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Unleashing the Hidden Power of the Haka

The haka, a mesmerizing Maori war dance, transcends its surface-level spectacle. Beyond the drumbeats and fierce expressions lies a profound force, capable of igniting something deep within us as humans. In this exploration, we’ll delve into the dual nature of the haka – its traditional significance and a deeper, transformative power that it holds.

The Haka during the all Blacks, rugby team

Traditionally, the haka has been viewed as:

A Symbol of Strength and Bravery: Originating with the Maori people of New Zealand, the haka was a potent weapon of intimidation. Warriors would perform this captivating dance to instill fear in their foes, asserting their dominance and courage before battle. It was a ritual to prepare them both mentally and spiritually for the challenges ahead.

A Physical and Spiritual Workout: The haka was believed to connect warriors with their ancestral spirits and the spiritual realm. By engaging in this dance, they drew upon the energy of their forebears, fostering strength and courage for the impending conflict. Chanting and singing further elevated the emotional and spiritual intensity of the haka.

A Ceremonial Act: Beyond warfare, the haka played a role in important life events such as weddings, funerals, and even hunts. In these contexts, it was performed to seek blessings from the spiritual world, whether for marital bliss or a successful hunt.

The transformative power of the haka

Yet, there exists a deeper layer to the haka, a transformative potential that extends beyond tradition:

Center Practice: Enter Gurdjieff’s Fourth Way, a system of self-awareness and personal transformation. Here, we encounter “center practice.” It involves understanding and harmonizing the three fundamental centers of human experience:

  1. Intellectual Center: The realm of thought, analysis, and rationality.
  2. Emotional Center: The domain of feelings, from joy to fear.
  3. Moving (Motor) Center: Governing physical actions and bodily sensations.

Center practice seeks to balance these centers, preventing one from dominating while helping individuals become more attuned to the right center for a given moment.

On a profound level, participating in a haka ritual can invoke the moving center, infusing us with a warrior’s spirit and a fervor for action. It breaks us free from the confines of our primary centers – liberating thinkers from overthinking and inviting feelers to cease constant introspection and act on their impulses.

The haka, then, becomes a gateway to action, an antidote to inertia, and a channel through which we can transcend our mental and emotional limitations. It calls upon us to embrace the warrior within and venture boldly into the arena of life.

Usain Bolt: mastering the moving centre

About Tom Oor

I’m a Learning and Development Business Partner specializing in creating and facilitating leadership and organizational development programs with global teams. My focus is on Purpose-Driven Leadership and Organizations. We transform business value gaps into impactful learning solutions such as offsites, journeys, and global hybrid programs.

Core Expertise:

  • Accelerating people development for higher returns and faster results
  • Leading high-performance international teams
  • Purpose-driven leadership and organizations
  • Cultivating high-performance cultures

We have worked with amongst others ABN-Amro, Google, PwC, Booking.com, ASML, Scotch & Soda, and Top Employers Institute to design and deliver transformative programs.