Mana encompasses your ethos, persistence, your inner being. But it also has meaning as energy, status, and prestige.
Mana reminds me of the legendary Boston Globe columnist George Frazier, linked to 'duende', "that special force or characteristic that makes someone or something irresistibly attractive." Frazier wrote, “So difficult to define, but when it is there it is unmistakable, inspiring our awe, quickening our memory." David Ortiz and Pedro Martinez had duende.
Mana has a parallel in the Star Wars saga, 'The Force'. Mana inspires. Like other Maori concepts, it paints. In sport, the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team describes offense by paoa (to strike) and defense by tainui (surging tide). Players translate words into action.
You may have been introduced to mana as a child via the children's novel, Charlotte's Web. Wilbur, the runt of the litter, is spared through the clever intervention of his spider protector, weaving messages into her webs...like "some pig", "radiant", or "terrific". Author E.B. White reminds us about personalization, “Don't write about Man; write about a man.” Charlotte bestows mana upon the humble pig.
Mana extends far beyond Polynesia under other names. In Japan it's known as 'ki' and Taoists call it chi or qi. India yoga refers to it as Prana and there's are Christian parallels in the Holy Spirit, "Ruach" in Hebrew, and "Baraka" in Islam.
Mankind shares this need for an overarching energy or force. Bring mana to your game. Call upon your mana as individuals and as a team.
