Aloha ‘Uhane,

the group arrived back on Thursday after a truly amazing 2 weeks. One aspect

many people who met the group commented on was how harmonious we were and that they’d never come across such a group before. ie a group that was supportive, compassionate, tolerant, caring…. well, all the things that are Aloha. I decided that rather than me writing on a place whose energy is so pa’a within me, that I’d get the participants to share their mo’olelo and mana’o. So here’s the first one from Jo 

Aloha beautiful one, (   Yes Tracey that would be you  )

Yes, I landed back in Melbourne with a thud. The very next day I was running around like a chook without a head, doing what had to be done to finalise one very large door closing.

I made it out of the city by Sunday, phew….., but I am back up there today (Tuesday) to continue seeing family and friends before I go off again. I am off to Tassy on the boat on Friday evening.

Yesterday I had a lomi of confirmation. The first lomi I have had where I was truly a rubber band with no resistance. Not one tight muscle, not one piece of me out of place. It was glorious. I fell asleep dreaming while on the table. Finally lomi has become luxury rather than therapy. I knew it would happen, I just had to do what I had to do to resolve all the crap in my head. I believe the major works are done now. Mahalo to you for steering our canoe to Hawaii. It was there I learned the truth of my work of the last 2 years.

So now I shall write my blog piece for you:

“If I could sing in public, without fear, without anxiety, with passion and strength, in front of people who are important to me, people who I respect, I would know of the freedom I have from within me….if only I could….” This is something I have thought and said to myself for more years than I can remember. I don’t know when I began this thought, but it has always seemed to be there. I have always known that this would be my ultimate challenge. And no matter how many times I thought of ways to get myself to do it, I would always stop short of that public display.

In Hawaii, I found the truth of my voice.

The two years leading up to going on this trip has been a trip itself. A journey of discovery, a journey from ignorance to awareness and then piece by piece onto enlightenment. The stage of awareness is a tough one, and it has been a constant challenge to get down to the depths of awareness. But it was something I had to do. I had to find my truth.

By the time I got to Hawaii, I had sorted out pretty much all the baggage, to as much depth as I could. And then came time to discover my real truth. The truth of who and how I am, when the baggage is not there to clutter up my head and my life.

With Aunty on the Big Island, I found courage to put up my hand, to try to oli alone something we had just learned. And I found out that I can.

On Molokai, Lawrence discovered my sound, and he, like all good teachers, would not let it go. He made me Oli alone, in front of everyone, in front of guests, mostly an oli that I had practiced a lot, but also an oli that I had just learned the week before. I discovered many things about myself.

I learned that I am not nervous anymore. No longer was my heart jumping out of my chest, like it was on Big Island. I learned of my confidence. And on the last day, I learned the truth of my sound.

My last Oli alone on Molokai, was in the hall at the resort where we were staying. A beautiful room made completely of wooden paneling, with cathedral ceilings. Lawrence asked for Oli Mahalo one more time. I began, and as I oli’d I was me in my body, in my voice, and I was me out of my body, in my ears, hearing that sound resonating in that room. I heard the truth of my sound and of the feelings that my sound carries.

So the truth really does set you free after all!

Mahalo to all seen and unseen. And mahalo to me, for stepping up rather than stepping aside.

Aloha Nui, Jo