Taha Pūtea – Money as Mana; Breaking Free from Financial Colonisation

by | Jan 28, 2026 | Identity, Mental Health Counselling

Last week we looked at how our Digital Wellness is impacted in todays modern fast-paced world and how Te Poutama o te Ora can bring light to what that looks like and a path forward to help transform where we currently are stuck to a healthier you.

We continue with this deep dive with this weeks topic Taha Pūtea – Money as Mana.

Scenario:

You are sitting at your kitchen table at 2 AM, calculator in hand, trying to figure out which bill you can pay late this month without catastrophic consequences.

Power…No, it’s winter. Phone…No, you need it for work. Food…Already down to basics. Rent…Can’t risk eviction. You think to yourself, “how come this keeps happening…I’m responsible, I work hard, I don’t spend recklessly…”.

But here you are, doing the same desperate math your mother did, and her mother did before her. The math that defines poverty: stretching not-enough into barely-enough.

And the worst part…The voice in your head is saying “you should be better with money…if you budgeted smarter, saved more, worked harder, you wouldn’t be in this position”.

The voice that blames you for a system designed to keep you broke.

Here’s the truth nobody wants you to know: the biggest lie about poverty…”it is not a personal failing”. The financial system isn’t broken – it’s working exactly as designed.

Taha Pūtea, a Māori financial wellness framework, offers a pathway out of this trap through three foundational steps that move you from financial shame to economic sovereignty.

Step 1: Te Ohorere – The Awakening (Facing Financial Reality Without Shame)

Financial trauma is real trauma. It lives in your body – the knot in your stomach when checking your bank balance, the tension that never leaves your shoulders, the panic that rises with unexpected expenses.

It shapes your relationships, making money the number one thing couples fight about. It distorts your identity, making you believe your worth equals your earning capacity. It crushes your spirit, leaving no space for joy or rest. It occupies your mind completely, consuming mental energy that could go toward creativity, healing, or growth.

And here’s the most insidious part: financial trauma gets passed down. Your parents’ money stress became your money stress. Their scarcity thinking became yours. Not just through what they taught you, but through actual biological mechanisms – their financial stress literally changed how their genes expressed, and you inherited those changes.

Te Ohorere asks you to look directly at your financial reality for seven days. Not to judge yourself. Not to fix anything yet. Just to see what’s true. You’ll track how money affects five dimensions of your life:

Whakapapa (relationships): How is money stress damaging your connections? What patterns did you inherit from your parents? Which ones are you passing to your children?

Tinana (body): What’s happening physically? The chronic stress of poverty causes real illness – high blood pressure, heart disease, weakened immunity, chronic pain. Your body is trying to tell you something.

Tuakiri (identity): Have you started measuring your worth by your bank balance? Are you compromising your values for survival? Losing touch with who you are beneath what you earn?

Wairua (spirit): Has financial stress replaced abundance thinking with scarcity? Can you trust that your needs will be met when your experience has taught you, they won’t be?

Hinengaro (mind): Is money worry consuming all your mental bandwidth? Are you stuck in shame spirals – feeling bad, avoiding dealing with it, making it worse, avoiding more?

This awareness work takes courage. Most of us avoid looking at our finances because looking means feeling the fear, the shame, the overwhelm. But avoidance keeps you stuck. You can’t change what you won’t look at. You can’t heal what you keep hidden.

After seven days, you see patterns clearly. You identify which dimension is suffering most; recognise where avoidance keeps you trapped; name the stories about money that keep repeating. And acknowledge the forms of wealth you have that capitalism taught you to discount – relationships, knowledge, cultural connection, community.

Step 2: Te Whakatūria tō Mana – Establishing Your Authority (Reclaiming Your Power)

Mana is your authority, your sovereignty, your power to choose. Right now, the financial system has your Mana. It decides where your money goes through predatory lending, planned obsolescence, subscription traps, and marketing designed to convince you that happiness requires constant purchasing.

Te Whakatūria tō Mana is about taking that power back. You start by converting vague intentions (Te Whāriki o te Ora – goals) from Step 1 into concrete, achievable goals (Te Whakatakato tō Mahere – the plan). Instead of – I want to be better with money…you create specific commitments: – I will check my account balances every morning. – I will wait 24 hours before any non-essential purchases. – I will redirect spare money to future bills.

The framework uses a three-tier system to keep this sustainable:

Tier 1 – Daily Non-Negotiables: These are your foundation. Things you do every single day without exception. Maybe it’s checking your balances each morning or logging all spending. Applying a 24-hour rule before buying anything non-essential. You pick 1-2 practices that matter most and commit completely.

Tier 2 – Regular Practices: These happen weekly or fortnightly. Perhaps a weekly budget review session. Automatic savings transfers every payday. Monthly subscription audits. These keep you moving forward without overwhelming you.

Tier 3 – Aspirational Rhythms: These are things you do, without guilt. A quarterly financial goal review; an annual meeting with a financial mentor; a monthly no-spend challenge. These stretch you without breaking you.

