Ready To Embrace Ho’oponopono

The guy in the black car cuts you off on the freeway……

You miss the deadline on a work assignment……

Your mum is calling on the phone and you’re just not in the mood for a conversation with her….

This is when it’s time to pause, and say to yourself….

I’m sorry! Forgive me! Thank you! I love you!

Think I’ve gone nuts. My husband certainly does. I was trying to explain this idea to him on the weekend, and it just wasn't happening. I think I lost him after the word ho’oponopono.

Ho’oponopono is a healing practice originating in Hawaii. It used to be a carefully guarded secret, carried out by the kahuna or priest to bring about harmony and forgiveness amongst the people.

Today it has been adapted and simplified, and made available to all of us so that we can take charge of our own healing. Pretty powerful stuff!

It works on a similar premise to mirror-work. This is something I wrote about in a blog called Mirror, Mirror On The Wall. You can access it here. It’s a concept whereby whatever triggers us emotionally is a reflection of something going on within us.

The idea behind ho’oponopono, is that whenever we feel a strong negative emotion rising up inside of us - usually as a result of some sort of conflict, something we’ve seen, heard or read about, or a traumatic event - we say the words I’m sorry, forgive me, thank you, I love you. Stay open, curious and have no expectations on the outcome, and you’ll find a sense of calm come over you. It’s like we’re erasing negative memories inside of us that are hidden in our subconscious mind.

Sound too simple! I think as humans we tend to over complicate many things. We rationalize, agonize, analyse, dramatize, try to figure it out, and we want proof. Sometimes the greatest healing can come about when we get out of our own way, and just allow and let go. Many ancient healing practices are like this.

Now there is one thing knowing something, but the magic can only happen when we experience it. This is what I’ve found with ho’oponono.

When I say the words it brings me back to the present moment, where I get out of my own story. I’ve found that I move from a place of angst to one of calm in a moment.

You can repeat the words silently to yourself or out loud. It doesn’t matter. I think it just depends where you are.

You may be thinking who do I say the words to?

It’s to yourself, your inner essence, the divine, the Universe, God – whichever connects with you.

I’m sorry means I’m acknowledging that I’ve created whatever pain I’m feeling.

Forgive me is that I didn’t know I had this inside of me.

Thank you for allowing me to release and cleanse the memory.

I love you literally means I love me.

My invitation to you is to try it out for a couple of weeks. You have absolutely nothing to lose and maybe a whole lot to gain. I feel very blessed that this ancient secret of ho’oponono is now available for all of us to practice and to heal.