Author: Justin Myers
Blog for May 18, 2019
After a relaxing couple of days in Raglan, we headed out to the Manu Wairua. We drove for 30 minutes outside of the city until we had arrived. The entrance to the Manu Wairua was a steep gravel hill that our leaders had been dreading since we had arrived in the small surf town of Raglan. Our massive white van filled with 11 people made it challenging to get to the top of this hill. Once we started going up, we could not stop in fear that our van would spin out or roll backwards. So, our driver Dave drove rapidly up the hill, dodging plants, branches, and ditches. Vanessa said it had an Indiana Jones feel as we made our way up to the property. We pulled up with the windows down, laughing and playing loud music. However, as we stepped out of the van, our tone quickly shifted. Our hosts, Rangimarie and Rob, greeted us. They carried a serious mood that foreshadowed what was in store.
After we unloaded our gear, I went around to explore. The boys and I were staying in a Teepee up a ways from the building that the girls were staying in. Right next to our Teepee was a strange structure built from sticks. It had a tree in the middle with small painted sticks surrounding its base. Circling the tree were much larger sticks (that at least doubled my height) with ribbons tied around them. Although I did not know the meaning of the space, I could feel its energy.
Later that day, we all met with RangiMarie and Rob to talk about what was happening the next day. We were set up to take part in a sweat lodge. Sweat lodges were used in native practices for healing, cleansing, and visions. After going over the basics of the lodge, they warned us to get plenty of rest in preparation for tomorrow.
When the talk was finished, I approached Rangimarie to ask her about the strange formation of sticks. It was called the mystery circle. She told me that the mystery circle was filled with prayer sticks and was divided into the four regions (North, South East, and West). The space within the circle was used for different prayers and rituals. The last Carpe Diem group on the property had placed prayers sticks following the Christ Church shootings. However, the space was mainly used for visions quest. For a vision quest, someone would sit in the circle until a vision came to them. Often, they would not eat during these periods, even if it took multiple days. Knowing that we had the sweat lodge first thing in the morning, I asked Rangimarie if I could spend the night out in the mystery circle. Without hesitation, she said yes, and emphasized how she could tell I was drawn to the circle.
That night I made my way to the mystery circle to begin my own vision quest. My heart pounded as I took my first steps inside. I set up my double sleeping bad in the northwest region, since I had been in the pacific northwest for all of my life. I crawled into my sleeping bag and zipped it shut. The sky was clear except for a few clouds. I watched as they drifted by, occasionally blocking the moon and the stars. As I laid on my back, I reflected on my life: people, places, challenges, and anything else that had shaped me, until I eventually fell asleep.
I awoke in the circle to a light drizzle on my face. The sky was now overcast; some clouds had rolled in while I slept. However, I did not mind the rain, and I later learned that the Maori people saw rain as cleansing. After wiping my face, I rolled over to my left. I saw Rob standing around the burning fire, heating the rocks that would later be used in the sweat lodge.
Once everyone was out of bed, we met around the fire (outside of the sweat lodge). No one said a word; not even a hello. After a karakia, Rangimarie started to take the women in. The men and I watched, since we were to go in after. Before entering, each person pressed their forehead to the ground acknowledging Papatuanuku (Mother Earth) before crawling into the sweat lodge. Once all the women were crowded inside, Rob began to pass the volcanic looking rocks into the lodge. When the lodge was filled with rocks, Rob covered the entrance; sealing off all light and any other outside presence.
Two and half hours later, the women came out. I watched them from the hills as they crawled their way out. I made my way down the hill toward the sweat lodge. As we walked up, the women didn’t even acknowledge us. They sat in the grass covered in sweat, and sipping on water. I could tell that whatever had happened in the sweat lodge was clearly impactful by their wide eyes and motionless faces. My heart raced as I prepared to go in.
Each one of us repeated the process of acknowledging Papatuanuku before making our way inside the lodge. As I began to crawl inside, I could already feel the heat from the rocks still smoldering from the session before. Once we were all in, Rangimarie passed in more rocks. We welcomed each rock by saying either “welcome grandfather” or “welcome grandmother”. When all the rocks were finally in, the entrance was shut, leaving us sitting in the dark silence.
Before I could even adjust, BANG, Rob started pounding on the drum and chanting words in the Maori Language…
I have decided to end my story here. I apologize. I wanted to write this from my perspective, but I have decided to stop for two reasons. First, I want to respect the privacy of what was shared in the sweat lodge. Second, I truly don’t know how to put the experience into words. It was unlike anything we had ever been through. The only things I will say are that it allowed us to focus on giving gratitude and gave us the opportunity to let go. The sweat lodge was personal and unique for each of us. I hope that you get to hear about the details first hand.
On another note… to my family and friends, I MISS YOU GUYS!!!!! Mom and Dad, I hope you guys are doing well. Give Murph a big hug for me. To my community in Portland (and those who have left for the summer) I hope you are enjoying your break. I am having a great time over here in New Zealand, but I look forward to coming home. Kam, Ian, and Larissa, I hope you guys picked me out a good room! I’ll see you all in a couple of weeks!
P.S. Bummed the blazers lost. Sounded like they had a good run until they got swept. Classic Warriors though…
P.P.S. Here are some cool picture from our time in Raglan. Raglan was one of my favorite towns I’ve ever been to. It offered a great energy, with many different activities. Rosie and I were even fortunate enough to get the chance to surf.