Here’s the critical part: start with ONE Tier 1 practice. Master that until it becomes automatic. Then add more. Trying to change everything at once is why most people fail. Your brain can only handle so much change at a time.

You also set up your environment to support your Mana. Automatic transfers so savings happen before you can spend the money. Separate accounts for different purposes (bills, savings, spending). Deleted shopping apps and unsubscribing from promotional emails. Physically removing credit cards from your wallet (if spending is an issue).

This is not about willpower – it’s about making the right choice as the easy choice. When you’re stressed and tired (which poverty ensures you often are), decision quality deteriorates. Environmental supports protect you when your capacity is low.

After 2-3 weeks, you review what’s working. Which practices feel natural…which still feel like constant struggle…what unexpected benefits showed up – better sleep, less conflict, more peace of mind. You adjust, refine, and find your rhythm. This isn’t about achieving perfect financial management. It’s about building practices that genuinely support your wellbeing and strengthen your Mana.

Step 3: Te Whakawhanake i tō Kaha – Building Your Resistance (Developing Strength)

Here’s what happens once you start protecting your money: the system pushes back. Sales become more urgent and – limited time offers. Credit offers become more convenient. Subscription cancellation becomes harder. Social spending pressure increases. Friends question why you’re being “so cheap!”. Every possible tactic gets deployed to get your money back.

This isn’t paranoia. When you extract yourself from wealth dependency, those systems fight back. They escalate, test your boundaries to find new hooks.

Te Whakawhanake i tō Kaha is about building kaha – strength, capacity, resilience – to withstand this pushback. The nine-day challenge progressively increases your resistance across different domains. Maybe Day 1 is resisting urgency tactics (sale ends tonight!). Day 2 might be navigating social pressure without justifying your choices. Day 3 could be rejecting convenience when it conflicts with your values.

Each day builds different resistance muscles. By Day 9, you’ve proven to yourself that you can protect your wealth even when systems actively try to extract it.

But resistance goes beyond willpower. You create architectural boundaries – structures that make wealth protection automatic. Account segregation means keeping spending money separate from bill money and savings. Access segregation means making impulse spending physically difficult (leaving credit cards at home, deleting stored payment methods). Time segregation means specific windows for checking finances, making purchases, and reviewing spending.

One of the hardest challenges? Social pressure. Family and friends who don’t understand why you’re suddenly being “difficult about money”. Te Whakawhanake i tō Kaha teaches you to prepare authority statements – responses that assert your boundaries without apology.

  • Instead of: “Sorry, I’m trying to save money right now”, (justification, that signals negotiability). You say: “That’s not in my budget this month!”. (authority, that signals sovereignty).

The difference seems subtle, but it’s profound. One invites negotiation and suggests your boundary might change if someone pushes hard enough. The other states a fact without apologising for it.

The framework also encourages forming resistance circles – small groups (2-4 people) pursuing financial wellness together. You meet weekly or bi-weekly for 30-45 minutes to share wins and challenges, identify dependency tactics you’re facing, problem-solve without shame or judgment, and celebrate sovereignty victories.

Individual resistance is powerful. Collective resistance is transformative. When others normalise your boundaries, shared strategies strengthen everyone, and community resilience sustains individual efforts, the impossible becomes possible.

By the end of Step 3, you’ve completed the nine-day resistance challenge. You’ve built architectural systems protecting your wealth automatically and developed authority statements you can deploy without hesitation.

Most importantly, you’ve experienced your own capacity to resist when dependency systems escalate. You’ve proven to yourself that you have kaha – the strength to protect your money and make it stick. You are building Tū Pūmau (consistency) through Whai Mua (success and productivity) giving you Tū Māia (stability).

Your Economic Sovereignty Awaits

These first three steps of Taha Pūtea – awakening, establishing authority, and building resistance – create a pathway from economic colonisation to financial sovereignty. They move you from unconscious spending to intentional choice, from system dependency to personal authority, from reactive patterns to sustained strength.

This isn’t about becoming wealthy by capitalist standards. It’s about reclaiming your Mana – your right to decide where your money goes, your capacity to make financial decisions aligned with your values, your sovereignty over your economic life.

The work requires courage. You’ll face uncomfortable truths about your financial situation and the patterns you inherited. You’ll recognise how thoroughly money stress has consumed every dimension of your life. But here’s what awaits on the other side: relationships no longer poisoned by money conflict, a body not constantly carrying financial stress, an identity separate from your bank balance, spiritual peace not drowned by scarcity thinking, a mind freed from constant money worry.

Remember: your financial situation is not a moral failing. The system is working exactly as designed – to extract wealth from you and keep you economically stressed. These practices aren’t about willpower or discipline. They’re about creating environmental and habitual supports that make aligned choices easier than misaligned ones.

