Article
Heroes and Adventurers
A Huna perspective on the power of the stories we live by
by Pete 'Ike Dalton
What's your story? What reality are you creating? Stories are immensely powerful. In fact, our stories have a massive impact on how we perceive the world and our lives and how others perceive us. It is therefore perhaps not surprising that shamans were often considered master story tellers, harnessing the power of storytelling for illumination and empowerment. So, what are the stories we tell ourselves?
If we consider the Huna principle of 'Ike, one of its meanings is 'the world is what you think it is'. Relating this to the stories that we tell ourselves, we can see our stories play a big role in creating our own experience of reality. If we consider Kala - the principle of freedom, then we can see that our stories can be limiting or liberating. Considering the principle of Makia - stories focus ourselves, and others, on particular aspects of experience. They can shine a spotlight on one aspect of our life whilst hiding everything else in the shadows. They are a way in which we give meaning to our experience. They are an expression of our beliefs.
Of course, just as we make up our stories so we make up the meaning we give them. Sometimes our stories have become so ingrained and habitual that they are told almost unconsciously and accepted as though they represent some form of objective truth. This is fine if the story serves you well, but this is not always the case. In some cases we don't even live our own story but are content to buy into others' stories about our self. And this is where the power of story lies.
Our stories are made up. We can tell stories that don't serve us well and disempower, or we can tell stories that serve us well and empower us. Once we acknowledge this, we can begin to take full responsibility for our stories and contribute more effectively to creating our reality.
Drawing further on Huna beliefs, we have the principle of Manawa or 'now is the moment of power'. There is only one time we can tell our story and be affected by it, and that is in the present moment. This also gives us the power to change the stories that we no longer want to live by. No matter how long the story has been ours, we still have the power right now to choose to change to a different, better story.
Tales of Heroism and Adventure
The stories we tell can make the difference between us being a hero, victim or villain in the script of our own life. Our stories can also make the difference between living a mundane life and being the adventurer you truly deserve to be. With this in mind, maybe it is a good time to begin to review the stories about your life that you tell yourself and others. Awareness is a first step, so consider the following: What is your big story, what do you tell yourself? What do you tell others? How long have you been telling the same story? Are there parts of your story that make you a victim and disempower you? How else can you tell your story? What different focus can you provide?
Claim your own story, write it just the way you want, and let it empower the whole of your life.(Thank you to Stewart Blackburn for facilitating the time and space for me to reflect on my own story in Kalapana earlier this year). As a hula teacher put it:
Pa'i ana na pahu hula le'a, eia ka'u mele
Enjoy the beat of other drums, but this is my song
Pete Dalton ©2017
Pete Dalton is an Alakai of Huna International living in the UK. For more information on his work visit his website www.urbanhuna.org
