Whakangā
Toku korero - My story…
Like many working parents I’m busy juggling work, home, garden, bees, the chandlery, oh & life. Finding time for just me was never high on the priority list & my wellbeing routine. Test burning some hand dipped taper birthday candles one day gave me the opportunity to just stop & take a break & do that, it was a real 'aha' moment. As I’m learning te reo māori, I looked for what that ‘pause’ translated to that would connect me to this beautiful country I now call home. The Māori word ‘Whakangā, means to take breath, inhale, catch breath, rest, refresh or relax, & thus Whakangā was conceived.
For me the gift of time is wonderful, Whakangā is designed to give you or someone you love a reason to carve out time in your day dedicated to you! With 21 hand dipped candles in the set, lighting & burning a candle every day to support a mindful moment whether that be reading, journaling, practicing yoga, meditating or even sharing time together as a family, the choice is yours is just the beginning or part of your mindfulness journey.
The handmade ceramic kawakawa leaf holder was again another connection to Aotearoa, Papatūānuku (Earth Mother) & Ranginui (Sky Father). Kawakawa (macroppiper excelsum) is a native herbaceous shrub with knobbly joints & branching stems, it has heart shaped leaves that are slightly glossy & dark green. The shrub is a very important one in Māori tikanga, playing a huge part in wellbeing & medicine. The collaboration with Terrosa Pottery to create the leaf holder was a natural one as we work together by day!
Before Whakangā was launched, our local Iwi blessed the work & the connection to the each of the elements including Papatūānuku & Ranginui. This was an important milestone for me being non Māori but feeling an unexplainable mana atua to this kaupapa. Immense gratitude to Marama Tauranga, Graham Cameron-Bidois & Shaan Kingi for your guidance & support.
Hand dipping the Whakangā candles is a pleasure, I really love the mindfulness of creating these precious gold gifts that last for 20 minutes of drip free burn time pleasure.
To me Whakangā means an opportunity to stop, connect & take time for yourself. Every set with a kawakawa left holder & 21 candles is made with aroha & manaaki, they bring a huge smile to my face when putting them together, knowing what a difference they can make to people’s journey into mindfulness & wellbeing. I hope people enjoy them as much as I do making them.
