Whiro

"Within the Shadows of Ego"

This artwork draws inspiration from the ancient purkau of Whiro and Tane — two divine brothers racing to the upper realms in pursuit of the three kete of knowledge. Tane, with humility and purpose, succeeds. Whiro, the older brother, driven by ambition and envy, seeks to take what he believes is his, becoming the embodiment of darkness and imbalance.

Within this story lies a powerful metaphor for the human condition — ego.

Ego is that persistent voice in the mind — a mask shaped by past wounds, environment, culture, and conditioning. It pretends to be the self, yet it is not the essence of who we are. It thrives on resentment, anger, pride, and fear, often reacting when we are unable to forgive — not just others, but ourselves. And though ego may project its pain outward, the deepest wounds are inflicted inward, upon the spirit.

Yet ego is not inherently wrong — it is part of our human architecture. In moments of adversity, ego can push us forward, lending strength where confidence falters. The danger comes when ego dominates — when it seeks to serve only itself, at the cost of others, closing us off from growth, empathy, and self-reflection.

Like Whiro, ego resists scrutiny. It fears surrender, because surrender requires vulnerability. But when we become conscious of our ego — not suppressing it, but witnessing it — we create space for transformation. We begin to walk with the ego, not behind it.

To live in harmony with ego is to reclaim our power. It means choosing compassion over control, accountability over blame, service over self-importance. It is about cultivating a relationship with the self that is rooted in awareness, not illusion.

True strength lies not in defeating the ego, but in understanding it — it is in the process of becoming self-aware. In doing so, we become more like Tane — rising toward light, toward higher knowledge, carrying the kete with humility and grace — one's journey from ignorance to understanding.