Papa Joe – Maori Healer

Beloved Elder, Master Teacher, Tohunga, Shaman

“Mirimiri, Koo Miri, Taa Miri me Romiromi hoki
were ancient practises of the Tohunga
that clear, release and energise ones entire being.”

For those who knew Papa Joe, they would know how unrivaled he was in his teachings and knowledge, particularly in this modern day arena.  The other side of that though was this man who had a huge sense of humor, apt to break into big gales of belly (puku or gut) laughter, could laugh at anything and usually when something tickled his fancy (as we say at home) he would giggle like a child, gnawing on that for ages.  There are many stories in our memories of Papa and over time this is a forum for some of them from the many wonderful people we have met on our global journeys and at home.

Papa told us many stories from his childhood.  One in particular sticks out because it showed his ability to laugh at himself.  He talked of being a 12 year old, he was walking out of the bush in Whitianga (East Coast) where he grew up, and he came upon his first pakeha (white person).  He thought this was the kehua (ghosts) his old people used to talk about, so he turned tail running to his great grandfathers house screaming and crying thinking the kehua was there to get him.   He told this story with great relish and an impish smile on his face.

Then of course there were the numerous times when we were on our road trips traveling around the US or Europe or even at home in Aotearoa, teaching and sharing the healing arts with those that were interested.   No matter the number of people present be it one or one hundred, his passion to teach and share were paramount for him. The allowance that his whanau (family) gave him was most awesome.  They knew that he was bigger than just being a husband, father, grandfather, uncle, friend.  I now know part of Papa’s purpose was not so much the teaching and or healing that he did, but it was the way that he touched people.  He would blossom them into being.  He would nurture them to bring forth their nectar, and he would challenge and encourage so that your belief in reaching your goal was more than a distant possibility.  An education was important to him.  To this day, Papa has many students who became teachers or furthered their education in different areas due to his insight, knowing and ability to believe in them.

In his classes, he would start with a takutaku, an ancient chant (prayer for want of a better word) that he would give this to his students, then he’d begin to interpret this taonga (treasure).  To one of his groups, the takutaku that he gave had 1,300 verses.  This meant that each verse was a whole new workshop in itself.   He would break down the words and much of the languaging he used, we do not have in our everyday speaking any more.  The language he used and understood, was poetic and metaphorical.   This is why so many of our ancestors and elders loved the writings of Shakespeare, or could quote the Bible because it was alive and descriptive for them.

Papa had an interest in the scientific world.  His cosmology, pharmacology and universology were way beyond the physical realm as we believe we know it.  There was one occasion when we were asked to speak at a Noetic Sciences meeting (of which we’ve done several times over the years) in Santa Monica.  The topic was the phases of the moon.  There were a quite a few learned scholars there, who when they got up to ask him questions, would first introduce themselves and their credentials i.e. Professor John Jay Higgins of UCLA, MA, MASc, Dr. etc.

Papa would answer from his experience, and went on to tell them of what his Grandfather had taught him about the moon, and the phases of the moon, not just that it controlled tidal flow, physical liquids within the body, moved all bodies of water on the planet, food, planting, fishing, but also mental and physical peaking in man and animals, colour of the moon (i.e. meaning acidity/sweetness in the earth), large body of people leaving (death), large body of people coming (birth – resurrection).  Papa spoke of the feminine essence of the moon, the spiritual circle, woman linked indelibly to the moon through her cycles, emotional upheavals in relation to the moon as well as the womb, and much more.

Papa was able to describe areas that were known only to a specific community via the photos they were sent from manned space ships (NASA).   These weren’t pictures that could be found on the internet or in books.

When asked how did he know this kind of information, his reply was, “Well, because I’ve been there.  With my Grandfather”.  Then he spoke about how they would often go for journeys to other places, dimensions, planes, galaxies, stars. He could describe in detail some systems and planets yet to come into our orbit.   While this threw many into bewilderment and some confusion, he could also see an eagerness in them wanting to learn more about this ability to ‘travel’.  When asked about this, most times depending on who was asking, he would become cagey and just sit back and wrap his big hands around his puku and close his eyes.  Like a buddha amongst a little bit of chaos.  Little did they know, he was transporting himself back there….on a first class ticket to ride….

Flowing from a dream
Hide among the elders
Fly without restriction
Doing the uncanny
Heaven has no fields
Earths’ desires so numerous
Leave with distinction our thoughts

WHO AM I?

Na Hohepa De La Mere (Papa Joe)

Share with someone you love

•