What Matariki Can Teach Us About Letting Go

Matariki is a time when the whole country pauses to look up. The rising of the star cluster marks the Māori New Year, and with it comes an invitation to reflect on the year that has passed, to remember those we have lost, and to look ahead with hope for what is still to come. For anyone going through separation or divorce, that rhythm of looking back before moving forward can feel remarkably familiar.

Ending a relationship rarely happens in a single moment. It is more often a slow unwinding, made up of small decisions and quiet griefs that build over time. Matariki gives us permission to sit with that properly rather than rushing straight to the next chapter. You can honour what the relationship gave you, even as you accept that its season has ended.

In my work supporting people through separation, I often see clients trying to skip the reflection stage altogether. They want to get to resolution as quickly as possible, and understandably so. But taking even a small amount of time, in the spirit of Matariki, to acknowledge what has happened before setting your sights on what comes next tends to lead to clearer thinking and steadier decisions.

If this time of year has you thinking about your own new beginning, I would be glad to help you find your footing.