A few days ago, I was introduced to Ho’oponopono via the YouTube video of Aaron Doughty called - ‘I Healed My Younger Self With Ho’oponopono’ I think Arron does a great job of explaining the principle and relating its effects - Please watch his video
Admittedly I had seen lot’s of references to Ho’oponopono and had a common reaction of mine which is “here we go with another hijacking of indigenous or ancient wisdom” - with a big internal eye roll..this is something I have a tendency to do. Lots of internal eyerolls and I have to remind myself to be open minded sometimes, not everything that looks “New Agey” deserves an eye roll, right?
Somehow though, I was attracted to this video and watched it. I really enjoyed Aaron’s presentation and like many times realized I was led to his explanation of the practice.
For me any spiritual practice needs to be simple, impactful and have a universality in its nature and this did in a profound way.
The day and night before I was disturbed by tons of forgotten unpleasant memories - what a drag, but they kept coming in as snippets of a movie which could be called “Hey, remember that time?’
Seriously:
Remember that time that girl in junior high said this…and you wanted to disappear?
Remember that time you wrote a poem in 4th grade, read it to the class and they stared at you like you were crazy having no idea what you meant? (I guess I was an early feminist because it said “If I were a carpenter and you were a gentleman would you marry me anyway?” a new spin on a popular song) - I wrote it on the chalkboard and thought it was pretty slick -Yeah, always weird.
Remember when Mrs. Robinson looked at you with hopelessness because she didn’t know how to help you not cry every morning in second grade? If only she had known.
Remember the first day of 3rd grade when the next Mrs Somebody told you that she had heard about you and your crying and that you better not cry again because she would not have it, and you didn’t cry again. What a cure! I don't think it would have helped much if she had known.
I could go on and on.
I’m nearly 63, what the hell? - Snap out of it!
And so, lately it’s been apparent that the past, whatever that is, has been coming up in weird ways, and I knew these things were up for review - how can I get rid of these intrusive thoughts. They needed to be processed in some way.
So back Ho’oponopono a Hawaiian word that basically translates to ‘correction’ or to make right. I think of it as reconciliation or bringing into balance.
I immediately found another video of an original prayer in full by MORRNAH NALAMAKU SIMEONA, who created it. There are many videos, courses, certifications, etc. on the interwebs, but I find this one simple, universal and complete and so I listened to it in its 9 rounds and was amazed by the profound spiritual information in this original form. This is in no way to knock the variations that have sprung up from her students and others.
The basic components are - I’m sorry, please forgive me, I love you, I am grateful…others have different variations and orders of these 4 principle phrases.
Just like Aaron I did NOT want to say “I’m sorry”, like him, I felt that putting it into the field was a bad idea because it would reinforce feelings of guilt, shame and unworthiness. I had also learned the Appalachian use of the term sorry as someone who was bad and no good, such as - “That sorry son of a biscuit eater won’t even work”...I did not want to identify or reinforce the idea that I was “sorry”
Ho’oponopono - by MORRNAH NALAMAKU SIMEONA,
Divine Creator, Father, Mother, Son, all in One,
If I, my family, relatives, and ancestors,
Have offended you,
Your family, relatives, and ancestors,
In thoughts, words,
Deeds and actions,
From the beginning of our creation
To the present,
We ask your forgiveness.
Let these cleanse,
Purify, release and cut,
All the negative
Memories, blocks,
Energies and vibrations.
Transmute these unwanted energies
Into pure light,
And so it is.
To clear my subconscious of all
The emotional
Charge stored in it;
I say one and
Another time,
During my day,
The key words
Of Ho’oponopono:
I’m sorry,
Please forgive me,
I love you,
I am grateful.
I declare myself
At peace
With all the people on earth and
With whom I have outstanding debts,
For this moment
And in all time,
For everything
That I do not
Like in my present life:
I am sorry,
Please forgive me,
I love you,
I am grateful.
I release all those
From whom
I believe
I am receiving harm
And mistreatment,
Because they simply
Give me back
What I did
To them before
In some past life.
I am sorry,
Please forgive me,
I love you,
I am grateful.
Although it is
Difficult for me
To forgive someone,
It is me
Who asks for
The forgiveness
Of that someone now.
For this instant
And at all times,
For everything that
I do not like
In my present life:
I am sorry,
Please forgive me,
I love you,
I am grateful.
For this
Sacred place
That I inhabit
Day by day
And with which
I am not comfortable:
I am sorry,
Please forgive me,
I love you,
I am grateful.
For the difficult
Relationships
Of which
I only kept
Bad memories:
I am sorry,
Please forgive me,
I love you,
I am grateful.
For all that
I do not like
In my present life,
In my past life,
In my work,
And in what is around me:
Divinity,
Clean in me
What is contributing
To my scarcity.
I am sorry,
Please forgive me,
I love you,
I am grateful.
If my physical body
Experiences
Anxiety, worry,
Guilt, fear,
Sadness, pain,
I speak and think,
My memories:
I love you,
I am grateful
For the opportunity
To release you,
And me.
I am sorry,
Please forgive me,
I love you,
I am grateful.
Right now
I affirm that
I love you,
I think of my emotional health
And that of all my loved ones.
I love you
For my needs and
To learn to wait
Without anxiety,
Without fear.
I acknowledge
My memories
Here at this moment:
I am sorry,
Please forgive me,
I love you,
I am grateful.
My contribution
To the healing
Of the Earth:
Beloved Mother Earth,
Who I am,
If I,
My family,
And my ancestors,
Mistreated you
With thoughts,
Words, facts,
And actions,
From the beginning
Of our creation
To the present
Moment,
I ask your forgiveness.
Let it clear
And purify,
Release and cut,
All the negative
Memories,
Blockages,
Energies and
Vibrations.
Transmute these
Undesirable
Energies into
Pure light,
And so it is.
In conclusion,
I say that
This prayer
Is my door,
My contribution
To your emotional health, which is
The same as mine.
So be well,
And as you heal,
I say that.
I am sorry
For the painful
Memories
I share with you.
I ask you for
Forgiveness
For uniting
My path to
Yours for
Healing.
I thank you
For being here
In me.
The deep meaning sets in - we are each an individuation of a whole consciousness, and the idea that everyone in our lives, their roles and actions, are projected in our experience from within. We are responsible for ourselves AND others, even if we must release them with love.This is a hard pill to swallow but it can be understood, and I think best by examining Morrnah’s prayer, again, and again.
It is important to realize this does not imply continuing to allow unloving, painful behavior towards ourselves or our loved ones, but rather releasing with compassion.
Can we accept that we have caused harm to ourselves and others in this life or perhaps other lives, without being aware?
Can we entertain the notion that we may draw others into our lives for the purpose of learning a lesson, forgiving and releasing them to Divinity with Love?
Can we acknowledge that making amends, forgiveness and grace are meant to be given and received by all?
Yes, we can.
Does this help me. Absolutely and I would say miraculously.
I bring those people with whom I have painful memories into my mind, one by one.
Those I will never see again, those I needed to release and those I may never see again.
I am sorry
Please forgive me
I love you
I am grateful
I love you,
For being
Who you are.