Rongomaraeroa
Loss and Separation Part 2
Offering the Sacred Balm called Presence
(E Hoatu te Tapu o te ko te Mana)
By Raymond Te Korako Ruka
Son of Waitaha
Stephen W. Emerick Ph.D. Raymond, will you help us understand the use of your Marae?
Raymond: In our spacious meeting Houses, that are called Marae, we sit on the floor in front of the Elders chairs, with our backs resting against those chair legs, as we once did, resting our backs against our Elders legs, when we sought comfort, security, and assurance.
So beloved were they that we felt their seats were just too big to be filled by us their sons. Our grandchildren, seeing the opportunity of an empty chair – go sit in them instead, even while we sit on the floor – sometimes their little legs draped over our shoulders when they fall asleep, like necklaces around our necks of living limbs at rest.
I can think of no better way of saluting our ancestors who have left, for them to hold a picture of their blood inheritors treating their sacred protocols that they had left for us to be injected with the innocence of babes at rest strewn around the Meeting House…
Stephen W. Emerick Ph.D. To our listener and reader: Stay tuned for Part 3 of Loss and Separation presented by Raymond Ruka. It will conclude this three-part series. We hope you have enjoyed Part 1 and 2.