Design a manu tukutuku / kite, as an art witching or journalling spell to magically reach a star in the Matariki / Pleiades cluster.
Which star do you most want to visit and touch or have help you and why?
Which Matariki whetū / star resonates with you most today? Which whetū will be of the most help with your spell and what you hope to manifest?
Is it the mother and gatherer, Matariki herself, connecting us to our health and that of the environment?
Is it the twins, Waitā of the sea, Waitī of land based water, what do you appreciate, what gifts do you cherish most from the water whetū? Is it the gifts of kai, fish, shellfish, sea vegetables? Or is it swimming, water sports, simply the calming effect of the fresh sea air and watching the waves.
Perhaps you want Pōhutukawa to help connect you with a loved one, now passed. Or Tupuānuku’s help with your garden harvests. Do you want to make a wishing kite with Hiwa, the youngest whetū to grant hopes and dreams.
What is your kite made from? Is it a traditional Māori manu tukutuku design or a modern day craft? Is it made of material earth and natural elements... or is it a supernatural and cosmic kite?
What will give your kite the energy to get there? What fuels your kite? Perhaps it's a favourite chocolate bar of your Poppa's... a chewy caramel delight? Maybe your kite runs on the birdsong of Tupuārangi ...a korimako / bellbird cathedral peel of notes.
The choices are yours…
And how you illustrate, write or record this prompt is too.
You may like to make an actual kite and take it outside to test. Or display your kite on the wall of your home or bedroom. You may like to make your kite, much smaller, a bookmark to travel through a multitude of volumes and tomes. It could be a page or spread in your journal, any journal, a junk journal, art, poetry or book of spells. Perhaps your kite is a letter of aroha / a love letter, a note of gratitude, thanking your chosen the whetū for it’s resource and taonga / treasures.
You may like to make several kites and visit each whetū in the Matariki cluster and join them together as a string of bunting or a garland to blow in the wind. Punch holes through your individual kites and clasp them together with a key ring or ribbon. Your kites could become a small customised oracle deck to help guide you. Your kite could be a collection of haiku or written blessings.
Waipunarangi
May the waters that flow through us Waiti Waita
bless us; the earth in her bounty Tupuanuku
invite us to share.Tupuarangi
May the storms that engulf us, Ururangi
serve to gentle and humble us;
make us wise.May our dead in the heavens Pohutukawa
precious as light beyond darkness;
remember and mind us.Stars gathered as sign,
desire held out and deep-
may newness of season Hiwa-i- te rangi
warm us and wake us
as we pause for rebirth.Christine Kelly — Jun 3, 2019
You may like to weave together your kite with natural elements gathered from the garden or foraged driftwood and shells from the beach, or use reclaimed and recycled materials, magazines or packaging. Chocolate wrappers to reiterate the manifestation and fuel needed. You may like to sew, knit, crochet or embroider your kite together with yarn and ribbons, feathers, beads or other embellishments. Or make a pair of earrings to make your manu tukutuku take flight wherever you go.
If this art witching prompt resonated with you and you go on to make a manu tukutuku / kite, and if you are willing I would love you to share it with me. You can tag me publically or message me privately on Instagram I’ll be sharing more photos of my own manu tukutuku there too.
Seasons Blessings 💫
Bron