Autumn Equinox and the SEEN Parenting Documentary

Kirsty Fernandes
Apr 2
3 min read

Kia ora lovely humans!

Has this month felt a bit…off? I held an Autumn Equinox celebration recently and observed the lunar eclipse on the full moon. Energetically, I’ve been feeling a bit blah. A bit like things feel tricky, there’s a lot on, and moments of wanting to be social, and also moments of not wanting to talk to anyone! And I’m not alone. There’s a lot going on - up there. I attended a Harvest Festival and we sat down to talk about Maramataka (the phases of the moon in Te Ao Māori). When is the ‘time’ to do and not do certain things, according to the moon, according to the season, in honour of the fact that we are nature and cyclical beings too. And it all started to make sense.

It’s the tail end of the season - Autumn Equinox is a time of balance, when the night and day are of equal length, and as such, it points out to us what is out of balance in our life. And it is a time we generally start to feel the pull to go inward. And yet, there is still so much to do - so many social events still buzzing around, it’s a time to harvest, preserve, save seeds, and squirrel away in prep for Winter. And so it is, that we’re in this in between, feeling the push and pull. And then we threw in a lunar eclipse where most humans got to witness (or even just feel the effects of) us going through every phase of the moon (which usually takes a month) in one hour. Ah ha. If it feels like a lot lately, it’s because it is. I’m right there with ya!

A reminder that this epic documentary is playing this weekend, locally in Golden Bay, and it’s possible, if you’re not in Golden Bay, it’s still near you too! Check out the link to see where else it’s playing, scroll down on the main page to find out: https://seenthefilm.com/

MamaSpace (Emma Callaghan and I) are working together with the Village Theatre in Golden Bay, to bring you SEEN.

SEEN is a groundbreaking feature-length documentary that not only explores the transformative power of personal healing for parents but also delves into the scientifically supported effects of such healing on parenting and its impact on child brain development. By focusing on the unexplored aspect of parents confronting their own childhood coping mechanisms, "SEEN" is poised to fill a significant gap in current narratives. It promises not just compelling storytelling but also the potential for profound societal impact, making it an appealing proposition for those looking to invest in content that drives change. Our vision was to craft a film that deeply resonates with audiences, sparking a flame of self-reflection and personal growth.

Through the unfiltered and authentic narratives of real parents, we reveal the remarkable potential of addressing trauma and attachment styles. Together, we are illuminating the path toward emotional liberation and healthier connections—with both ourselves and our children.

Featuring:

Nathan Wallis (Neuroscience Educator and Speaker)
Maggie Dent (Parenting Author and Educator)
Lael Stone (Educator, Author, Speaker and Counsellor)
Dr Billy Garvey (Developmental Paediatrician)
Dr Vanessa Lapointe (Parenting Educator, Speaker and best selling author)
Professor Selena Bartlett (International investigator in translational neuroscience)