Every time you check your balance, track your spending, or protect your savings (Tū Pūmau – consistency), you strengthen your mana. Every time you resist dependency, you build kaha. Every time you notice you’ve been pulled into unconscious spending and choose to realign with your values, you prove your capacity for transformation. Success and productivity (Whai Mua) have transformed to stability (Tū Māia).

The biggest lie about poverty is that it’s your fault. The truth? Economic colonisation is a system, and you can refuse to participate in your own exploitation.

Your mana is real. Your kaha is growing. Your wealth is becoming yours again.

Kua rite? Are you ready?

Me timata. Let’s begin.

Epigenetics Insights for Wellness

by | Dec 31, 2025 | Identity, Mental Health Counselling

We pause from goal setting and activities to let that settle with you and turn back to the topic of Epigenetics.

From Understanding to Action: The Nine-Step Path

Understanding that we carry epigenetic patterns is profound. But understanding alone doesn’t create change.

This is where Te Poutama o te Ora moves from insight to transformation—offering a practical pathway for working with what we’ve inherited.

The framework’s nine steps weren’t designed with epigenetics in mind, yet they align remarkably with what the science now shows us about how patterns shift. Each step addresses a different aspect of how we hold and transform inherited experiences.

Steps 1-3: Building the Foundation for Change – Te Tūāpapa

Before we can transform inherited patterns, we need to create the conditions that make change possible. These foundational steps establish the inner environment where new epigenetic expressions can take root:

  • Te Whakatakato tō Mahere (Step 1 – Your Planning): We can’t change what we don’t see. This step teaches us to recognise inherited patterns—to notice when our responses aren’t truly ours but echoes of ancestral experience. You map where epigenetic patterns show up across the five dimensions.

    • Te Ohorere – the Awakening

    • Te Whāriki o te Ora – Goal Setting

  • Te Whakatūria tō Mana (Step 2 – Establishing Your Authority): Resistance keeps patterns locked in place. When we accept what we carry without shame and establish our authority to change it, we create the spaciousness needed for transformation. You begin integrating new responses into daily life.

  • Te Whakawhanake i tō Kaha (Step 3 – Developing Your Strength): Epigenetic shifts require sustained attention. This step deepens your capacity to maintain new patterns, knowing you’re healing not just for yourself but for the line.

Steps 4-9: The Universal Path of Transformation – Te Ara Hurihuri

These steps converge into one pathway that applies across all five dimensions of wellness, offering a universal approach for working with whatever you’ve inherited—whether it manifests in your relationships (Whakapapa), your body (Tinana), your mind (Hinengaro), your spirit (Wairua), or your sense of self (Tuakiri).

  • Te Whakamana i tō Mana (Step 4 – Reclaiming Your Sovereignty): Where did this pattern originate? What purpose did it serve for our ancestors? Understanding the roots helps us hold compassion for what we carry while actively reclaiming our right to choose differently.

  • Te Taunga Pūkenga (Step 5 – Developing Mastery): This is where conscious choice enters. We actively pause inherited responses, creating space between trigger and reaction. We develop mastery over the pattern rather than being mastered by it.

  • Te Whakahōnore (Step 6 – Honouring Your Journey): New patterns need practice and recognition. Through nine-day cycles, we establish alternative responses that can become new cellular memories. We honour both the struggle and the progress.

  • Te Kaupapa (Step 7 – Clarifying Your Purpose): The new pattern extends beyond practice into purpose. We understand why we’re breaking this cycle—not just for ourselves, but for those who came before and those who come after.

  • Te Tū Rangatira (Step 8 – Standing in Your Power): Transformation isn’t linear. We refine, adjust, and deepen the new pattern, allowing it to mature. We stand firm in our new way of being, even when old patterns call us back.

  • Te Ao Mārama (Step 9 – Living in Full Flourishing): The new expression becomes part of who we are. What was once a conscious effort becomes a natural response—creating a different inheritance to pass forward. This is a biological shift stabilising into lived reality.

Working With What You’ve Inherited: A Practical Example

Let’s make this concrete. Say you’ve recognised an inherited pattern of stress response—perhaps anxiety or hypervigilance that runs through your family line. This pattern shows up in your Hinengaro (mental/emotional wellness) dimension.

Through Te Whakamana i tō Mana (Step 4), you investigate and discover this pattern originated with ancestors who faced genuine threats—colonisation, displacement, survival challenges. The hypervigilance wasn’t dysfunction; it was adaptive intelligence. You reclaim your sovereignty by recognising you have the right to respond differently now.

With Te Taunga Pūkenga (Step 5), you develop mastery by noticing when this response activates in situations that don’t require it. You pause, breathe, and ask: “Is this mine, or am I responding to an inherited memory?” You practice creating space between stimulus and response.

During Te Whakahōnore (Step 6), you honour your journey by practising a new response over nine days—perhaps grounding techniques, somatic awareness, or connection practices that signal safety to your nervous system. You celebrate small wins and acknowledge the courage this work requires.

