I used to have a lovely garden but after a couple of years of neglect, of warmer, wetter seasons and recent cyclones, I now live in a messy jungle that could be hired out as the setting for a remake of Jurassic Park. One day, when time allows, I plan to restore the garden to its former glory. In the meantime, I satisfy my environmental conscience by claiming that my crowded small section is probably capturing more carbon than my personal footprint produces. (My carbon-footprint is probably quite large as I deliver flowers/plants Auckland-wide in my ageing, petrol-engine van. Oh, to be able to afford an EV!)
Soon after moving to this locale, I helped plant trees along the street — mostly tōtara, with flowering cherries to accent the corners. Nearly 20 years on the cherries are long gone (bowled by reversing vehicles or shrivelled by dry periods). By contrast, the tōtara thrive and are now 10 metres high with solid trunks and wide welcoming branches.
This ordered green belt interacts with my jungle-garden by sprouting many tōtara seedlings in the garden’s untended areas. These gifts are dug up and given to friends, sold on Trade Me or styled as bonsai and added to my collection — thus sequestering a little more of the absorbed carbon.
I’m embarrassed by my overgrown garden and proud of the tree-lined street, but many and varied birds, lizards, insects and invertebrates are happy to enjoy both and are unconcerned by the tidiness status of either. Is there a lesson here somewhere?
Matariki may shed some (star)light on my confusion and nature’s profusion.
One of the smallest, sometimes overlooked, members of the Matariki family is Hiwa-i-te-rangi, the wishing star. Sitting just above Waitī and Waitā (the twins responsible for fresh and salt water) Hiwa-i-te-rangi could be the vital conduit for the spiritual gifts of the other stars of the constellation. Traditionally, Māori would use this star to set their desires and direction for the year ahead — what Pākehā might call New Year’s resolutions. Hiwa-i-te-rangi both inspires and enables: resolutions, aspirations, dreams and actions to sustain the environment. Right now, the whole of humankind needs this hopeful inspiration and impetus for change!
Zechariah is a prophet who, like Hiwa-i-te-rangi, is small and often overlooked but offers powerful wisdom for our time. Speaking of God’s plan to bring messianic hope and universal peace, the prophet proclaims: “For I mean to spread peace everywhere, the vine will give its fruit, the earth its increase, and heaven its dew. I am going to bestow all these blessings on the remnant of this people. Just as once you were a curse … so I mean to save you, for you to become a blessing” (Zech 8:12-13). Notice the remnant people are themselves saved by becoming a blessing for others. In our present situation, surely, the remnant of the planet (and we) will be saved when we change our cursed/controlling ways and bless the earth by enabling nature to take its course. “The vine will give its fruit, the heaven its dew” even (or possibly, better) without us.
Combining the “ever ancient, ever new” inspiration and wisdom of Hiwa-i-te-rangi and Zechariah, I am better equipped to relate appropriately to the earth — knowing when to work with her and when to simply let her, and her creatures, be.
Tui Motu Magazine. Issue 283 July 2023: 32