A healing tool and guide
Drawing on the essences of mauri (energy life force) this taonga (treasured resource) has been created to help people to return to a place of peace and love, within. Each guided meditation is set in a different New Zealand landscape.
Stars of Aroha is an Indigenous inspired oracle guide to help people to find their own pathway to peace. As a tool, each Stars of Aroha meditation has a unique message that helps us to connect with our wairua (spirit) and the place within where aroha (love, connection and compassion) shines.
We believe our wairua (spirit) or ‘true nature’ is the essence of pure love, peace and joy that lives within each one of us. Our wairua is like the sun… it shines so brightly yet its beauty, potentiality, creativity and power is often covered over by grey clouds. The deep soul messages within each Stars of Aroha meditation theme helps to reveal and heal mamae (emotional pain), dissolving the grey clouds.
Returning home to ourselves, to the place within us that is love and peace
Each meditation and symbol is linked to our earth mother, Papatūānuku. Connecting with her presence helps to guide us to the truth of who we are - the essence of love and peace that lives within each person.
Stars of Aroha Creation Story
This taonga was created by Dr Tess Moeke-Maxwell, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, after her partner Nette Scurr was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. Nette knew that the most important thing, no matter what, was that her mind remained peaceful. Nette found that mind calming meditations soothed her and she wanted to share this healing with others. Tess wanted to create something to help Nette share her story and to support others to find peace.
Tess began exploring the symbolism present in New Zealand’s taiao or natural environment, and she identified some key themes and messages that could be used to reveal and heal unhelpful peace blockers. Working with the Stars of Aroha mediations daily can help us to achieve a meditative state of inner peace.
The Stars of Aroha book and meditations have been reviewed and approved by several Indigenous Māori tohunga (experts in spiritual healing). Tess and Nette are very grateful to the kaumātua (elders) who supported the development of this spiritual healing tool. They are also grateful for the support of several mental health clinicians for reviewing Stars of Aroha. Many health professionals are using Stars of Aroha to help their clients.
Our intention behind the cards
The symbols and content in the Stars of Aroha book and cards hold deep significance to Te Ao Māori (the Māori world). Our tūpuna (ancestors) used the stars to navigate their long voyages. Our intention is for you to use the meditations as a navigational tool to reach your own inner guidance and peace.
Each symbol comes from te taiao or the environment in Aotearoa; each meditation has a key theme and message. Sometimes things that prevent us from feeling peaceful and happy are hidden from us. We think it’s important for you to discover your own meanings as you build a relationship with the meditations and Stars of Aroha cards. Use your own source of peace, wisdom, thoughts, ideas and expand. Trust your intuition. These cards are simply a guidance tool. Their meaning is always evolving.
