88. Fountain of Light

Ripples of cascading, flowing white light
shimmer and sparkle across the carpeted floor
as we sit and are welcomed into the whare
Te Puna i te Ao Marama

The Fountain of Light is the name of this House
apon the lands itself which bear the same name
and dutifully named by the ancestor Kupe
in a beautiful area called the Hokianga

But as the speeches continue and song fills the rafters
and Dame Whina's picture hangs on the wall
the floor of the House is shimmering at me
as though the afternoon Sun sits alongside me

Curiously I look all about me
hoping that others can see what's before me
but alas - they do not, and continue to listen
as the tangata whenua continue to talk

With my bare feet and whilst no-one is noticing
I wiggle - really slowly, some of my toes
and see one pass through this mysterious layer
like a whale or dolphin through the crest of a wave

I am conscious of others, now wary of me
where my wee antics are attracting attention
so slowly, I smile and offer my gratitude
to these beautiful waters who have made themselves known

I reach down, and gently - I now stroke the floor
as though I'm admiring the shag of the carpet
and feel my own heart fill with peace and with beauty
as I gain my composure, and listen to speeches

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

51. The Milky Way

I enter the water out into the deep
and a killer whale comes crossing my wake
up alongside me a pilot whale smiles
and nudges me on into turbulent water

Tumbling and falling down into the dark
I find myself swimming an underground tunnel
The cavern is dark cept for small holes above
and piercing bright light shines down apon me

Under an old temple I find myself swimming
and become overwhelmed with frightening fear
A karakia comes from my heart and my lips
and then the words 'Kill him' from out of the dark

With panic and fear I swim along further
being pursued by men close behind me
Climbing out of a well they reach and they grab
but on reaching the top I kick them back down

I take in the Light and take in the view
a Pyramid of gold have I just swum beneath
In an ancient, old city now do I stand
surrounded by desert and palm trees of green

I completed a test laid down long ago
inherent within my blood and my bones
Like the Hebrews who swam the perilous Nile
or Māori traversing our very own Sky

Each part of the river or our own galaxy
corresponded to parts of the spiritual self
With each test completed - another part opened
enabling students to go further on...