Through Te Kaupapa (Step 7), you clarify your purpose: “I’m breaking this pattern, so my children won’t carry this weight. I’m healing for the seven generations that came before and the seven generations that will come after.

With Te Tū Rangatira (Step 8), you stand in your power as the new pattern is tested. When stress comes, you don’t revert automatically. You choose your response from a place of strength, knowing you’re capable of something different.

Finally, through Te Ao Mārama (Step 9), the new pattern becomes your lived reality. Your nervous system has learned a new baseline. You’ve not just managed symptoms—you’ve shifted the biological expression that you’ll pass forward.

Why Nine Days Matter

The nine-day cycle isn’t arbitrary. While epigenetic research is still emerging, we know that sustained behavioural patterns can influence gene expression. Nine days provide enough time for initial cellular responses to begin, while remaining achievable for most people to maintain focus and commitment.

More importantly, working in nine-day cycles acknowledges a truth that is both ancient and modern: transformation occurs in rhythm, not as a single moment. Each nine-day cycle builds on the last, creating compounding change that reaches deeper than willpower alone. You’re training your biology, not just your behaviour.

The Invitation

You are not condemned to repeat what you’ve inherited. The patterns you carry are information, not destiny. Te Poutama o te Ora offers you a pathway to work with these patterns consciously, transforming what flows through you and changing what you’ll pass on.

This is healing as our ancestors understood it: not individual repair but relational restoration. When you shift a pattern in yourself, you honour those who came before and tend to those who come after. You become the ancestor your descendants will thank.

The question isn’t whether you carry inherited patterns. The question is: what will you do with them?

Achieve Your Full Potential with Personal Growth Counselling using Te Poutama o te Ora

by | Dec 10, 2025 | Guidance Counselling, Identity

Unlocking your full potential is a journey that requires dedication, insight, and the right support. Personal Growth Counselling offers a structured path to help you grow emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually. It is a powerful tool that can transform your life by helping you overcome obstacles, build resilience, and develop a deeper understanding of yourself.

You would have seen me discussing this model in previous posts – Te Poutama o te Ora.

This model encourages and guides you to look at Five Pou or dimensions of your life:

  • Taha Whakapapa – (family wellness) connections with family and community.

  • Taha Tinana – (physical wellness) your body, movement, rest and nourishment. Honours the body that houses your Tuakiri (Identity).

  • Taha Tuakiri – (identity and cultural wellness) your sense of self, whakapapa, cultural grounding.

  • Taha Wairua – (spiritual wellness) your connection to the sacred and transcendent.

  • Taha Hinengaro – (mental/emotional wellness) – your psychological and emotional wellbeing

There are Nine Pou in total, harnessing the Power of Iwa, initially we focus on these five.

The central Pou is Taha Tuakiri – every practice, every principle of wellness serves to restore Taha Tuakiri, your sense of self. Your identity, your knowing of who you are beneath all the noise, all the pressure, all the intrusions into your life.

Understanding how Te Poutama o te Ora supports Personal Growth

This approach centres on identifying what matters the most to you, what short and long-term goals you want to achieve for yourself and your family. We start off small building the steps, getting clear about the direction(s) you want to take and creating a plan of how to get there.

Then we put strategies and monitoring in place to check progress, decide if activities need to be ‘tweaked’ or changed when other life priorities happen. We build the skills to ‘flex’ and ‘adjust’ to those challenges.

The process involves:

  • Te Whāriki o te Ora – goal setting.

  • Looking at Wants and Needs – how they impact our goals.

  • Te Whakatakato tō Mahere – laying down the plan. The specific actions you want to take to achieve that goal. We use SMART criteria—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goal/activity settings.

  • Te Whakatūria tō Mana – daily, weekly and monthly activities that keep your goals on track. We use 3-3-3 set, the Power of Iwa (9), nine rhythms that work with nature and what our bodies naturally turn to.

  • Integration with Te Maramataka – we look at how to use the lunar cycles for decision-making and action planning. Bringing you closer to the rhythms of the universe.

  • Te Tū Pūmau – establishing consistent practices that provide grounding for Taha Tuakiri.

  • Te Whai Hua – productivity through mindfulness and success built on Te Tū Pūmau.

  • Tū Maia – stability through body and mental health wellness practices. That makes Taha Tuakiri ‘tau’ (steadfast).

When Tuakiri is ‘tau’…te Ao Marama is ‘tau’.

The journey doesn’t end there…The Growth Mindset

There are specific challenges that influence all our lives, where Te Poutama o te Ora can bring those to light and provide a path to move forward and beyond those challenges. These fall into 3 main areas:

  • Taha Matihiko – Reclaiming Digital Mana.

  • Taha Pūtea – Money as Mana.

  • Nuku i tō Puku – Grounding your Core, healthy food, healthy body, healthy core.

We look at:

  • What led us to where we are today.

  • What things continue to keep us stuck in un-wellness….’always on technology’…’drive to buy more and more even when we don’t need it’…’the food we choose…easy…quick and affordable…but what is it really doing to us.

