Maui

84 pages with 12 Tarot Cards

Full Colour

NZ$32.95 incl. postage

US$35.95 incl. postage overseas

The Revival of an Ancient Method of Divination and Prophesy of the Polynesian Maori

by Joyce Paraone Hemana

Illustrated by Jane Rushton

Matakite-o-Maui is in fact a very ancient system of divination for prophesy used by the Maori seers and prophets. It is created around Maui-tikitiki-a-Te Ranga, otherwise known as Maui, a demi-god, a hero by his many feats, and also an ancient ancestor to Maori.

Accounts of Maui’s life are portrayed in the form of twelve myths which describe the deeds and useful devices he created to benefit mankind, and these are portrayed in the divination rite using beautifully illustrated Tarot cards.

“In having spent a great part of my life undertaking prophesy readings for others using mainly the conventional tarot cards, I was naturally very excited to discover a traditional Maori form of divination, and even more keen to revive it into a usable form for application into today’s world,” writes Joyce Paraone Hemana.

Based in Foxton, Joyce (Ngati Whatua, Oruawharo and Ngaiterangi) has worked a a matakite and healer for some years. With artist Jane Rushton she has recently published a tarot book and cards based around the mythology of Maui. For each of the 12 cards there is an interpretation of the ancient mythology, a divination and a spiritual message for the tarot reader or individual to use.

Mana Magazine

In this book Joyce Paraone Hemana revives the ancient form of divination for modern times to use for seeking direction, guidance and prophesy. You can either choose the traditional method of sea shells, or use the set of 12 pictorial cards, representing the myths of Maui (which come with the book), beautifully illustrated by Jane Rushton.

Rainbow News

Excerpt...

In ancient times the method of the divination rite comprised of a flax mat, six feet by six feet, upon which the Matakite (the visionary) would sit facing towards the east, being the direction of the rising sun; the increase of the light of the rising sun being symbolic of the light of insight or enlightenment. As Maui is one who has his mana (honour) in Tongaroa, which is why sea shells were used for the original divination rite.

There were 11 in all. One side was ‘open-mouthed’ with the other – if not flat, only slightly rounded. The cowrie or miniature clam shell are ideal examples as one side has a natural opening like a mouth.

The seeker would let them fall upon the flax mat, which had been woven together with karakia (prayers), and the tohungas-matakite (priest) would count the number that fell open-mouthed. A shell with one open-mouth would relate to the first myth, and so on. If no shells fell open-mouthed, the twelfth myth would apply.

In ancient times this ceremony was shrouded in tapu (sacredness) and had more chants and procedures, being much more complex than the system I have devised to bring it into today’s world... And so, as part of the much needed revival of Maoritanga, I developed this ‘open’ version of the myths for all to easily employ as a means of seeking direction, guidance and prophesy.

Don’t, however, be fooled by the ease of relay. The signs given within the myths do not lie, yet this is exactly why this makes Matakite-o-Maui such a no-fuss way to get to the heart of the matter, and receive spiritual revelation to s problem or query. No one can go wrong. The only difference will be the depth in the translation of one’s perception of the myth.

Maui snares the Sun

NEW RELEASE