Ho'oponopono: Ancient Hawaiian Prayer

An age-old, deeply healing practice that originates in Hawaii can provide comfort to those who struggle with forgiveness, "Ho'oponopono" is a beautiful form of prayer that frees the mind and soul.

This ancient Hawaiian practice for forgiveness can be used as a communication strategy for reconciliation or as a tool for restoring self love and balance. It's almost like a mantra of self-love and surprisingly, it's so easy to do.

What Does Ho'oponopono Mean?

ho'oponoponoThe meaning of ho'oponopono is along the lines of: "to cause things to return to balance" or "to make things right."

It's a very spiritual concept in fact. In Hawaiian, the word "pono", in the sense of "life," means balance.

True balance is when everything is in order.

It is powerful to chant this prayer over-and-over in order to rid the body and mind of shame, guilt, haunting memories or ill will.

It can be used as a forgiveness practice. However, it can also resonate deeply, because it tends to penetrate the inner monologue of our subconscious over time.

For a cleansing effect, repeat the following mantra several times while you are sitting down with your eyes closed.

More information on this ancient mental cleansing technique can be found by clicking the link below:

"ho'oponopono certification"

The Ho'oponopono Prayer

The mantra that should be spoken several times over is as follows:

"I love You. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you."

That's all there is to it, believe it or not. This is all you need:

"I love You. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you."

This easy mantra is emotionally stirring, especially given the simplicity and universality of these words.

These four simple phrases are easy to recite and can help us build self-esteem and self-love when we most need it. It is both a soothing song for the self and an effective way to forgive others.

One reason this traditional Hawaiian forgiveness prayers is so powerful is because you must first admit that something wrong has been done by saying sorry.

Accepting the feelings of others is a universal need. To ho'oponopono, one must first admit that wrongdoing exists. Only then is it possible to forgive yourself or another person.

The final step is to acknowledge love for yourself and for others. This allows the law of attraction to become manifest in bringing the healing you have unconsciously asked for.

Many people make the mistake, thinking that forgiveness means total absolution. This is ineffective as it ignores hurt feelings and can lead to resentful behavior later.

True Forgiveness

Reconciliation does not mean forgiving. Instead, ho'oponopono first acknowledges the wrongdoing. Then, all parties can sit with their feelings and have space.

First, we admit that there is a problem. We then make the conscious decision that we want to move on, once we have acknowledged the problem.

True forgiveness takes both intention and attention. When done properly, forgiveness is like an invisible weight being lifted.

The ho'oponopono was historically a type of shared reconciliation mantra that was used for families with divided families.

Modern times still make it a powerful mediation tool to forgive. It can help you navigate hurt feelings as well as feelings of resentment toward others. It is also very effective in healing oneself.

It is an easy method of self help for those who are feeling guilty or are trapped by it to transcend that guilt to acquire clarity and self-comfort.

Ho'oponopono Self Forgiveness

For ho'oponopono meditation you need to take deep breaths and keep your eyes closed. Next, repeat this mantra slowly to yourself several times over,

"I love You. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you."

To let the message resonate, end with a few quiet moments. Open your eyes. How do you feel?

It is possible to also pray passively. Many people will play the ho’oponopono mantra repeatedly while trying to fall asleep or working. This helps you to cultivate self-love and deep compassion.

This could prove more challenging if you're someone who takes a lot of criticism on your own.

It is far easier to forgive and forget than to continue to bear the blame. It is only by moving on, forgiving and moving on that you can reach higher levels.

Summing Up

There is a lot more going on inside when the mantra is repeated a number of times during a period of deep relaxation or meditation.

Since we learn best by repetition, the repeated phrases have the effect of re-wiring our mental matrix. This allows the lingering, destructive emotions of guilt and remorse associated with and past injustices to be forgiven and cleared from the deepest recesses of our minds.

Regular practice of this simple technique can have amazing effects on a person, depending on their own individual situation and past experiences. Try it and see for yourself!

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