Kia ora whānau,
Thank you for wanting to be part of Mahi Raakau - Self Help / Self Healing.
This work is many things, easy, hard, challenging, thought provoking, heart opening, painful and pain relieving.
Mahi - to work / a job / an action of
Raakau - a stick / a tree / a branch / a leaf / a medicine / a stance
When I talk about the Raakau, it looks nothing like the doweling rod we use these days. A Raakau used to be found at the sea or river edge, or one self harvested from the bush. After de-barking, cleaning and ensuring that the knots and crevices are taken out, you were ready to begin. In the work the Raakau will ‘bite’ the flesh of specific parts of the foot or body that hold tension, ache, an old injury, emotion or more. The bite signals a need to clear and cleanse, or a release from a way of being and doing that does not serve us. As human beings today, we have become complex, and this complexity amplifies our lack and the good use of ourselves for ourselves.
A major goal of Mahi Raakau - Self Help / Self Healing is a return to Simplicity.
You utilise your bodyweight, either standing, sitting or lying on your Raakau. You will be led through various positions and exercises to help you be home within.
Mahi Raakau - Self Help / Self Healing is a generational teaching modality that our elders used.
Mahi Raakau - Self Help / Self Healing has its own methodology that works with each individual the way YOU need, the way YOU want and it compliments YOU.
Working the body is not a practice, it is a need, even when painful. Use of the Raakaau, in all her ways and means, is a tool to help you discover yourself. Yes, it can make one sore, it can make you cry, it can make you feel. But always it will move you to some level of understanding and knowing of yourself that you may have forgotten, or thought you lacked. Further, things that affect us: love, family, money, work, safety, and more, play on our minds more than we think. This can work against us, particularly when there are a lot of things coming at us at the same time.
Mahi Raakau - Self Help / Self Healing supports mental wellness. When we are calm, are empowered, have surety in all we do (particularly when life’s unexpected moments happen), we cope. Mental wellness does not mean you have to be perfect in everything you do. But it does mean that you are handling what is in front of you at this moment and you’re doing a good job with it. These are the gifts of Mahi Raakau.
You will need to have at least the one 1" x 20" raakau (wooden stick/dowel rod) and a 2" x 24" size too, if available. In metrics, this is approximately 25mm x 500mm and 50mm x 600mm. A bit longer is fine. The local hardware store or lumber merchant is usually a good place to shop for these. If you are looking to get the third raakau size, that one is 40mm diameter (1 ½”) and the length from the top of your shoulder bone to end of your fingertips when you hold your arm straight out in front of you—however that measures for your body.
Please be sure you know where your camera and microphone buttons are, so that you can mute and turn off your video when we start. Please double check. This will help keep Atarangi from being interrupted by participants’ background noise. Thank you.
The link to join the weekend’s session will be in an “Appointment Reminder” email from Māori Healers.
Blessings and we look forward to seeing you all.
Tikanga of the Raakau:
- honour the raakau at all times
- name your raakau, not your name, its own will come
- the raakau is for your use ONLY/ sharing your raakau equals mixed results in your healing
- if needed, get a second raakau to bless/dedicate as the one you'll use on others
- cleanse your raakau(s) with every use / spray water over it / recite a karakia, prayer, blessing / leave in the sun or moonlight
- wash in the sea, lake, stream or leave in the garden or bush when possible
Do Not:
- do not leave on the floor for others to step over / on a table or bench where food is or will be / do not take in toilet / do not leave under a chair or place where someone sits their bum
Healing Yourself:
- ensure you are safe at all times / use a chair or wall to lean on / ask someone to support you / or sit and work in a chair- when it hurts acknowledge the 'bite' / know you are ok
- done mindfully Mahi Raakau brings great release
- everything to be done slowly
- if the tears are there let them come
- Enjoy! This is YOUR bodyweight doing the work on you for YOU
Openers:
- open the body by starting with the feet
- engage specific parts of the body / i.e. big toe for head, neck pain, headaches, migraines, ears, thinking, worry etc.
- must be included at all times before starting any Mahi Raakau process
The slower you go, the deeper it is. You want slow. You want deep.
B R E A T H E ! ! !
Remember to breathe.
To prepare:
* Say “Thank you!!” upon opening your eyes in the morning; this being the greatest prayer one can say.
* Be conscious before we go live of the healing we will undertake together. In your thoughts include loved ones in pain, hurting for whatever reason, mental, physical, spiritual, emotional, environmental, homeless, all of it, every last scrap.
* You will need at least the one 1" x 20" raakau (wooden stick). In metrics, this is approximately 25mm x 500mm. A bit longer is fine. If nothing else, a broom handle will do.
* These teachings are meant to be experienced in the moment. The workshop may not be recorded.
* Our work together will take place barefoot, on the floor, as you would imagine for a yoga class. Having a wall nearby may help you balance or consider a straight-backed chair if getting down to and being on the floor for an extended period of time is a challenge.
* If you have a question as we do the bodywork, type it in the chat, and we’ll do our best to reply. In saying that though, this is not a personal 'fix me' session.
* Please settle and be ready prior to the start time, so we may begin all together the moment that Spirit declares. That said, if the link seems to not work, we are still getting sorted. Give us a minute and please try again.
* Plan for us to work for two hours, though maybe a bit longer.
Aroha (Love) Nui (Big),
Atarangi