by Rani Chaves

In The Islands of Tahiti, we are welcoming Matari’ i Ni’a, our season of abundance, of renewal. In ancient times, our ancestors, or tupuna, 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, and seasonal 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 P?  (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.  

Our lineages are woven into the fabric of the stars.

Significance in Other Wisdom Traditions

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 Australian 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; and in Egypt, the Pleaides were the manifestation of the goddess — the divine mother, the light of love.

Divine Bounty

In the end, these stories all carry a similar message, reminding us that everything is connected and that we all are part of this divine theatre 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.

Reflect the Light to Make Space for Rejuvenation

Here in the northern hemisphere as I write this, it is in the light of autumn that I am basking. I love seeing the leaves changing colors, witnessing the trees gracefully transition. Just as they shed their leaves, this season invites us to let go and allow the leaves of the past to drift away; to journey within our inner universe and reconnect with our land of wisdom and the melody of our heart, and to celebrate our inner Thanksgiving. This is a time to let the golden cloak of autumn wrap us, with the gentleness of a mother: “You are loved. You are love. You are light,” she whispers softly.

November is one of my favorite months here, with the celebration of Thanksgiving, the delicious and comforting scent of pumpkin spice lingering in the air, and the Christmas songs playing on the radio. There is some kind of softness and peace, that gently nudges us to slow down, recharge and prepare for rejuvenation. As we reflect on the past months, we contemplate what we have accomplished, learnt and created. And just as the leaves of the past gently fall to the earth, forming a soft mantle over her, we too are called to release what is no longer part of who we are.

And no matter where we are, the shift in seasons invites us to reflect on our inner landscape. What do we need to let go of? What do we need to make room for? How can we mirror the magic and beauty of nature’s delicate balance? How can we align ourselves with the natural rhythms of life rather than a disrupted connection which leads to stress, disease and suffering?

Living our humanity and spirituality is a journey. In a world where we tend to rush everything, this one is not one we want to run through. We want to savour every bite. Is it perfect? Absolutely not! Is it easy? Not always. Is it worth it? Yes, and a million times yes. 

There is comfort in the synchronicity that as my home Islands of Tahiti celebrate the new dawn and the new year, in the Northern Hemisphere, we honor autumn and our harvest. Wherever we are, we turn to our inner lands and give thanks for the breath of life that sustains and moves us, for every gift and lesson that make us stronger and wiser, for the guidance always available to us when we create silence and make space to receive.

From the Pleaides to the constellation within, may we embrace the light that we are. May we celebrate our journey and that of our ancestors and may we serve in ways that recognize the majestic theatre of life we are all part of. As above so below, as within so without.

Yoga is Union. Like the Pleiades creating a harmonious order in the night sky, we come together to foster a deeper sense of community, cultivate self-care and self-love and tend to our inner peace and healing. It is a journey and we don’t have to walk it alone. And if you find yourself at a crossroads, if you find that it is time to give your journey a new direction and a fresh impulse, join us in Sedona next year for the Sedona Yoga Festival! Passes are on sale… OR, drum roll please, maybe Tahiti is calling? Mark your calendars for October 3 to 6, 2025, when we will gather in Tahiti for Tahiti Yoga Fest, a sister event to the Sedona Yoga Festival. Stay tuned for more details coming soon.

Lead image by Lisette Cheresson