“When you come to the edge of all the light that you know, and it’s time to take a step into the darkness of the unknown, you must remember one of two things. Either you will be given some solid ground on which to stand, or you will be taught to fly.” (Patrick Overton)
The other day I watched a tiny green gecko, perhaps only hours old, as it inched its way along the back of the deck chair across from me. Arriving at the edge of the chair, it craned its neck from side to side, up and down, taking in the enormity of its surroundings and calculating its next move. Then with a sudden burst of energy it leapt across a “chasm” almost three times its length to land silently on the arm of the next chair. Maybe its first leap since leaving the confines of its egg, the lanai, and the chair leg. What compels it to go or do wherever it goes or does? Geckos are thick on the ground in this part of the island. No doubt most — or all — are focused on survival, and I sometimes watch their lizardly antics with amusement and curiosity. But the message that this smallest of geckos suggested to me was about the courage one needs to take a leap of faith. And of course, the strength and determination one needs to complete it.
So it was that koa — bravery, and ikaika — strength, became my Hawaiian words of the week. Every new venture requires not only inspiration, resourcefulness and preparation, but also the grit and determination to see it through. It can be as small as learning how to host a zoom chat (me), or as large as learning how to free dive in the great blue deep (my hubby). As with my tiny gecko, momentum is needed to break out of my comfort zone and take the next leap into the unknown.
What I like about researching these Hawaiian words for strength and courage is learning the history and context that make their meanings more accessible to me. Today, a brief history of the Acacia koa tree opened up new insights into ancient Hawaiian life. I read that koa wood got its name from the warriors whom King Kamehameha employed to unite the Hawaiian islands. These warriors created beautiful and durable canoes and weapons from the wood that is still plentiful on the Big Island. This wood then became synonymous with the warriors themselves, and it became known as koa. Brave. Bold. Valiant. Fearless.
A search for associations with ikaika yielded: “To strive, make a great effort, work hard, encourage, animate, strengthen, fortify, try, strive, strain.” I could see some of these qualities in the formidable efforts of my tiny gecko, and why Hawaiians would give the name Ikaika to inspire such qualities in their young offspring.
Where in my life do I need ikaika and koa? Biking on the Queen K highway? Check. Swimming in choppy ocean waves? Check. As a spiritual warrior, facing the mirror that life holds up to me in the people and situations I meet? Check mate.
My spiritual studies have shown me unequivocally what kind of courage and strength of character it takes to go toe to toe with my own ego. Strength to resist going down the rabbit hole of triggered — but misguided — emotions. Courage to let go of ideas about who and what I think I am, or need to be, in order to survive in the eyes of other people. Or in my own self-image. And conversely, to let go of how others need to be in order to be acceptable to me. Courage to own the consequences of past actions and strength to set new trajectories based on the lessons of my personal history. To quote Padmasambhava:
“If you want to know your past life, look at your present condition.
If you want to know your future life, look at your present actions.”
What choices am I willing to make, what actions am I able to take in response to these inner and outer “growth opportunities”?
More than any gecko, today’s writing is inspired by my friend and rad stand-up paddler (SUP), Jenny Kalmbach, who is featured in Garmin’s newly released children’s book called “Women of Adventure: Being Brave in a Big World”. It features six women who have defied stereotypes, surmounted obstacles and excelled in their chosen pursuits. Koa warriors all, their accounts spark dialogue between parents and children, both inspiring young readers to pursue their own goals and dreams, and increasing awareness, in simple terms, of global and local issues. In Jenny’s case, the issue was the vast amount of plastic she encountered floating in the ocean while she was SUP training and competing around the globe. To help address this situation, she and a fellow female paddler collaborated on a documentary based on their 300 mile SUP odyssey traversing the Hawaiian island chain, raising awareness of plastic pollution during various stops along the way.
With their sponsor Garmin, Jenny and each of the women featured in “Being Brave…” have chosen charities that are meaningful to them, and among which all of the proceeds from the book sales will be divided equally. Each in their own unique way these brave young women are “being the change” they wish to see in the world today. That’s as hopeful as sign that the future is in good hands as I can find.
Now for a bit of levity, how much koa could Ikaika cut if Ikaika could cut koa?