Matariki Rising: Honouring Our Past, Nurturing Our Future
As the constellation Matariki returns to the winter sky, we in Aotearoa are offered a powerful invitation — to remember, to rest, and to reset.
Matariki, recognised as our Māori New Year, is a time of deep cultural, emotional, and seasonal significance. Traditionally marked by the rising of the Pleiades cluster, Matariki signals the beginning of a new cycle — a time to reflect on the year that has passed, honour those who have died, and plant intentions for the future.
This season holds particular meaning in the work we do as psychologists, mental health professionals, and human beings walking alongside others. It reminds us that healing and growth are not linear, and that pausing with purpose can be just as powerful as moving forward.
The Psychology of Reflection: Why It Matters
Taking time to reflect is a psychologically nourishing practice. Research in cognitive and clinical psychology shows that self-reflection supports:
Emotional regulation
Meaning-making in the face of adversity
Increased self-awareness and clarity of values
Reduced psychological distress through narrative processing
(Joireman et al., 2006; Neff & Germer, 2013; Pennebaker, 1997)
When we pause to notice what we’ve been carrying emotionally, mentally, and physically we create space for healing and reorientation. Reflecting on both triumphs and hardships helps us make sense of our personal journeys, reinforcing resilience and self-compassion.
Clinical approaches such as ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and mindfulness-based therapies place reflection at the core of psychological flexibility. Matariki, as a seasonal pause for reflection, offers us all an opportunity to korero about these practices meaningfully.
Whakapapa and Wellbeing: The Protective Power of Belonging
A core element of Matariki is whakapapa the interwoven relationships between people, land, ancestors, and spirit. In te ao Māori, identity is not individual, but relational. One's sense of self is inseparable from one’s connections.
In clinical psychology, belonging is recognised as a foundational protective factor. According to research across trauma recovery, depression, and adolescent mental health, strong relational ties and a sense of identity are linked to:
Decreased symptoms of anxiety and depression
Greater resilience after trauma
Increased help-seeking behaviour
(Walton & Cohen, 2007; Haslam et al., 2018; Durie, 1998)
For many, reconnecting to family, cultural roots, whenua, or a shared sense of purpose offers not only meaning — but safety. Matariki invites us to re-anchor ourselves in these connections.
As a trauma-informed service, we honour the significance of whakapapa and work to create spaces where people can feel seen, valued, and connected especially those who have felt the pain of disconnection.
Rituals of Renewal: Small Acts with Deep Impact
One of the most accessible ways to engage with Matariki is through ritual — intentional acts that create space for reflection, grief, gratitude, and hope. From a psychological lens, rituals help restore control, structure, and meaning, especially during times of transition or uncertainty (Norton & Gino, 2014).
You might consider:
Writing a letter to your past self, acknowledging all you’ve held and learnt
Lighting a candle in memory of someone you’ve lost
Planting something as a symbolic gesture of what you hope to grow
Starting a gratitude practice, even once a week
Spending time in silence or nature, reconnecting with your breath and body
These small rituals support emotional processing and cultivate “grounded-ness”, particularly as the days grow darker.
The Stars of Matariki: Guiding Lights
Each star in the Matariki cluster carries its own meaning, representing aspects of our environment and wellbeing. As documented in mātauranga Māori and modern interpretations (Matariki.com; Rangi Matamua, 2017), these are:
Matariki – Wellbeing, health, and collective reflection
Pōhutukawa – Remembering those who have passed
Hiwa-i-te-rangi – Aspirations and goals for the future
Tupuānuku & Tupuārangi – Food from the land and sky
Waitī & Waitā – Freshwater and saltwater ecosystems
Waipuna-ā-rangi & Ururangi – Rain and winds; emotional cleansing and movement
For many of our clients and for us, these representations offer metaphors for parts of our own inner landscape: the part of us that grieves, the part that longs, the part that grows.
Midyear Reflections from Our Team
Here at The Psychology Group, we’re also reflecting on our own journey. The first half of the year has brought new clients, new challenges, and powerful moments of transformation. We’ve welcomed team members, farewelled others, and deepened our commitment to culturally respectful, affirming, and trauma-informed care.
Matariki invites us to step back and acknowledge the impact of this mahi and to honour the trust placed in us by those we work with. We don’t take this lightly.
To everyone in our community — whether you’re just starting your therapeutic journey, in the middle of something hard, or gently beginning again : we see you. Matariki reminds us that healing happens in cycles, and that we are always allowed to reset.
A Final Thought: You Are Allowed to Pause
This Matariki, give yourself permission to pause. To feel. To remember. To imagine. In a world that rewards constant motion, resting with intention is a radical act of self-care.
As Rangi Matamua so beautifully teaches, Matariki is not just about looking up — it’s about looking within.
Ngā manaakitanga, arohanui
The Psychology Group
References
Joireman, J., et al. (2006). Self-reflection, consideration of future consequences, and academic performance.
Neff, K., & Germer, C. (2013). The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook.
Pennebaker, J. W. (1997). Writing about emotional experiences as a therapeutic process.
Walton, G. M., & Cohen, G. L. (2007). A brief social-belonging intervention improves academic and health outcomes.
Haslam, C., et al. (2018). The New Psychology of Health: Unlocking the Social Cure.
Norton, M. I., & Gino, F. (2014). Rituals alleviate grieving for loved ones, lovers, and lotteries.
Durie, M. (1998). Whaiora: Māori Health Development.
Matamua, R. (2017). Matariki: The Star of the Year.