  • What can we do to ‘release us’ from the hold these ‘taha’ have on us.

By working with a counsellor or coach, you gain personalised support tailored to your unique needs. This guidance can accelerate your growth and keep you accountable.

How Personal Growth Counselling Enhances Your Life

The benefits of personal growth counselling extend beyond just feeling better. It builds the skills to make tangible improvements in various areas of your life:

1. Improved Relationships (Taha Whakapapa)

Understanding yourself better helps you communicate more effectively and empathise with others. Counselling can teach you how to set healthy boundaries, resolve conflicts, and build stronger connections.

2. Career Advancement (Taha Tuakiri)

Self-awareness and confidence are key to professional success. Counselling can help you identify your strengths, overcome fears like public speaking, and develop leadership skills.

3. Emotional Resilience (Taha Hinengaro)

Life is full of challenges. Personal Growth Counselling equips you with tools to manage stress, bounce back from failures, and maintain a positive outlook.

4. Healthier Habits (Taha Tinana)

Changing habits is difficult without support. Counselling can guide you in creating routines that promote physical and mental well-being, such as regular exercise, mindfulness, and better sleep.

5. Greater Life Satisfaction (Taha Wairua)

Ultimately, self-improvement therapy helps you align your actions with your values and passions, leading to a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

Practical Steps to Start Your Personal Improvement Journey

Starting self-improvement therapy can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into manageable steps makes it easier:

  1. The Awakening – Reflect on Your Current Situation

    Take time to assess what areas of your life you want to improve. Be honest about your challenges and what you hope to achieve.

  2. Te Whāriki o te Ora – Set Clear Goals

    Define specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. For example, “I want to improve my public speaking skills by attending a workshop within three months.”

  3. Finding the Right Support

    If this feels right for you…reach out on our services page…take that step to book an appointment and start your journey to wellness.

  4. Te Whakatakato tō Mahere

    Put those actions in place that will help you achieve the goals that will bring your life the alignment you are after….Life Re-Alignment

  5. Te Whakatūria tō Mana

    Consistency is key, claim back your authority through consistency, flexibility and adjustment that supports your wellness journey.

  6. Tū Māia – Stable, Grounded

    Tū Pūmau – consistent practices – Whai Hua – success, productivity – Tū Māia – celebration, wellbeing.

If you want to explore this further, consider personal growth counselling as a valuable resource to guide your development.

Overcoming Common Challenges in Personal Growth

The path to personal growth is not always smooth. Here are some common obstacles and how to address them:

Fear of Change

Change can be intimidating. To overcome this, focus on the benefits of growth and remind yourself that discomfort is temporary.

Lack of Motivation

Set up a support system with friends, family, or your therapist. Use visual reminders of your goals and reward yourself for progress.

Negative Self-Talk

Challenge negative thoughts by questioning their validity and replacing them with positive affirmations.

Time Constraints

Prioritise your self-improvement activities by scheduling them like important appointments. Even 10-15 minutes a day can make a difference.

Perfectionism

Accept that mistakes are part of learning. Aim for progress, not perfection.

Embracing Lifelong Growth

Lifelong Growth is not a one-time fix but a lifelong commitment to your wellness journey. As you evolve, your goals and challenges will change. Embrace this journey with patience and curiosity.

Remember, the most important step is to start. By investing in yourself through self-improvement therapy, you open the door to endless possibilities and a richer, more satisfying life.

Take the first step today and discover how you can achieve your full potential.

Understanding Epigenetics and Its Impact on Inheritance

by | Dec 2, 2025 | Mental Health Counselling, Online Counselling



An opportunity to discuss this fascinating topic again and how it can relate to our wellness and wellbeing.

What Epigenetics Means for Inheritance: The Science Behind Whakapapa

Our tūpuna (ancestors) have always known something that Western science is only now beginning to confirm, that we carry our lineage within us in ways far deeper than physical resemblance. The concept of whakapapa—the interconnected threads that link us to those who came before—finds remarkable validation in the field of epigenetics.

Beyond the Genetic Code

Traditional genetics focuses on the DNA code inherited from our parents—the fixed blueprint passed down through generations. Epigenetics reveals another layer: our inheritance is actively shaped by environment, lifestyle, and experiences. This isn’t just about what genes we receive, but how those genes express themselves in our lives.

What makes this profound is the recognition that factors like diet, stress, trauma, or even exposure to toxins in one generation can influence the health, behaviours, and traits of future generations. Our ancestors’ experiences quite literally live within our cells.

Wellness Model Connection

For some time now I have been working through a wellness model (Te Poutama o te Ora) designed to harness ancient wisdom into the present to improve how we manage the challenges we face each day. When we approach life from a position of wellness, we are more resilient and able to flex and move with whatever comes our way.

