts and their prayers

This is where journeys end and begin
where waka set sail and people come in
A singular hub on the Wellington coast
for seafarers from the mighty Pacific

It's also the place where spirits were banished
out into the depths of our darkest oceans
Wiremu Ratana sending them there
due to their obstinance and unfounded fears

She takes us all down to the Waikanae shore
but I fear to tread out onto the sand
As I stand on the grass I see weather bombs
black menacing clouds, lightening striking the water

And out of the depths come dark lonely figures
one noticing me and moving towards me
"Get back in that water" I hear myself say
and see it move backwards, out into the wake

A powerful lesson learnt on this day
of the history and meaning in the name of this bay
Of what to look out for before setting sail
of healing or dispelling souls and their pain

48. Wisdom

Long blonde hair tied back in a bun
the Lady turned and smiled at me
but her mouth was filled with jagged shards
of amethyst to chew my soul

A new direction it would appear
was to cleanse and purify my being
removing and shedding all my guides
and moving to a brand new plane

St Germain with his Violet flame
Kahukura in a purple cloud
and this Lady here with jagged teeth
with the gift of purity and inner wisdom

The Mother Goddess was there as well
cloaked from head to toe in blue
and calmly and reassuringly
takes us both - hand in hand

Weeks weeks later I'm resolute
but begin to cry and shriek and wail
as I strip myself of all the comforts
that Wolves and Angels have given me

At the water's edge I quietly sob
as I sprinkle water over my head
but there beside me floating now
a small twig - a taniwha bobs along

The fear, the anger and all the pain
now subsides and washes away
I get to my feet and stumble along
and notice a plague with the Lake's name

Matahina to see into the dark or
to see the grey areas in all that's around me
Hina's the moon watching over the night
and sister to Papatuanuku

I look to the sky and the Sun still shines
and a white kahu or hawk flies by
and as I sniff and wipe my last tear
I feel the grace of women near...