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Please enjoy this poem as a prayer for all humanity as we collectively struggle to deal with the global pandemic, emotional and mental health issues and the massive uncertainty that exists in our world today. Perhaps touching back into our most sacred and unifying connections can help heal the fear and doubt that we face today.

This moving and heart-opening poem was written by Nadine Anne Hura and is shared by Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Enjoy the read:

Rest now, e Papatūānuku ( Mother Earth )
Breathe easy and settle
Right here where you are
We’ll not move upon you
For awhile

We’ll stop, we’ll cease
We’ll slow down and stay home
Draw each other close and be kind
Kinder than we’ve ever been.

I wish we could say
we were doing it for you
as much as ourselves
But hei aha
We’re doing it anyway
It’s right. It’s time.

Time to return
Time to remember
Time to listen and forgive
Time to withhold judgment
Time to cry
Time to think
About others
Remove our shoes
Press hands to soil
Sift grains between fingers
Gentle palms

Time to plant
Time to wait
Time to notice
To whom we belong
For now it’s just you
And the wind
And the forests and the oceans
and the sky full of rain
Finally, it’s raining!
Ka turuturu te wai kamo o Rangi ki runga i a koe
( Maori phrase meaning – “tears from the eyes of Ranginui drip down on you”

Ranginui is our sky father,
it is common to refer to rain as
the tears of Rangi for his beloved,
from whom he was separated
at the beginning of time
in order that there could be light in the world).
Embrace it

This sacrifice of solitude we have carved out for you
He iti noaiho – a small offering which is a treasure
People always said it wasn’t possible
To ground flights and stay home
and stop our habits of consumption
But it was
It always was.

We were just afraid of how much it was going to hurt
– and it IS hurting and it will hurt and continue to hurt
But not as much as you have been hurt.
So be still now
Wrap your hills around our absence
Loosen the concrete belt
cinched tight at your waist
– Rest.
– Breathe.
– Recover.
– Heal
And we will do the same.

*

Be Well and remember you are made of sacred stuff… Just Breathe!

John

For more information about Breathwork – feel free to contact John at john@johnstamoulos.com