Practical Applications for Healing

Understanding epigenetics offers transformative ways to approach family health history and personal wellness:

Health Patterns Reflect Ancestral Experience: Conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or mental illness aren’t just “in your genes”—they may reflect your ancestors’ lived experiences. This knowledge removes shame and adds context to personal health challenges.

Lifestyle Choices Create New Patterns: Recognising that parents’ diet, stress levels, and environmental exposures before conception can impact their children’s health empowers us to make conscious choices. We’re not just living for ourselves; we’re creating conditions for future generations.

Healing Can Reverse Patterns: Perhaps most importantly, epigenetic changes can be further influenced. The biological memory carried in bloodlines isn’t fixed—through conscious practices in diet, stress management, trauma healing, and environmental care, we can shift the patterns we pass forward

A Return to Ancient Wisdom

What makes epigenetics particularly significant is how it validates what indigenous cultures have always known. The Māori concept of whakapapa doesn’t just mean genealogy—it recognizes that we carry our ancestors’ experiences, that healing ourselves heals the line, and that our choices today shape our descendants’ lives.

When we consider current approaches it matters that wellness models provide a framework for working with these inherited memories across all dimensions of wellness. Reminding us that true healing isn’t individual—it’s relational, extending backward to honour what we’ve inherited and forward to tend what we’ll pass on.

We are not separate from our bloodlines. We are their living expression, carrying both their burdens and their gifts, with the power to transform what flows through us.

Mapping Epigenetics to Te Poutama o te Ora

When we examine epigenetic inheritance through this lens there are five dimensions of wellness, where we can see how ancestral patterns manifest across our entire being:

Whakapapa (Relationships): The quality of relationships in previous generations influences how we form connections. Patterns of attachment, trust, and relational behaviour carry forward epigenetically, affecting our capacity for healthy relationships today.

Tinana (Body): Physical health responses—from metabolism to immune function to stress responses—reflect our ancestors’ experiences. Understanding this helps explain why certain health conditions cluster in families beyond simple genetic risk.

Hinengaro (Thoughts): Mental health patterns, our responses to stress, and emotional regulation capacities are influenced by ancestral experiences. Depression, anxiety, and resilience all have epigenetic components that link us to our lineage.

Wairua (Spiritual): Ancestral trauma or resilience shapes our spiritual wellbeing. The capacity to connect with meaning, purpose, and something greater than us reflects not just personal experience but inherited patterns of spiritual expression or disconnection.

Tuakiri (Identity): How we understand ourselves—our sense of belonging, worth, and place in the world—is influenced by generational patterns. Identity struggles often have roots in ancestral experiences of displacement, colonisation, or cultural disconnection. For Māori the Renaissance in the 1980’s is a significant turning point, however generations born from the late 1940’s to 1980’s are still impacted by those experiences, being denied their language, and struggle to try to close the gap today.

You are not solely responsible for the patterns you carry: When you observe the same behaviours in your parents or across generations, this isn’t personal failure. There are biological influences passed down that require conscious investigation and interruption.

Nine-day cycles create new epigenetic expressions: Just as epigenetic patterns develop over time through repeated exposures, they can be shifted through sustained new patterns. The nine-day transformation cycles in Te Poutama o te Ora align with the body’s capacity to begin establishing new cellular responses—creating biological shifts that can influence not just your wellbeing but the inheritance you pass forward by ‘training your brain’ to respond in healthier ways.

The Challenges We Face

While epigenetics offers profound insights, questions remain:

  • How stable are epigenetic marks across generations? Some changes fade after a few generations; others persist longer. We’re still learning which patterns are most enduring.

  • Which changes are harmful or beneficial? Not all epigenetic modifications have clear effects, and some may be protective responses to environmental challenges.

  • How do we measure and interpret this data? The field is developing tools and standards, but much remains to be understood about how to apply these insights practically.

A Dynamic View of Inheritance

For those of us exploring our whakapapa and seeking to understand our place in the ancestral line, epigenetics confirms what indigenous wisdom has long known: inheritance is dynamic. We are shaped by genetics and by the lived experiences of those who came before us. The environment our ancestors navigated, the challenges they faced, the trauma they survived, and the resilience they built—all these live within us.

This understanding transforms how we approach wellness. We’re not just caring for ourselves; we’re honouring our ancestors by healing the patterns that harmed them, and we’re serving our descendants by establishing healthier expressions to pass forward.

Where This Leads

Understanding epigenetics isn’t about adding more information to carry—it’s about recognising the depth of our interconnection across time. When we commit to breaking unhealthy patterns, we’re engaging in work that echoes both backwards and forwards through our bloodline.

The Te Poutama o te Ora framework seeks to provide a tool for this transformation. By working systematically through the five dimensions of wellness across nine-day cycles, we create the sustained new patterns necessary for epigenetic shifts. We become conscious participants in our lineage, not passive recipients of inherited patterns.

This is the foundation for the deeper transformation work—understanding that we carry more than we realised, but also that we have more power to shape the inheritance we pass forward than we ever imagined.

