Hello Friends!
It is rare to come across a book or piece of work that is so very raw, real, and inspiring. That is why I have decided to participate in sharing this work with you today.
I am very pleased to announce the launch of Speaking Your Truth: Courageous Stories from Inspiring Women” – a powerful anthology of which I am an advocate for.
This book is launching on Amazon, today – Wednesday, August 25th.
Speaking Your Truth has 49 stories for women by women. These stories are heart-wrenching and inspiring. The stories are based on love and healing, family matters, spirituality and much more.

Find out more now and order your copy today of the Speaking Your Truth anthology. Get your copy (and perhaps a copy for a friend, your mother, or a colleague) here at www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615377386

I made this for a dear friend of mine in Colorado! :) Hei-Matau with Pawa shell toggel

(Carvings by Boedybones - 2010)
Hei-Matau and Hei-Toki

The examples in these photos are intricately bound traditional Hei-Matau and Hei-Toki. Carvings with this kind of exquisite heavy traditional binding and platted hand woven cords with bound loops are usually not offered to the public. They are often worn by Maori warriors during ceremonial dances or greetings.

Koru, The New Zealand Symbol
The Maori Koru design is scroll/ spiral shaped and is derived from the frond of the New Zealand fern plant.
'Koru' is the Maori word for the new unfurling fern frond. The pattern is used in many Maori and New Zealand art forms and symbolizes new life, regeneration, growth, strength and peace.
For many this design is the symbol for renewal, hope for the future. Because everything continues and is reborn. Or as the ancient Greeks said: 'Panta Rhei': everything flows.

Maori Koru Meaning
symbolics explained

The unfolding spiral tipped shoots of the New Zealand silver fern plant become new fern leaves (fronds). Thus the reference to new life or a new start. The circular shape of the baby fern frond also symbolizes nurturing, purity, tranquility, personal growth, positive change and awakening.Koru's spiral shape resembles the concept of perpetual movement. Its inner coil suggests a going back to the origin. The koru therefore resembles the way in which life both changes and stays the same.Especially in Maori culture these Koru (unfolding shoots) have a strong symbolical meaning. The koru design has been used for centuries in cultural expressions. Art forms like wood, bone and jade carvings, tattoos and so forth featured (and still do) the koru design which nowadays is probably the most iconic symbol of New Zealand (Aotearoa).The Koru pattern also represents tranquility, peace, rebirth, a fresh new start and spirituality. Often associated with nurturing the koru pattern is also used to represent the purity and strength of the bond between people.

Did you know..
The Maori traditionally created their carvings from cattle, albatross, moa (a huge, now extinct, eagle), whale, and even human bone. Types of rock used to carve were; greenstone, argillite, greywacke and serpentine.

Hei-Toki pendant I made a few months ago. Cow bone with emerald stone.

Manaia Hei Matau
Manaia: Guardian Spirit

Manaia is a supernatural being, a spiritual guardian dedicated to ward of danger and to frighten away intruders. Manaia has the head of a bird, the body of a man and a fish tail. These symbolize heaven, earth and sea and the balance between these three elements.

This is my first attempt at carving a Manaia Hei-Matau. Not very detailed but the general shape is there. The Manaia on the left is more recent and has a nice detail to the head.