Ukutangi
There are times when words are not enough.
Ukutangi creates space to express what is being held, gently and without pressure.
You might be drawn to this practice when:
Your mauri feels heavy
Emotions are sitting in the tinana
You need a way to release or shift.
Making Your Ukutangi
Begin with a ball of clay.
Cut gently in half and hollow each side.
Rejoin the halves with care, smoothing the seam.
Create one mouth hole.
If you feel guided, add small wenewene hole for pitch.
Let instinct lead the placement of the holes.
Allow to dry (24 hours for air-dry clay).
Sound will come as it is meant to.
No two are the same.
Ukutangi – Wāhine Taonga Puoro
Once grounded, allow your hands and breath to guide the shaping and sound.
Ukutangi were traditionally associated with wāhine, often used in times of mourning and emotional release.
This practice invites breath, intuition and feeling to guide the making and sounding.
This is not about perfection.
It is about listening.