This exploration of epigenetics and ancestral inheritance forms part of the Nine-Cycle Life Realignment Series, which integrates ancient wellness wisdom with practical transformation methodologies.

 

Exploring the Spiritual Essence of Number 9 in Wellness

by | Nov 3, 2025 | Mental Health Counselling, Online Counselling

 The number 9 is often associated with spiritual growth, compassion, and universal love. In the realm of wellness, integrating the essence of number 9 can lead to profound transformations in our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Here’s how you can harness the power of this number in your wellness journey.

1. Embrace Compassion and Service

The essence of number 9 encourages us to be compassionate and to serve others. Engaging in acts of kindness can enhance your emotional health and create a sense of community. Consider volunteering your time or skills to a cause that resonates with you.

2. Cultivate Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a key aspect of spiritual growth. Letting go of grudges and past hurts can free you from emotional burdens. Take time to reflect on any unresolved feelings and practice forgiveness towards yourself and others. When you reflect, release and restore at the end of the day ask “what do I need to let go?”

3. Connect with Your Higher Self

Number 9 symbolizes spiritual enlightenment. Engage in practices such as meditation, yoga, or journaling to connect with your higher self. These practices can help you tap into your inner wisdom and guide you on your wellness journey.

4. Foster Gratitude

Gratitude is a powerful tool for enhancing well-being. Create a daily gratitude practice; reflect and write down nine things you are thankful for. This can shift your perspective and promote a positive mindset.

5. Explore Your Creative Side

The creative expression is vital for holistic wellness. Engage in creative activities that allow you that expression…such as painting, writing, or music. Allow yourself to explore these avenues without judgment, as creativity can be a pathway to spiritual fulfillment.

6. Set Intentions for Growth

As a number associated with completion and new beginnings, number 9 encourages you to set intentions for personal growth. Set nine intentions that align with your wellness goals and revisit them at the end of each month to track your progress. Adjust what you need to for the next month. It is okay to tweak or refine these as you understand more about what you are striving for in your life. The intentions should be a ‘living’ list.

7. Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is essential for living in the present moment. Incorporate mindfulness practices into your daily routine, focusing on your surroundings. Using Pomodoro five or ten minute breaks to recenter after activities. This can help you cultivate a deeper awareness of yourself and the world around you.

8. Surround Yourself with Positive Energy

The people and environments we surround ourselves with can greatly impact our wellness. Seek out relationships and spaces that uplift and inspire you. Aim to connect with individuals who embody positivity and support.

9. Reflect on Your Journey

Take time to reflect on your personal journey and growth. Consider keeping a journal where you document significant experiences or lessons learned. This reflection can provide clarity and insight into your path forward.

Conclusion

 Integrating the spiritual essence of number 9 into your wellness routine can lead to holistic growth and healing. By embracing compassion, forgiveness, creativity, and mindfulness, you can enhance your overall well-being and cultivate a deeper connection with yourself and your God. Remember, the journey of wellness is a continuous process, and the essence of number 9 can guide you every step of the way.

Achieving Life Re-Alignment: Practical Tips for Everyday Harmony

by | Oct 13, 2025 | Mental Health Counselling

We talk more about how you can manage what is going on for you with the challenges and priorities that you face every day. With the right strategies, it is possible to create a lifestyle that promotes well-being and productivity. This article offers practical life tips to help you manage your time and energy effectively, leading to a more fulfilling and harmonious life.

Effective Life Re-Alignment Tips to Improve Your Daily Routine

Keeping different aspects of life at a manageable level requires intentional effort and smart planning. Here are some practical tips to help you get started:

  • Prioritise Your Tasks: Use a daily or weekly planner (i.e. 9-set planning / Tikanga Ora Tuaiwa) to list the your tasks.

    • Allocate a current ranking out of 9 (9 = highest importance) for it’s current importance.

    • Assign a ranking out of 9 of what you want the importance to be.

    • Then rank all of those with 1 being the highest priority, 2, 3 and so on. This identifies where to put your immediate efforts. Focus on the top 4 to start with.

  • Set Boundaries: Clearly designate work hours and personal time. Be ready to flex that allocation if unexpected priorities arise…it is okay to be flexible. Ensure items with the highest priority are done first to prevent negative downstream affects.

  • Schedule Breaks: Taking short breaks during work helps maintain focus and reduces burnout. Try the Pomodoro technique – work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break or work 50 minutes then rest for 10 minutes.

  • Practice Mindfulness: Spend a few minutes each day practising mindfulness or meditation. This helps recenter our thinking reducing stress and improving your mental clarity.

  • Engage in Physical Activity: Regular exercise boosts energy levels and improves mood. A 20-minute walk can make a difference.

  • Limit Screen Time: Reduce time spent on social media or watching TV, especially when you first wake up, during breaks, at lunch times and before bed. Give your mind and eyes a digital detox. .

  • Delegate When Possible: Be okay to ask for help or delegate tasks at work or home. Sharing responsibilities lightens your load. Make sure you talk these with the person to check they don’t become overwhelmed with the additional responsibilities.

