Memory

Once upon a time, there was a fisherman who embarked on lengthy voyages in the Pacific Ocean and used as guidance many important observations “of the stars, the ocean swells, the flight patterns of birds and other natural signs […].” Following directions by his chief navigator Makali‘i, an expert stargazer, Hawai‘i Loa is believed to have discovered the archipelago which then was named (in his honor) Hawaii.

[The entire book Hawaiian Mythology by Martha Warren Beckwith can be found online here].

To this day, novice navigators in the Pacific Islands similarly focus on the mnemonic recitation of “star paths” (pafii) and recite compass points in terms of four groups of eight star names, in a “sacred rite affirming the bond between the navigator and the sky” where stars are addressed by name.

When we are navigating daily life, what do we remember? What star path can we recall to guide us in the open ocean? Can our recollection of positive moments help us frame our experience of challenging ones?