Our Shared Breath Is the Solution

By Alison Lingwood · 7 July 2026

Aloha everyone. I am a founding member of the Ancestral Wisdom Collective and wanted to share with you what it means to walk closely with the Elders each month as we follow the procession of the moon and cosmos. The deep wisdom received over the last two years has helped me to walk bravely on the path of union and is ‘invaluable medicine’ to me during this time of Mother Earth’s purification cycle.

This beautiful statement from Aunty Puna captured the essence of what I received during our gathering.

Aunty Puna informed us that from now until October 31st, we are moving through a time of both pushing and pulling—a season of letting go so we can create space for what is ready to emerge. It is another opportunity for us to release and put things back in their right places for the moon has the power to cleanse our hearts.

We were given a request:

What an extraordinary opportunity and joy to create a different world simply through our presence and our intentional breath.

It reminded me of Puma Quispe Singona, a Q’ero Elder, who encourages us always to breathe out sami—light, uplifting energy. If we notice any hoocha—heavy or dense energy—we are invited to transform it into sami anyway.

Such a simple practice, yet so profound.

Aunty Puna reminded us that our breath is part of the solution to the world chaos. Every conscious breath we take contributes to the energy we share with the world. Each of us is an essential thread in the great weaving and unfolding of the universe and there is no need to make a lot of noise to create change. We can make a quiet but powerful difference, one breath, one moment, and one choice at a time by simply walking our talk.

One of Aunty Puna’s phrases reminded me of our greater existence:

When I remember that I am never alone and reach out to Great Spirit, I feel a warm pulsation in my body offering guidance, love and support. I am no astrologer but know from the moment that we were born, the skies and the ever-changing patterns of stars, offer us both structure and movement, reminding us that we are part of something far greater than ourselves. My worries always diminish as I gaze up into the vastness of the night skies. At other times, I love to hug and talk to an old oak tree that has become a trusted friend, quietly listening and offering support. Lying on the earth and feeling her heartbeat, sitting beside the ocean listening to the rhythm of the waves, breathing in the salty air, and feeling the warmth of sun-heated stones against my body are deeply restorative and nurturing experiences that I turn to as often as I can. Aunty Puna invited us to continue appreciating and blessing all of creation—for everything we have already been given and experienced, while also welcoming the new dawns that are waiting to unfold.

Aunty says that our reverence for and love of all creation will sustain us in the months ahead as challenges arise. Every day we are surrounded by miracles if we choose to notice them: flowers opening into bloom, fruit ripening, and now in the UK, fields of wheat turning golden beneath the summer sun. Witnessing these simple gifts lifts our spirits and reminds us of the abundance that surrounds us.

I love Aunty Puna’s phrase,

“Our lives are moving stories so there is little need to return to the past unless we can bring healing, wisdom, or something good from it,”

We are not one story, and this is an important reminder for me, especially when I find myself overanalysing and ruminating over a situation and becoming caught in a cycle of unhelpful, repetitive thoughts.

Aunty says,

She suggests that one way we can do this is by listening to our unihipili—our intuition and guidance from our kupuna. Often, insight simply arrives, without conscious thought, like a quiet knowing that gently appears. This gift is always available to us; we simply need to remember to trust and use it.

Aunty Puna suggests that we can also call upon our ancestors when we are faced with challenges or find ourselves in unfamiliar territory. We can ask, “What would you do?” There is always someone in spirit willing to guide us, offering love, hope, and illumination.

We become more aware of these subtle realms when we are fully present and free from distraction and we begin to appreciate that we can sense, know, and even “see” more clearly than with our physical eyes. I cherish those moments of awe and wondrous blessings the universe is continually offering.

Aunty Puna shared that she knows when her grandfather is close because she catches the scent of violets. He loved purple violets, and their fragrance lets her know he is near. Perhaps for you it is a gentle breeze, a rainbow appearing at just the right moment, or a message received in a dream.

When my own mother passed away last year, I would often smell the fragrance of roses. I could deeply relate when Aunty spoke of wishing she could once more hear her father’s voice calling her. There is nothing more important than experiencing the vibration and resonance of another’s voice especially those we loved and that loved us.

After my mother died, I discovered that I still had several of her voice messages saved on my phone. Today, they are among my most treasured possessions—precious reminders of her love and of the time we shared together. Remaining connected with those who shaped us throughout our lives continues to bring gifts to us now.

Aunty also reminded us of the importance of reaching out to one another. Perhaps it is reconnecting with someone we have not seen for a while. At other times simply sending a blessing, a kind thought, or even offering a smile is enough to bring light to another’s world.

Aunty also shared these powerful words:

She told stories of her large family and the joy of celebrating connection across generations, honouring her contribution within the great continuum of life. As Aunty spoke, I saw a vision of the miracle of conception—that extraordinary moment when sperm and egg unite, releasing a brilliant flash of blue light as a new life begins.

Aunty encouraged us to bless our children again and again, for they carry the hope and gifts of the future and it is our kuleana to pass on our experiences and be a guiding light. There will be times when we do not understand or agree with the choices our children and others make, but she reminded us to bless them anyway. We are all here to learn through our own unique experiences.

Aunty Puna reminded us that it is equally important to love ourselves. We are not meant to carry every burden or solve every problem that comes our way. Some situations belong to others, and by releasing them with a blessing, we preserve our own mana for the work that truly calls us.

One of the most precious moments of our time together came at the very end, when we each voiced the word Aloha. I could feel the loving connection in that shared expression, as though the voice of each soul was shining with light. It reminded me that when enough people come together with love, intention, and focused energy, we surely can weave a blanket of peace around our world.

Through her stories, chants, and deep connection to her Hawaiian lineage, Aunty Puna effortlessly embodies and shares timeless values that uplift all of humanity. She doesn’t simply speak these teachings—she lives them. Each time I listen, stories reveal new layers of meaning, inviting fresh insights and deeper contemplation. In those moments, time seems to stand still. Within the silence, I discover another point of reference, another circle to breathe with. I also realised that, as I was listening to Aunty, I was learning to listen more deeply to myself. What a beautiful bonus!

Perhaps that is the greatest lesson of all. We are the solution. It is not something outside of us that will change the world, but the love, appreciation, blessings, and truth that each of us brings—one breath and one moment at a time. Every kind breath is a blessing, every blessing becomes a thread and together we can weave this tapestry of unity around our world.

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More from this circle: journalist Matthew Green of Resonant World sat with Mamo Lorenzo and Aunty Puna ahead of the 2024 solstice ceremonies. You can read A Call to Ceremony here.