The Power of Ho'oponopono: A Healing Prayer for Forgiveness

What Does Forgiveness Mean?

The root of “forgive” is the Latin word “perdonare,” meaning “to give completely, without reservation.”  It is also where our word in English "Pardon" comes from.

To forgive is an unconditional letting go of the person or what we are forgiving.

We are loving without reservation-and through this forgiveness is naturally born.

What is Ho'oponopono?

Ho'oponopono is a Hawaiian Reconciliation & Forgiveness Ritual. It is a powerful Hawaiian Ceremony that has been used by Hawaiian Natives for centuries, possibly even thousands of years; to restore peace, harmony, balance & love through reconciliation & forgiveness. It's positive effects are cherished and respected, being used by Hawaiian communities and families.

The meaning of Ho'oponopono is Cause things to move back into balance; To make things right; To bring from darkness to light. The Ho'oponopono prayer for healing and forgiveness is an ancient Hawaiian spiritual practice that involves learning to heal all things by accepting "Total Responsibility" for everything that surrounds us. Ho'oponopono offers us a profound opportunity to begin to see, and then know the truth that we are All interconnected! We are unified as one cohesive unit, even if we do not know this consciously. And to truly See & Know that we are All 100% responsible for all of the ills, suffering, pain, cruelty & abuse happening on this Earth and in the world; Why on Earth would we want to accept responsibility for such things, especially if 'we did not create them personally'??

This understanding of our vital role in Life & with each other can be very hard to even contemplate, let alone understand or be open to for many!! Why would we want to even begin to accept that we are unified with each other in a world where there is continued abuse, cruelty, meanness, selfishness, rape, torture & molestation perpetuated upon so many?? Especially when many of these acts of unadulterated violence have been enacted upon us not just once, but many times!

Because the Pay Off is HUGE!! The healing of our body, our mind & emotions and our Soul is beyond measure. In our understanding, our knowing of our interconnectedness we come back into our Sovereignty. Our personal relationships & everyone who we come into contact with becomes a healing balm, wherein healing of the world begins to happen on ever deeper levels.

Ho'oponopono is also a great opportunity for us to open into humility & willingness to lay down the egoic part of us that wants to feel separate from and better than others.. When we truly see & realize undeniably that we have a part in Everything that has and is happening around us-then we become a powerful force for change & forgiveness that was not available before!

Where did Ho'oponopono come from?

Ho'oponopono was shared at large, where it is now available worldwide by Haleakala Hew Len (Dr. Hew Len), a Kahuna and psychologist from the Big Island, Hawaii. You may have heard the story about a Hawaiian therapist, Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len, who cured an entire ward of criminally insane patients, without ever meeting any of them or spending a moment in the same room. When he arrived at the residential treatment center, the cure rates were abysmal, morale very low, employee turnover very high. Dr. Len locked himself in his office day after day as to the consternation of the staff… But after some weeks, things began to change, patients were getting better, morale was improving. How had he done this? He reviewed each of the patients’ files, and then he healed them by healing himself with this mantra: "I'm Sorry-Please Forgive Me-I Love You-Thank You." Several years ago I once read that Dr. Hew Len did not even use this mantra, this prayer. While he knew & had practiced this powerful Hawaiian Prayer, the very essence & core of what he did was through Pure Love! As he would sit in his office he would take one client file at a time, take the picture of each patient, and feel love for them, the staff, himself & all of creation. When he did this he took full accountability for Everything, and there was no separation between himself or the patients!

From Dr. Hew Len's profound service of offering this healing ceremony, it was simplified in a core mantra or prayer. This prayer is no less powerful than the full ceremony, as it is an incredibly deep & effective ceremony in and of itself!!

Benefits of Ho'oponopono Prayer for Healing and Forgiveness

There are an astounding array of benefits from using Ho'oponopono! The greatest benefit being the Forgiveness of ourselves, each other & all of life; thereby naturally remembering & coming back into our True Divine Nature-which is Love & Unity.

Additional Benefits

Truly Freeing ourselves & others from a viable prison of unforgiveness. This includes any form of life, any person-place-thing-Being or energy that has held us or them in ignorance and perceived dis-unity.

When we are not able to forgive, either willingly or unwillingly, there is an

incredible pressure that is placed around us and within us, and with all of

life. There isn't the full capacity or freedom to Be Ourselves-As Pure Love,

and thereby natural flowing forgiveness.