By incorporating these life tips into your routine, you can create a more manageable and enjoyable daily schedule.

What is the 9-Set Rule for Work-Life Realignment?

The 9-set rule or 3, 3, 3 is a simple guideline to help structure your day for optimal balance. It divides the 24 hours into three equal parts:

  1. Set 1 – Morning activities: Dedicate this time to setting your intentions for the day, mediate, exercise, getting your family ready, sharing the first meal of the day, school or daycare drop off.

  2. Set 2 – Work activities: Prioritise the most important activities, get those done first, delegate, reschedule change priorities if urgent activities arise. Check you are on track early afternoon. Remember pomodoro techniques. Add a self-care activity, a brisk walk maybe during the lunch break, or a meditation exercise if you have a quiet spot you can do this. Keep it short so it doesn’t become another task that you have to fit into your day…self-care is about restoring your energy to keep you focussed on the days activities.

  3. Set 3 – Evening activities: Use this time for family, hobbies, exercise, and relaxation. Engaging in activities you enjoy helps reduce stress and improve happiness.

This rule encourages a balanced distribution of time, preventing any one area from dominating your day. While it may not be possible to follow it strictly every day, planning means you are able to respond and adjust to any challenges you face.

Creating Boundaries Between Work and Personal Life

One of the biggest challenges in maintaining and aligned-life is separating work from personal time, especially with remote work becoming more common or for some who’s employment is completely online. Here are some strategies to help you create clear boundaries:

  • Designate a Workspace: Set up a specific area in your home for work only. This helps your brain associate that space with productivity.

  • Stick to a Schedule: Start and finish work at consistent times. Consider establishing a rule where “when my door is closed I cannot be disturbed”. That way other members of the home know to respect that boundary and you know you will be uninterupted. If you find you need to work late or during weekends talk this through with your family so they understand and might even offer ways to help support you needing that extra time. Such as sharing responsibilities for meals or house work. Making your family part of that decision reminds them that they matter. Always acknowledge and reward this support when the urgent work is over…this tells them that their efforts mattered and weren’t taken for granted.

  • Communicate Your Availability: Let colleagues and family members know your work hours to minimise interruptions. Block out times in your calendar, especially no-go times so that things aren’t overbooked.

  • Turn Off Notifications: Disable work-related notifications outside of work hours to avoid distractions.

  • Create a Transition Routine: Develop a ritual to signal the end of your workday, such as a short walk or changing clothes. I find that making dinner is my signal that work is over and family time begins. This helps shift your mindset to personal time.

By implementing these boundaries, you can protect your personal time and reduce stress caused by work encroaching on your life.

The Role of Self-Care in Achieving Life Balance

Self-care is a vital component of a realigned life. It involves taking deliberate actions to maintain your physical, emotional, and mental health. Here are some self-care practices to consider:

  • Healthy Eating: Fuel your body with nutritious meals to maintain energy levels. Eat according to your body needs for example if your work is mostly sitting at a computer…then heavy starch or fat-rich meals will leave you feeling sluggish. Invest a little time into making sure your diet or food plan fits your daily life.

  • Regular Exercise: Incorporate activities you enjoy, such as swimming, walking, yoga, or cycling. Choose something you can maintain and that fits in with your daily routine.

  • Adequate Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night. If you find you are waking exhausted then look in more detail into what is happening in your day…if there were unresolved challenges…or your bedtime routine might not be allowing you to wind down sufficiently.

  • Relaxation Techniques: Try deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or listening to calming music.

  • Social Connections: Spend time with friends and family to nurture your support network.

  • Hobbies and Interests: Engage in creative or recreational activities that bring you joy.

Remember, self-care is not selfish. It is essential for sustaining your ability to meet daily demands and enjoy life fully.

Tips for Managing Stress and Enhancing Wellbeing

Stress is a common barrier to life balance. Managing it effectively can improve your overall wellbeing. Here are some actionable tips:

  • Identify Stress Triggers: Keep a journal to track situations that cause stress and your reactions.

  • Practice Time Management: Break large tasks into smaller steps and set realistic deadlines.

  • Stay Active: Physical activity releases endorphins that help reduce stress.

  • Connect with Others: Talking to trusted friends or professionals can provide support.

  • Limit Caffeine and Alcohol: These substances can increase anxiety and disrupt sleep.

  • Practice Gratitude: Focus on positive aspects of your life to shift your mindset.

Incorporating these strategies into your daily life can help you maintain calm and resilience in the face of challenges.

Moving Forward with Balance in Mind

Achieving a harmonious life requires ongoing effort and adjustment. By applying these practical life tips, you can create a lifestyle that supports your goals and wellbeing. Remember, life-realignment looks different for everyone, so find what works best for you and be flexible as your needs change.

For more insights and guidance on achieving life-realignment, explore additional resources and expert advice to support your journey towards everyday harmony.