Ho'oponopono Prayer

 

The Power Of Wholeness And Healing 

Do you practice forgiveness? Both for yourself and for others? This practice comes from Hawai’i. The beautiful Hawaiian Prayer for Forgiveness is called “Ho’oponopono” (pronounced HO-oh-Po-no-Po-no), and it’s lovely.

The word ho’oponopono roughly translates to “cause things to move back in balance” or to “make things right.” It’s a very zen concept. (In native Hawaiian language, “pono” means balance, in the sense of “life.” When things are in balance, nothing is off, so to speak.)

This ancient Hawaiian practice of forgiveness functions as both a communication concept for reconciliation and a tool for restoring self-love and balance. In practice, it works sort of like a mantra for self-love. And, it’s super simple.

Chanting this prayer over and over is a powerful way to cleanse the body of guilt, shame, haunting memories, ill will, or bad feelings that keep the mind fixated on negative thoughts.

As a forgiveness practice, it is also deeply resonant, as it tends to penetrate our inner monologue over time.

 

Step 1: Repentance – I’M SORRY

This tradition holds that you are responsible for everything in your mind. Once you realize that, it’s very natural to feel sorry. …This realization can be painful, and you will likely resist accepting responsibility for past/present people/situations/circumstances until you start to practice this method on more obvious areas and see results.

Choose something that you already know you’ve caused for yourself. 

ex: Addicted to nicotine, alcohol or some other substance? Do you have anger issues? Health problems? Start there and say you’re sorry. That’s the whole step: I’M SORRY. Underneath you are saying, “I realize that I am responsible for ___  in my life and I feel remorse that something in my consciousness has caused this.” 

 

Step 2: Ask Forgiveness – PLEASE FORGIVE ME

Don’t worry about who you’re asking. Just ask!

PLEASE FORGIVE ME.

Say it over and over. Mean it. Remember your remorse from step 1 as you ask to be forgiven.

 

Step 3: Gratitude – THANK YOU

Say “THANK YOU” – again 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. Just keep saying

THANK YOU.  Say it until you feeeeel it. 

 

Step 4: Love – I LOVE YOU

This can also be step 1. Say I LOVE YOU. Say it to your body, say it to God. Say I LOVE YOU to the air you breathe, to the house that shelters you. Say I LOVE YOU to your challenges. Say it over and over. Mean it. Feel it. There is nothing as powerful as Love!

 

Put it into practice with journaling:

  1. Call to mind a relationship where you would like to bring forgiveness and healing, with a deeper connection of ease between you. (It could be with yourself)
  2. First take a few moments to center; bring the breath to your heart; imagine a golden light infusing your heart with compassion, gratitude and love – for yourself and for your life.
  3. Now picture the person in front of you and imagine this golden light overflowing and pouring out to them as you begin the mantra, repeating over and over, from your heart to theirs:

I’m sorry.

Please forgive me.

Thank you.

I love you.

When you are finished, notice how your body feels. You can choose to unpack this experience a little more by checking in with your body after each step with a body scan before moving to the next step.