• Peace of Mind, Heart & Soul.

  When we are in states of unforgiveness there is an incredible weight that we feel inwardly and around us. We are not the only ones feeling this. The person, group, situation that is in need of forgiveness are feeling this also-undeniably!! When we forgive, we are being humble, we are trusting and we are surrendering & letting go. Through forgiveness an awakened Grace moves within us and around us-and to All who we are connected with! We are truly able to breath again, to move again & come out of the collapse of trauma that unforgiveness naturally perpetuates.

• Increased health & the opportunity to fully heal. When we forgive there are naturally occurring chemicals within our brains & our whole system that are created. There is also a restored unification of all of our cells, bodily systems & our Whole Being-Mental, Emotional, Physical, Spiritual & Energetic. Our body begins to work with us, rather than against us! This is the Power of Love!

• Healing of deep trauma within us & others...

A Major Roadblock to Forgiveness

One of the major roadblocks to Forgiveness is the demand that "We Have to Forgive", Period! Another impediment is that we do not know HOW to forgive! No one has authentically & skillfully supported and guided us in this essential navigation in our lives.

It is hubris & pure idiocy to expect another to forgive when

they do not have the understanding, tools & support to do so!!

1. You Do Not have to forgive anyone or anything!! There is no forcing within forgiveness itself. It is human ignorance that is responsible for the vast misunderstandings regarding forgiveness, and for the perpetuation of the Violence that forcing someone to forgive creates in the first place!! Forgiveness is an Invitation that has immediate & far reaching positive effects!!

   You are a Free Soul within Creation!! You have the Free Will Choice to forgive or not forgive. God as we perceive Him/Her is not forcing you to forgive. No Being in the Heavenly Realms & beyond are forcing you to forgive.

   
   

   Look at this for just a moment... Who is forcing you to forgive? Far too many times it is the conditionings, born out of ignorance, that has entrained us to believe and even try to force ourselves to forgive. It also comes from our families, our communities, society, and one of the greatest perpetrators of this is coming from Religion Itself!

   
   

   It would be downright laughable if it weren't so damn serious how pious & ignorant many spiritual teachers, pastors, ministers, and even gurus are in their consistent throttling to get us to forgive!! While at the same time they are either in Spiritual Bypass and do not know how to forgive-putting on a glossy veneer of holiness & piety; Or, they have learned how to authentically forgive, yet they do not know how to effectively & non-violently guide others into this very same forgiveness.

2. Forgiveness does not mean accepting the harmful behavior of others!! This is a Huge misconception, and often times veers many away from forgiveness. Somewhere along our journey in life we came to misunderstand and believe that in order to forgive we have to accept the harmful behaviors of others, that often times led to our being severely challenged to forgive. This misunderstanding does not always come out of ignorance. Active abusers will often times twist Truth to suite their needs. Perpetrators of violence will use gas-lighting, passive aggressiveness and a host of behaviors to control others to continue their behavior that is feeding them in different ways. Some examples of this: "Well, if you love me-you'll forgive me..." Or, "If you love God, and you want to follow 'His' will then you need to forgive."

   
   

   When we are open to forgiving someone, there is a naturally pure intention of our Soul that is longing to come back into balance, harmony and unity with another. This pure desire to forgive precipitates any conditionings and entrainments from others in our lives that have been perpetuated upon us.

   
   

   We begin with the understanding, an openness that forgiveness is possible. You can look at it as an experiment in Consciousness-Your Consciousness. If no one is forcing you to forgive, If no entity or even God-Himself/Herself is demanding you to forgive, then what are you positively left with?

   
   

   Forgiveness does NOT mean accepting the abusive behaviors

   of others!!

   
   

   This is a great quandary for many! It is often times incredibly challenging to even begin to understand how we can forgive someone who has been so hurtful, mean, cruel & disrespectful, even having caused great damage to us by their behavior.

