Ko te mauri, he mea huna ki te ngākau o te tangata
(The life force is hidden in the heart of a person.)
FLOW and Life Force Energy in Maori Tradition
In the rich and profound tradition of the Māori people of Aotearoa (New Zealand), the concept of mauri — life force — holds a central place.
It is said that mauri is the invisible energy that animates every living being, the vital spark that gives life its flow, vitality, and presence. And yet, as the whakataukī (proverb) says, ko te mauri, he mea huna ki te ngākau o te tangata — this life force is hidden deep within the heart.
But what does this really mean?
In Māori cosmology, mauri is present in everything: not only people, but animals, trees, rivers, mountains, even rocks.
It is the sacred thread that weaves through the entire living world. It is believed that everything — living or seemingly non-living — holds its own mauri, its own unique essence and energy.
However, for human beings, this life force is especially potent, because we are conscious carriers of it. It resides within our ngākau — our heart, our emotional and spiritual core.
The heart, in Māori understanding, is more than a physical organ. It is the seat of emotions, intuition, character, and spirit.
To say that the life force is hidden in the heart is to acknowledge that the flow of our life energy is intimately tied to the quality of our inner world — our feelings, our thoughts, and our connection to the sacred.
When the heart is open, clear, and aligned with truth and love, mauri flows freely. We feel alive, vibrant, connected to the land, to others, and to ourselves.
When the heart is burdened by sorrow, anger, or disconnection, the mauri can weaken or become blocked, leading to imbalance in body, mind, and spirit.
This deep relationship between mauri and the heart is part of why many Māori practices focus on restoring and strengthening the life force.
Healing rituals (whakanoa), blessings (karakia), and even everyday greetings often carry the intention of honouring and uplifting the mauri in each other and in the world around us.
The whakataukī reminds us: true vitality and flow are not something we seek outside of ourselves.
They are hidden treasures within us, waiting to be uncovered by living in harmony — with nature, with our ancestors, and with our own deepest truth.
When we live from the heart, mauri tū, mauri ora — the life force stands strong, and health and happiness naturally follow.