Sign of life

It’s July 2019 and SOUL this month is 14 years old, we have literally seen thousands of people through our doors over the years - choosing to heal, choosing to grow, choosing to open their hearts to love and life.

This space is a legacy of love to the earth and to the people on it. We are every day dedicating ourselves to peace, healing, love and opening to the guidance of spirit to direct our path. We are a community. A people who choose to live our best lives and show up everyday to practice. Whatever that practice is - yoga, cacao, meditation, dance, sweeping the floor, doing admin…..it is all part of the practice.

Every year I ask myself - is this still the best way to serve? Is this still the best path to reach people? Is this still want I am meant to be doing with my precious life - my time, my energy, my flow. At times this journey has been achingly hard - giving all my savings, my child-bearing years and everything I have to serve. This is the path of the priestess, the healer and the wise woman. Together we grow a community. I couldn’t do it without you. Everyone who has passed through the doors has offered something to this alchemic melting-pot of SOUL. For you I am eternally grateful.

This year on our 14th birthday we where gifted with a very special toanga (treasure) from one of our kaitiaki (guardians). For the last few years we have been operating without a street sign - making it hard for people to find us from the street. Matua has changed that for us this year with the most beautiful creative work - that far surpasses any kind of street sign that I have ever encountered.

Earlier this year we made a call for the community to come together and write and draw what SOUL was to them. We gathered, sat together, drank cacao, meditated, breathed together, tuned into our tribe - the soul community, tuned into the wood, asked for direction and let the images flow……..during this gathering together - a new name emerged for SOUL CENTRE

“The sign came through the heart efforts and inspiration during our gathering - even through the Maori scroll patterns portray consistent flow, it’s simplicity reflects the natural lore of Nature - the letters are enhanced through an interesting sketch by one of the SOUL friends - crystal inserts of cream quartz are from my ancestral home - Coromandel - to acknowledge spiritual guidance - the pounamu, at the base honors the Patupaiarehe (little people) whom live in the Waitakere ranges - A new name given by them during an evening kai together is Puna Wairua or Spiritual Spring - The source of Pure Waters - flows through the kowhaiwhai design on the right and above the letters.” Matua Louis Kereopa

Matua took away our words, pictures, dances, song, mahi and love and began to create, carving away - here is our journey…..

In late June this beautiful piece was completed.

With the help of some of our man tribe (Grant Weaver + Russ) the sign was erected and a beautiful blessing created. From our wide and beautiful community from 5 years old to 67 years young - we sang, danced and sprinkled the sign with our love, our gratitude and our kawakawa leaves and flowers. I am so greatful to our kaitiaki (Matua and to Caroline Robinson) who made this beautiful ceremony such a blessing. Everyday we give thanks.

Please come and enjoy this beautiful carving, it drops us deep into the whenua here. For which we are eternally grateful. Come and get close to it - feel it, run your hands over the grooves. Send your prayers deep into it’s heart.

Kua hōhonu ki te whenua ngā pakiaka o te rākau e kore e taea te huhuti. / The roots of the tree are deep into the ground and cannot be pulled out.

Our deepest gratitude goes out to Matua Louis Kereopa - a master carver - a beloved friend.

If you would like to donate to this beautiful man for his work please see Willa at SOUL reception.

With endless gratitude also to Luke Gabites who came on this journey with us - he is not in the photos as he took them all!! Blessings to you Luke!!

Martin's year of SOUL

Martin Gebhardt spent a year with us here at SOUL as our 2018 SOUL Apprentice - here is what he had to say about being with us…….

“I see this year at SOUL as part of my personal heros journey learning essential lessons about life, relationships, myself and getting clearer about my personal place in this world.

I learned about non violent ways of communication and self-expression and to acknowledge different ways of being without the need to judge or disconnect from my heart.

I have grown more capable of taking care of myself, my body and overall wellbeing and to navigate through long days of work without burning out.

I embraced my life knowing that even in the moments of confusion and uncertainty I am worthy of Love.

I understood the ever moving currents of Life and the beauty of the Pacific Ocean with its waves representing this everlasting dance from the first breath to the last.

I am entirely grateful for Wilhemeena and the whole SOUL tribe, new found friends and the privilege of being part of this amazing family! Thank you for all the shared laughter and tears the joy and the sadness and overall for supporting me no matter how I felt. Loving and accepting me for who I am unconditionally and for showing me that I could do the same.

For everyone who is looking for more meaning, healing, a sense of magic, mystic and wonder and a more profound connections to self, tribe and life …

For everyone that also is not afraid of shining a light to the darkness that is inherent in all of us and to committ to truth, showing up and giving it your best…

This is a Training program that will enable you to grow and learn about your personal truth , It will give you a solid foundation so that you can shine your individual light into the world without losing your essence.

This program is something that is touching the lives of many people in order to contribute to more love, understanding and heartfelt connection on this beautiful planet earth.

I am looking forward to support the SOUL Tribe in future projects with all my heart love and SOUL…”

Martin Gebhardt