   
   

3. The Crucial Role of Trauma

   An undeniable missing link in our navigation to successfully forgive is the role of Trauma!! Trauma is incredibly Somatic in nature!! Somatic is the Feeling nature of our Being. Thought, emotion, bodily sensations, our body itself and even our Mind & Soul are Somatic in nature. This means that our Soul is having a Human Experience-using our biology as Human Beings.        Whenever there is a traumatic event it is recorded within our body, brain, mind and

            nervous system. It is recorded at the levels of our cells and our Soul. Trauma

           leaves imprints upon us and within us. It is identical to a record player with grooves

           within the record to play the music imprinted upon it. We are no different than this

           record player! With the exception that we have a choice, an opportunity to heal

           this trauma, and in this case come into forgiveness.

This is where the outright foolishness & hypocrisy of so many come into play within

our lives... With the workings of existing trauma within us it is unreasonable and not

even logical (with our advancing understanding of trauma) to expect someone to

"Just Let Go" or "Just Forgive". While it is not impossible to come into spontaneous

forgiveness, many times it would literally require an act of Grace to forgive so

immediately!! I challenge ANYONE who is telling you or anyone else to "Just Forgive"

or to "Just Let Go", to reverse that same expectation on themselves!! What skeletons

do they have in their closets?? What people, things or circumstances in their own lives

have they not let go of and forgiven??

 It is unreasonable to expect someone to "Just Forgive"

Far too often the ignorance & misunderstanding of the role that trauma plays in all

of this leads many to Spiritual Bypass; where there is a consistent striving for

Higher Truths which inevitably lead to negation of our own shadow & the

trauma awaiting to be met & healed within.

So, Trauma Healing is essential in supporting us to forgive ourselves and others!! This is

the gateway that is so often missed, and is crucial for forgiveness to take place!

Ho'oponopono brings True Justice that

we have All been longing for!!

The Practice of Ho'oponopono

The Ho'oponopono prayer is chanted in one continuous stream...

"I'm Sorry, Please Forgive Me, I Love You, Thank You"

Ho'oponopono brings forth true justice that All of us have been longing for!! Justice free of punishment, guilt, shame or blame. Equality is restored for Everyone & Everything!!

Ho'oponopono is from your Sacred Heart. There is no forcing within any of this! It is your intention & doing your best that will yield the greatest results; Even Miracles!!

Step 1: I’M SORRY

Self-Accountability & Self-Responsibility. We are accepting ownership for what has been created-By ourselves and others. This awakens ever greater humility. It also begins to open our awareness of what the other person or group has gone through personally. This evokes

compassion.

Step 2: Ask Forgiveness – PLEASE FORGIVE ME

While you may be working with just one person or group, there is also a navigation of Ho'oponopono where you don’t need to focus on or worry about who you’re asking. Just ask! PLEASE FORGIVE ME. Mean it. Remember & feel from step 1 as you ask to be forgiven. Again, this is deepening into ever greater humility & compassion for who or what & who you are doing this prayer for, but also for YOU.

Step 3: Gratitude – THANK YOU

Say “THANK YOU” – Again, this can be with just one person or group or it doesn’t really matter who or what you’re thanking. Thank your body for all it does for you. Thank yourself for being the best you can be. Thank God. Thank the Universe. Thank whatever it was that just forgave you. All of this is included within "THANK YOU." And need not be said for each individual thing.

Step 4: Love – I LOVE YOU

This is I LOVE YOU from and as ALL of YOU. Say it to your body, say it to God, to the Earth, the Universe. Say I LOVE YOU to the air you breathe, to the house that shelters you. Say I LOVE YOU to your challenges, your Soul, the person-circumstance or organization. All of this is included within "I LOVE YOU." And need not be said for each individual thing. Mean it. Feel it. There is nothing as powerful as LOVE.

Helpful Mindfulness in Your Practice

• Remember that everything & everyone has a Soul. Our home, our car, our belongings and percievably inanimate objects; And of course Human Beings, plants & animals.

• Remember to offer this Prayer for YOURSELF! This is invariably important! You are doing better than we can possibly imagine. Too often we can be very hard on ourselves and quite honestly unforgiving of ourselves. When we do this prayer for ourselves we are also healing deeply stored trauma. We are dissolving conditionings & belief systems that were never ours to begin with.

• Practice Ho'oponopono Vertically & Horizontally. This means that we are using our intention and our attention-or focus to project vertically into Infinity & downward into the Earth. You do not have to know where Infinity is, just your pure intention to project into Infinity is more than enough.

  • Projecting Horizontally means that you are projecting to every person, organization or circumstance you have or are interacting with. This can include your deceased loved one's or those who have moved on from this physical plane of existence.

