The Inayati Orders of Australia and New Zealand/Aotearoa welcome you to the region of Oceania – the name we have chosen for our region. Oceania spans our two countries, Papua New Guinea and thousands of coral atolls and volcanic islands including the Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia groups. It is situated in the South-East of the Asia-Pacific region, spanning both the Eastern and Western hemispheres of the globe, and crossing the equator. The outer ‘edges’ of the region are the Bonin Islands (Japan), Hawaii (USA), Clipperton Island (under France), Juan Fernandez Islands (under Chile) and Macquarie Island (Australia). Oceania is pronounced both as Oh-see-aa-nee-uh and Oh-she-aa-nee-uh.
In choosing our name we have turned our attention to the oceans which unite and surround us, and in which our island lands sit. Our heart’s eyes extend both across the lands – the ancient red interior in Australia, and the mountainous lush green of New Zealand/Aotearoa - and also across the oceans: to the East where the Pacific who sits between our two countries laps also at the shores of the Americas/Turtle Island; West & North-West across the Indian Ocean to Africa/South-Asia/India and South across the Antarctic/Southern Ocean to the Southern polar cap. We embrace all the beings – human, animal, plant, rock, who inhabit this region, and those who are beyond, and our prayer is with them all.
Our region is characterised by strong Indigenous cultures: Maori peoples of New Zealand/Aotearoa and over 250 Aboriginal nations with around 150 living languages in Australia.
Australia is the oldest landmass on earth, dated back 4.5 billion years, and where the first life was born 3.5 billion years ago. It is still alive with old and new ‘dreamings’, and Songlines, which are the living narrative of the nation. The Land of New Zealand/Aotearoa is known as “The Pulse” Hawaikitautau by the ancients. In modern times New Zealand/Aotearoa is known as the place that greets the Dawning of the first light. Each day the Sun begins its journey around the planet from this point. Some of our Maori friends have embraced The Invocation and Nayaz which they have translated to Te Reo Maori.
Our Inayati communities in Oceania honour and are informed by these original traditions and the sacred manuscript of nature in which we live.
Inayati Order Centres exist in 10 places in our region, in two countries spanning from the southern coast of Western Australia eastwards and through both North and South Islands of New Zealand/Aotearoa. We welcome you to visit!
With all blessings,
The Inayati Order Region of Oceania
