IO’S CREATION #809 – WAIRUA TAPU: THE DIVINE BREATH OF ABUNDANCE
The Living Breath
Kia ora. In this journey through the "Woven Universe," I have explored the structure of the heavens and the roles of those who help manage them. But there is a deeper question: what actually powers this creation? The answer is found in Wairua Tapu, the Holy Spirit. In our Māori traditions and the ancient scriptures, the Spirit is described as the "Living Breath" or Ruach. This is the divine breath that brings life to every atom and keeps the world in balance.
The First Movement
The very first time we see the Spirit in the Bible is at the beginning of everything. In Genesis, it says:
"The earth was without form, and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." (Genesis 1:2, Ethiopian Bible English Version)
This "hovering" is often described like a mother bird looking after her nest. It shows us that from the very start, the Spirit was there to nurture and bring order to the world.
The Balance of the Feminine
I have often noticed that the "masculine" energy in spiritual traditions is very "in your face," so to speak. But without the feminine element, the system becomes very imbalanced. This feminine "wisdom" or spirit that pervades everything has many names across different cultures, such as Sophia, Shakti, Prajna, Tao, Chokmah, Ruach, and Ma’at. Even in patriarchal traditions that do not expressly call it feminine, they still describe it in ways we know as feminine.
There are many other feminine spirits, including angels and mareikura. However, there has been a lot of effort put into minimising or suppressing this feminine energy. I believe this is because it is a threat to the aspirations of those who seek to control, oppress, and extract. When we lose the feminine, we lose the nurturing heart of the universe.
The Ethiopian Bible preserves this perspective beautifully, showing Wisdom as a feminine presence looking for a home:
"Wisdom found no place where she might dwell; then a dwelling-place was assigned her in the heavens. Wisdom went forth to make her dwelling among the children of men, and found no dwelling-place: Wisdom returned to her place, and took her seat among the angels."
— 1 Enoch 42:1-2
The Power of Life
If we think of the universe as a beautiful house, Wairua Tapu is the life and warmth that makes it a home. The "Gifts of the Spirit," such as wisdom, healing, and knowledge, are not just religious decorations. They are the practical tools we need to manage our lives and our land. When we use these tools, we move away from disorder and decay and move toward a life of flourishing.
Restoring the Weave
The Spirit has been present since the beginning, bringing order out of chaos. By working with this presence, I believe we become better at navigating our world:
Wisdom and Knowledge: These help us see how everything is connected, so we do not cause harm to one part of life while trying to fix another.
Healing: This is a direct gift from the Spirit to restore health to our people and our environment.
Faith: This is the strength to believe in a thriving future until it actually happens.
Abundance in the North
In Taitokerau, we have seen what happens when things are out of balance. Wairua Tapu is the power that restores that balance. By inviting this divine wisdom back into our work, our businesses, and our whānau, we start using the best possible system for growth. We stop being victims of a broken world and start becoming the builders of a future where our land and our people thrive once again.
