Feeding the Stars Through Tea

As Matariki rises once again in the winter sky, we are invited into a season of remembrance, reflection, gratitude, wellbeing, and aspiration. It is a time when the veil between earth and sky feels a little thinner, reminding us that we are part of something much larger than ourselves.

At PAUSE for Tea, our kaupapa has always centred on connection, 

to ourselves, 

to each other, 

to whenua, 

and to the cycles that sustain life. 

While tea may appear simple, within every cup sits a story of water, soil, memory, hope, and relationship.

As we gather during Matariki, there are five whetū whose teachings resonate deeply within our practice:

Pōhutukawa is the whetū connected to those who have passed. 

Before we look forward, we first look back. 

We remember the people who shaped us, taught us, challenged us, and loved us. 

Their stories continue to live within us. 

Through remembrance we acknowledge that we do not walk alone; we are carried by the footsteps of those who came before.

Matariki herself is associated with health, wellbeing, reflection, and togetherness. 

The brightness and clarity of Matariki indicates the wellbeing of the people and the prosperity of the year ahead. 

Her appearance invites us to take stock of our own lives. 

Are we well in body, mind, spirit, and connection? 

Are we nurturing ourselves, our whānau, and our communities? 

This commitment to wellbeing sits at the heart of everything we do.

 

Waitī is the whetū connected to freshwater and the life it sustains. 

Water is far more than a resource; it is memory, movement, and connection. 

Every tea begins with water. 

It carries flavour, aroma, nourishment, and story. 

Through Waitī we honour the waters that sustain us and recognise that every cup begins with this precious gift.

 

Tupuānuku is connected to all that grows within the soil. 

The herbs, flowers, roots, and leaves that become our teas are gifts from Papatūānuku. Whether cultivated by growers, nurtured in community gardens, or harvested from the earth, they remind us that nourishment comes from relationship, patience, and care. 

Tupuānuku teaches us that growth cannot be rushed and that abundance arrives in its own season.

 

Hiwa-i-te-Rangi is the whetū of hopes, dreams, and aspirations. 

Having remembered the past and reflected on the present, we are invited to consider the future.

 What do we wish to cultivate? 

What intentions do we carry into the coming year? 

What possibilities are waiting to emerge?

One of the most beautiful traditions associated with Matariki is Te Whāngai i te Hautapu, the ceremonial feeding of the stars.

Food is offered, and as the steam rises, the essence of that offering is carried skyward.

The whetū receive the gratitude, remembrance, and aspirations of the people below.

While tea does not represent all of the traditional food sources honoured during Hautapu, 

it allows us to honour many of these relationships. 

Through water we acknowledge Waitī. 

Through the plants that emerge from the soil we honour Tupuānuku. 

Through reflection on wellbeing we connect with Matariki. 

Through remembrance we acknowledge Pōhutukawa. 

Through intention and aspiration we speak to Hiwa-i-te-Rangi.

Each time steam rises from a cup, it becomes a quiet act of connection. 

It carries more than aroma. 

It carries gratitude. 

It carries memory. 

It carries hope.

As the steam ascends, it symbolically reaches Pōhutukawa, carrying the names and memories of those we hold dear. 

It rises to Matariki, who reflects our wellbeing and collective prosperity. 

It continues onward to Hiwa-i-te-Rangi, carrying our dreams and aspirations for the year ahead.

In a world that often asks us to move faster, Matariki offers another invitation.

Pause.

Remember those who came before.

Nurture your wellbeing.

Give thanks for the waters and the soil.

Speak your aspirations into the year ahead.

And as the steam rises from your cup, 

know that perhaps it carries a little more than warmth.

Perhaps it carries your story to the stars.