In this episode, your host Nitten Nair takes you on a deeply immersive journey into the rich and symbolic world of Māori mythology as we unravel the mystery of the Manaia — a divine guardian, spiritual messenger, and eternal symbol of protection. With the head of a bird, the body of a man, and the tail of a fish, the Manaia exists in a sacred state of balance between earth, sea, and sky — and more mysteriously, between the physical and spiritual realms. Often seen carved into wood, etched in bone, or inked into skin as a powerful tā moko, Manaia is far more than just an ancient motif — it is a guide for souls, a watcher of doorways, and a protector across generations.