What is Ho’oponopono?

What is Ho'oponopono? It’s a healing practice of forgiveness. Wait, before you press the Back button, because you’ve already read all this forgiveness stuff and it’s all a bunch of baloney, just read on for a few minutes – you’ll be glad you did. Ho'oponopono is an old practice that brings many benefits to modern living

Ho'oponopono Benefits

The benefits to someone who practices Ho'oponopono regularly are quite amazing:

• Reduction of stress
• Improvement in mental and physical health
• Improved relationships with others
• Control over emotions
• A happier life

What’s not to like about those? And the process is speedy and easy to learn.

So What is Ho'oponopono?

Ho'oponopono is an ancient spiritual practice that originated in Hawaii and before that, from the Polynesian Islands of the South Pacific. It was used as a ritualistic method to help one island kingdom settle their differences with another. Later it was adapted to facilitate cooperation and forgiveness between individuals and usually required a third party to mediate over the process.

Still can’t see how it might apply to you? Well, Ho'oponopono can be practiced by one person. In their mind. No one else need even know about it. It takes just a few minutes and the benefits of regular Ho’oponopono practice are so good for you.

How Does Ho'oponopono Work?

Ho'oponopono means reconciliation and forgiveness. But not necessarily directed at another person. In our vibrational, connected Universe, any good that you send out is ultimately received back to yourself. If you believe that you create your reality, and that you are responsible for your life, then you have to accept that you create everything you experience. Ho’oponopono is like pressing the reset button. It is a spiritual cleanser: you use it daily just like you’d take a shower and remove your make-up. It clears out the negative energy accumulated and removes any bad feelings towards yourself or others. It brings the practitioner to an emotional state of zero.

“If we can accept that we are the sum total of all past thoughts, emotions, words, deeds and actions and that our present lives and choices are colored or shaded by this memory bank of the past, then we begin to see how a process of correcting or setting aright can change our lives, our families and our society.”- Morrnah Nalamaku Simeona

It is becoming widely accepted that illness is caused by a disruption to the emotional balance, and Ho’oponopono is a method of resetting that emotional balance to maintain a healthy mind and body. So imagine how good it would feel, before you go off to sleep every night, to have all your negative and unbalanced emotions discharged. How easily you could let go of those repeating thoughts and worries. How much faster you would get to sleep. 

Other Synonyms for Ho’oponopono

• Adjustment
• Correction
• Balance
• Reconciliation
• Responsibility 
• Rectify
• Remorse
• Cleansing
• To put into good order
• Repentance
• Amend
• Put right

The Four Components of Ho’oponopono

Ho’oponopono is made up of four parts:

• Admitting responsibility, “I’m sorry.”
• Asking for forgiveness, “Please forgive me.”
• Expressing gratitude, “Thank you.”
• Giving love, “I love you.”

It’s important to understand that it really doesn’t matter who you are saying these things to. It is  a connection between you, your inner being and the Divine (Source/God/Spirit). For example, perhaps you are feeling bad because you have over-eaten. The communication is with yourself and the Divine. Or maybe you had a fight with your spouse and you just want things to get back to normal. The communication is still between yourself and the Divine, yet it is also directed at your partner.

How To Practice Ho'oponopono

You can practice Ho’oponopono anytime throughout the day, but just before you go to sleep is a good time to clear out the day’s emotional debris. 

Learn the four steps and the phrases, I am sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you. You can use them in any order. As you mentally or verbally repeat them, hold the vision of what it is you are clearing out. So if you are hoping for a reconciliation with someone, then direct your words to them. If you are wanting to heal, direct your words to Source. 

The key thing is that you must feel the words as you think or speak them. Just reciting them without a thought won’t work. You have to experience those negative emotions draining from your mind and body. Feel resistance seeping away. Bringing yourself back to a natural zero emotional state where everything is in balance and stress has evaporated.

Although it is classed as a meditation, it really only takes a minute. You can focus on it longer by repeating the words, holding the vision of the problem and what you want to accomplish. You will know when it is done by the immediate feeling of relief.

When to Use Ho'oponopono

Anytime. Right now. Try it on everything. Here are some ideas:

• When your child misbehaves. Instead of losing your cool, self-talk a little Ho’oponopono.
• When a coworker has irritated you. Don’t bottle up resentment, let Ho’oponopono deal with it.
• When you are worried about money. Don’t fret, just Ho’oponopono it and see what happens.
• When you are tired and worn out. Allow Ho’oponopono to energize and relax you.
• When you can’t sleep, stop getting frustrated and self-blaming; Ho’oponopono will soothe and bring relief.
• After, or even during, any argument or disagreement, Ho’oponopono will bring about peace and the opportunity to forgive and forget.
• When you feel depressed. Use Ho’oponopono to reassure yourself that all is well and you are a fine person.
• When you are angry. If someone has upset you, crashed into your car, done something to annoy or enrage you, a little Ho’oponopono will help get you back on track.
• And any other situation, anxiety, disruption or negative emotion that affects you. From a news story to something your government does that you don’t agree with.

Ho’oponopono and the 12 Spiritual laws

Ho’oponopono is based on and constructed using the 12 Spiritual Laws of the Universe. These laws are, well, laws. They are always in force; immutable, impossible to circumvent. They are how the universe operates. We’re going to expand on them in our next blog post, so do come back at the end of the week. Meanwhile:

I’m sorry.
Please forgive me.
Thank you.
I love you.