Both Vertical & Horizontal would be practiced simultaneously. Practicing as our Soul

and from our Sacred Heart can help immensely with this!

My Personal Experience with Ho'oponopono

My first experience with Ho'oponopono is that it undeniably WORKS!! When myself & others have needed immediate forgiveness & release; and when circumstances in my life were seemingly immovable, it was Ho'oponopono that always carried me through!!

I Am Human just like you. I have my flaws and many things that I am still working on as my Soul having a Human experience on this Earth. While I am adept & incredibly successful at helping others to heal trauma & PTSD, in my Humanness & even in my Soul I am challenged to forgive! As each person who I work with is the Primary, and I have incredible Heart, Compassion & Forgiveness within me; In my personal life I am still healing my own severe trauma. In short I still judge, and I am still working on forgiving many things and many people.

Life has been my greatest teacher, as have those who have abused and even tortured me. When you come to a point in your life of such pain, suffering & misery-there is a wonderful Grace & support that offers itself when we are open to a different way!!

My sister was one of my great teachers who taught me a depth of forgiveness that I could not have opened to in any other way! She enacted a lot of abuse upon myself and many others in my childhood, teenage and early adult years. When I was helping her in her end of life I screamed at her at one point, and reminded her of her actions. With the greatest innocence and honesty, she looked at me with tears in her eyes and said "Eric, I am so sorry! I don't remember any of these things!" In that moment my Heart completely melted. Understanding and compassion blew open within me. I was left in such humility and Awe!!

Of course she didn't remember!! This was Not an excuse nor any denial of her past behaviors. This was a classic example of the workings of severe trauma!! When someone has gone through severe trauma they truly do not remember; they blackout from the shock, horror and confusion of it all. At the very least I felt incredibly stupid, and deeply remorseful that as someone who helps others heal from their own severe trauma-I did not see this with my own sister.

In that moment complete and unending forgiveness, compassion & understanding opened within me with my Beloved Sister. The trauma & pain of our past together, that seemed truly insurmountable, was healed in an instant!!

This positively reinforced within me the vital understanding that if any Human Being knew in intimate detail the emotional, mental, physical & spiritual harm and pain that We have caused to others-We would do our absolute best not to repeat this ever again!!

A Story:

Nothing more powerful than A Mothers Love!!

I have witnessed the profound power & success of Ho'oponopono in the life of a dear friend and her son!

My friends son, a beautiful and sensitive young man in his early 20's seemingly overnight, was starting to present with severe mental & emotional illness. In my intuitive nature I felt that something was really wrong, and that he would need the greatest understanding, compassion and support from his parents. I brought this to the attention of my friend and to her sons father. With all of my intuitive gifts and medical intuition I could not identify the exact cause of what he was beginning to suffer from! Usually I am very good at intuiting symptomology & effects to help my clients; here I was at a loss as to help this young man! All that I knew was that something really severe had presented itself that was only going to deepen in severity; creating long lasting effects.

My friend opened to the intuitive guidance, as she trusts my intuitive gifts. Immediately she opened to ways that she could deeply help her son. Her son was averse to many supports from the outside, especially clinical! The options were limited as to how she could help him, while honoring his sovereignty.

One morning when her and I were on the phone together it became profoundly clear that "A Mothers Love Can Heal ANYTHING!!" This is the Power of a Mothers Love for her children. I suggested that my friend begin using the Ho'oponopono prayer, and immediately she went into the prayer. She went into the prayer with utter devotion, self-accountability & self-responsibility, and with unconditional LOVE.

My friend not only went into this prayer She Embodied It!! The Ho'oponopono Prayer became a living, breathing mantra within her. There was no need to say the prayer any longer. She Lived It!!

It was a rocky road to say the least with this young man!! Yet, my friend did not give up!

Where is her son today, and how is he doing? Nothing short of a miracle!! And this is no exaggeration of words!! Today he is profoundly more mentally and emotionally healthy. He has his own apartment, is getting his drivers license again, and is in college.

I have witnessed many miracles within the lives of friends and many of my clients. This experience is absolutely Awe Inspiring and still brings tears; further opening Me to the field of All Possibilities and deep gratitude!!

Deepest Blessings, Grace, Support, Love & Miracles in your continued navigation of Life!!