Reclaiming Ancient Wisdom

Cultural appropriation is something we have been learning a lot about over the years - especially in relation to the adoption of ancient cultural practises with the intention to profit from them. When I first learnt about vaginal/yoni/pelvic steaming I felt a deep resonance in my body. So I began this practise. With no real thought about where it came from. Not long into my steaming journey I felt like I was missing something. I wanted to better understand the history of steaming, where it came from. “Who did this beautiful practise belong to” I wondered? Not long after I began to feel this way, while learning about Rongoā (Māori Medicine of Aotearoa) I had an AHA moment. Of course this was practised by my ancestors.

So I began the journey of discovering vaginal steaming within my own lineage. I am still very much on that journey. I recall starting out by asking about steaming on a Rongoā Facebook Group - What I got back from some was painful to read. “Absolutely not - our ancestors did not do that” or “just have a shower”. I felt embarrassed for asking. But something within me told me to keep pursuing it. I thought to myself over and over again - Colonisation has taken our sacred practises. They have been stolen, but they can be reclaimed. I asked the Atua for a sign I was on the right track.

A couple of weeks later my Mum sent me an image. It was of a Māori Wāhine sitting over a Harakeke (flax) mat which was over a bed of hot rocks, she had a cloak around her and was letting the steam permeate her body between her legs. That was my sign. I am still exploring the use of steaming within my own lineage, and I would love to share that journey with you all as it unfolds. My first port of call is learning more about specific Yoni Steaming Herbs found here in New Zealand. Have you found steaming in your own lineage? @steamychick has an awesome map on her website highlighting places she has discovered steaming so far - check it out!