What is Ho-Oponopono?
The Hoʻoponopono is a Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness. The word "ho'o" means "cause" and "ponopono" means "perfection". Hoʻoponopono can be translated to "make it right" or "correct a mistake".
"Hoʻoponopono" is defined in the Hawaiian Dictionary as:
(a) "To put to rights; to put in order or shape, correct, revise, adjust, amend, regulate, arrange, rectify, tidy up make orderly or neat, administer, superintend, supervise, manage, edit, work carefully or neatly; to make ready, as canoemen preparing to catch a wave."
(b) "Mental cleansing: family conferences in which relationships were set right (hoʻoponopono) through prayer, discussion, confession, repentance, and mutual restitution and forgiveness."
Translation aside, Hoʻoponopono can be used as a prayer, meditation, mantra, ritual or healing technique. It is simply a concept that you invite into your life and use as a healing tool.
The Traditional Hoʻoponopono is practiced by Indigenous Hawaiian healers, often within the extended family by a family member. It was believed that illness came from problems within the family, and that the best way to heal was to confess and heal your issues. Imagine if we did that now?! That would be pretty powerful for healing disfunction within our family...
The New Age practice, incorporates the same name and the same general phrases. Only the healing is done completely from within yourself (yes, your secrets are safe with you). The practice that I am going to discuss in this article, takes on an Eclectic New Age approach as to how you can incorporate this into your own healing rituals.
The traditional Hoʻoponopono consists of 4 phrases...
I'm sorry
Forgive me
I love you
I am grateful
When these phrases are repeated, they guide you through repentance, forgiveness, love, and gratitude. When you are emotionally in all of these states at the same time, you become unable to hold onto your negative memories, traumas, or your current internal struggle.
It is simply a form of releasing your blockages and healing your energetic body with the energy of the Hoʻoponopono.
If none of this makes any sense to you, then all I can say is just try it! This has become my personal go-to for when I am experiencing an anxiety attack or dealing with a conflict with someone, and it works every single time.
What are the benefits?
It can actually reprogram your cellular memories, which makes it incredibly powerful when working with traumas.
When we are feeling fear, we are living in the past. We are unable to let go of past pain that we have experienced, and we believe on an unconscious level that these situations are happening again and it puts us right back in to fear.
When we are feeling worried, we are living in the future. We are holding onto those same fear stories and we are placing them in front of us in future scenarios. The funny thing about that? Is they do not actually exist in that moment. Your worries are completely made up scenarios that haven't actually happened, and most of the time, won't actually happen.
When we are in fear or worry and we introduce the repetition of Hoʻoponopono, we are reprograming those cellular memories to erase the negative shit, and telling them that we are safe in the present moment. It is cleansing and healing those uncomfortable feelings.
How do I do it?
The best part about the Hoʻoponopono method is that you can do it anytime, anywhere! I will catch myself repeating it in the car, while meditating, when I'm trying to fall asleep, and anytime I am having an anxiety attack. All you need to do is give yourself the mental space to invite the Hoʻoponopono energy in.
Then begin to repeat the four phrases mentally (or out loud for a stronger effect). You can also modify the traditional four phrases by saying them in a way that you would naturally express them.
I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank-you. I love you.
If you are dealing with conflict or pain caused by someone else, it's very powerful to imagine that you are saying it to them. Saying these words to them does not mean that you are apologizing, asking for forgiveness, thanking them, or telling them you love them. It is simply bringing those energies into the situation for the intention of healing. I know that when we are dealing with deep rooted traumas and pain inflicted by others, those are not words that we would ever want to say to the people who have hurt us so badly. And just remember, you are not saying those words to them. You are saying those words for you, and to heal.
If you are dealing with issues that you feel towards yourself, then say it to yourself. Feel it and allow yourself to let go of the burden you've been carrying.
If you are having an anxiety attack, incorporate Hoʻoponopono into your breath. Feel the words as you inhale and exhale. Feel the energy of Hoʻoponopono flow through you and fill you up from the inside out. Visualize it taking over and watch as the anxious energy simply evaporates. Repeat it for as long as you need to.
If you are performing a reiki treatment or energy healing session on yourself or someone else, this is a great energy to evoke to release any blockages and allow for healing. It can be very common for you to notice yourself releasing in the form of a burp, fart, cough, yawn or sneeze while you are doing this. That's the blockages being released through you. Give thanks when that happens!
However you decide to incorporate Hoʻoponopono into your practice, I hope you find it as powerful as I have! I would love to hear your feedback and I hope this helps bring you some comfort and relief.
