A Festive Season Around Polynesian Art of Living
Tides and Moonlight
Te aho no Tetiaroa
And with the stars appearing in the night sky, the moon rises, marking the cycles for all living things. Aho means breath in Tahitian. Te aho no Tetiaroa is the breath of the island. Every night of the month, looking towards the sky to answer daily needs, it is the moon that guided Polynesians to fish at sea or for a new crop to be planted on a particular night.
They had an intimate knowledge of its influence over the realm of the land and sea. They had an intimate understanding of its power over the tides, occasionally bringing abundance and fertility, other nights inviting to rest and reflect. And basked in its elegant blue light, with all the elegance of Hina, its deity, there comes a certain wisdom and understanding. This is the time to connect with profound feelings and intentions, and send them back to loved ones.
Before dawn, there’s just breath. Feelings become clearer, like the lagoon when the wind finally settles. Intuition rises gently, following the same invisible pull as the tide; what could not be heard in the brightness of day suddenly finds its own quiet language.
Somewhere else in the world, those we love are standing under this very canopy of stars, beneath the same moon that leans over Tetiaroa. In that space, a thought turns into something you can hold, a postcard with simple words sent across the distance. It is a gentle invitation to feel a little closer to the island, until one day you might come and feel the mana of Tetiaroa for yourself, first felt as a small gift held close to the heart.