Sharing 3 of the 50 wisdomcards

Keeper of the East, Kahu, Hawk

Kahu is the soaring hawk that greets us as we travel the land. It is the guardian of the trails that cross the mountain passes, and the messenger who joins us with the stars and ages long gone.

It soars far above the Earth to embrace the towering peaks, the sweep of rivers, the spread of the forest and the shift of the waves along the sea-shore. Kahu captures with discerning eye the merest detail far below, the shift of its prey, the smallest of movements that gives its hide away.

Kahu is vision and birthing. In the springtime when Kahu brings food to the nest, it follows lore long lost to other birds. It feeds the weakest chick first, for it understands that while the strong will survive in their own right, the vulnerable one may not. When the young hunters bring food home, they feed the elders first. These caring traits have become the higher ways of people.

The energy of Kahu is dynamic, intense and powerful. It is fearless in pursuit of the needs of family. Kahu, in its completeness, is a mover and shaper, a presence in the land that reminds us to look at the world with a far-seeing eye. Kahu is vision.

 

Keeper of The South, Kea, mountain parrot

Kea is of the high beech forests, the yellow tussock lands and the rocky peaks, for it is the mountain parrot. Kea’s home is in sheltered crevices where the families gather to bring forth young in the new light of the spring-born days. Its spirit is of the vast open spaces and the closeness of the child’s world of fun.

Coloured a beautiful olive green to match the upland forests, Kea reveals its first surprise in flight when it presents the scarlet underside of its wings. This flash of joy is true to the nature of this alpine bird. The walker, new to the mountains, is often astonished when Kea arrives to share the trail, one or two hopping in front and several following close behind.

This is Kea, trail companion, child of delight and wayward humour. The wary know it is unwise to leave packs and tents unguarded. For the moment they turn their backs Kea hops in to investigate the wondrous toys carried by the traveller. Socks are shredded with razor-hooked beak, toothpaste is opened and tasted for flavour, a shiny spoon is a welcome boon and instant source of Kea laughter. This is the play that is their way no matter how old the bird, for all are of the child eternal.

We have named other parrots, taught them words to say, and caged them for our amusement. Kea gifts to us its joy without giving up its freedom. It visits entertains and leaves by its own choosing.

Kea, child of the dawn, fun on the run, spirit of innocence reborn, the ever-joyful one, soars on high to greet the sun and touches everyone.

 

Guardian of the East, Kauri

Kauri, the forest giant, is a national treasure. In times past the ancestors came to Kauri, to the Mother of the Trees, to ask if they might have her children to make waka to sail the wide ocean. When this wish was granted, Kauri become the ancestors’ vessel of dreams that carried their hope to the world.

When Kauri is damaged by the storm-winds it bleeds. From within itself it finds the means to seal and heal the hurt. This amber gum is its inner essence shared with the world. Some see these oozing droplets as tears of grief for the hurts of the past.

Kauri’s life spans thousands of years to hold the saddest of stories, the destruction of the greatest forests in the land.
Few Kauri remain today. Yet they bear silent witness to our actions in the past, to a wanton harvest that cut deep without asking, that failed to honour the needs of our children seven generations hence.