The Eyes of the Gods

In The Islands of Tahiti, we are welcoming Matari’ i Ni’a, our season of abundance, of renewal.

In the ancient times, our tupuna - ancestors, - guided by their supreme knowledge and understanding of Nature, had determined two main seasons: Matari’i i Ni’a, the season of abundance, from November to May, and Matari’ i Raro, the season of scarcity from May to November.

Marari’i i Ni’a was marked by the arrival of the Pleaides in the night sky. It also coincided with the turtles coming to lay their eggs on the shores, certain flowers blooming after a time of dormancy. All these natural occurrences indicated a great shift, and the dawn of a new year or Matahiti.

Sacred rituals, incantations, dances and offerings were performed by the local communities to celebrate the natural rhythms of Life, honor all the gifts and thank the ancestors and gods. There was no religion in that time. These meaningful ceremonies were their way to nurture the profound connection to the visible and invisible worlds, from Te Pō – the dark night or the world below - to Te Papa – the layered rock or foundation – to Te Ra’i – the sky and the heavens.

Oral traditions tell us that the Pleaides represented the original home of the gods and the ancestors. Our lineages are woven into the fabric of the stars, unfolding like a song from the infinite expanse of the celestial realms to our earthly existence.

In many ancient civilizations, the Pleiades held a vital role in the dynamics of life and death.

In the Vedic tradition, they are portrayed as the wives of the Sapta Rishis, the seven sages and earliest disciples of Lord Shiva. The six visible sisters of the Pleiades symbolize the five senses and the mind, while the mysterious seventh sister represents pure consciousness. Associated with Krittika Nakshatra, the Pleiades are considered the womb of Agni, the fire god, embodying the power to create, birth, and manifest.

In Greek mythology, one version reveals that the Pleiades were the seven nymph-daughters of the Titan Atlas and the Oceanid Pleione – Pleione, protectress of sailing, gave the name Pleaides. Titan Atlas was condemned to hold up the sky for eternity, leaving him powerless to protect his daughters. To shield the sisters from the hunter Orion’s advances, Zeus transformed them into stars. However, legend says that one sister fell in love with a mortal and went into hiding, which is why only six stars are visible.

The Aboriginal’s tales often depicts seven sisters being chased by the morning star, Jukurra-Jukurra.The pursuit continues across the deserts of Australia, and the sisters take refuge in the sky. The Orion constellation is often depicted as chasing the sisters across the night sky.

For the people of the Native American Navajo nation, the Diné, the Pleaides are the most highly ordered constellation, with its form and shape representing the harmony of the heavens. They refer to it as Dilyéhé, a term loosely translated as "Sparkling Figure" or "Sparkling Particles." It is said to be associated to the Black God, responsible for magnifying the dark skies.

In Japan, the Pleaides are called subaru, meaning “to unite” or “to gather”, symbolizing unity and connection.

In Egypt, the Pleaides were the manifestation of the goddess, the divine mother, the light of love.

These stories all carry a similar message, reminding us that everything is connected, that Nature is supreme intelligence and organisation and that we all are part of this divine play of Life.

From the depths of darkness, light emerges, much like the Pleiades shining in the night sky. Over time, they fade from view, symbolizing a period of rest and dormancy, known as Matari’i i Raro in Polynesian tradition. Conversely, Matari’i i Ni’a celebrates Nature’s magnetic radiance, her nourishing vitality and bountiful gifts.

During Matari’i i Ni’a, fruits reach their juiciest ripeness, flowers burst into a mesmerizing display of vibrant colors, and the lagoon and ocean overflow with abundance. Nature is at her peak, and we bask in her luminous embrace, making this time deeply connected to strong feminine energy and heightened creativity.