A bit explaining what our ʻAumakua are, who they are, and how they can help us.
What are ʻAumakua?
There is a spirit or god in every action we take throughout the day.
Na akua i ka po, o na ʻaumākua i ke ao, gods of the night, gods of the day. More telling though, and perhaps easier to understand, would be to say that there is a way to respect every aspect and moment.
Our ʻaumākua (our ancestors) are different from the gods. They can, if we allow it, help guide us through our challenges. That is their purpose. There is a misconception about ʻaumākua. Our ʻaumākua are simply our ancestors; those who have crossed over into the next part of their lives. They are not turtles or sharks or owls or whatever. Unless your grandfather was a shark, that is not your ʻaumakua; your grandfather is. Sometimes we may form a kind of kinship with certain animals. We could call these I suppose, totems … a natural object or animal that has a spiritual significance or quality. Maybe even a link to the spiritual world. These things are presented to us by our ʻaumākua.
My great Uncle Brudda was like that. He swam and frolicked with sharks while he was fishing. They were not his ʻaumākua but he definitely had an affinity with them and as our family stories go, they were his guardians.
In any case, we should never disregard anything that helps enlighten us, be it a waterfall, a tree or a “spirit animal.” These are all tiny keys that help us open doors, to see more clearly. These totems can remind us of things that we know are correct, pono. This is why our ʻaumākua exist. They give us signals, clues. Sometimes they may attract us to a certain animal or object. Maybe a certain part of a forest trail reminds us of a greater moment or thought. This is our ancestors reminding us… giving us little hints. That is the difference. An affinity or fondness to a certain spot or plant or animal is brought to us by our ʻaumākua. That does not make these things ʻaumākua. They are shown to us by our ancestors to remind us of things we need to know and even to help us get closer to the Light of the ʻAumākua.
We can call on our ʻaumākua for guidance. Before I spear a fish, I am reminded, Take a deep breath. Thank Holu for the bounty, Kāne for the life, the fish for its life. I meditate before I walk on a trail in the forest, I thank Laka for the beauty, Lono for the verdure. I ask the forest … Laka … for a clear path, with love and respect. Before I take a fruit or a fern or cut a trail, I ‘ask’ for the clarity to do the task respectfully. Reflection. Understanding my impact. All are one. The gods, the world. Me. You. Think before you act. Be thankful for your gifts. These are things that our ʻaumākua help us to remember.
