Ready to forgive?

Forgiveness frees us to live in the present with greater ease and joy. Yet saying I’m sorry and asking for forgiveness can be two of the hardest things we will ever do. Equally as difficult can be forgiving others.

As a shamanic practitioner, one practice I have found to be very effective is the ancient Hawaiian practice of the Ho’Oponopono. Joe Vitale writes about this practice in his book, “Zero Limits”, written with master Ho’oponopono teacher Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len. Dr. Hew Len used the practice to heal mentally ill criminal patients on a hospital ward.

The only purpose in your life and mine is the restoration of our Identity—our Mind—back to its original state of void or zero (Buddha), of purity of heart (Jesus) and of blank (Shakespeare) through nonstop cleaning.

Based on the simple understanding that everything in nature is interconnected through subtle energies and that we can never truly separate ourselves from the whole, the Ho’Oponopono provides neutrality and clearing when seeming wrongs have taken place. In ancient teachings it was offered to “make right” with the ancestors; to correct those seeming wrongs that had occurred in a life or lifetimes, either intentionally or unintentionally. It is not a religion, it is simply a practice that offers neutrality and unconditional love for anyone and anything. Don’t we all just want love?

By realizing the connection to all life, all beings, we can admit our own responsibility and make the correction through processing the Ho’oponopono like a mantra until it feels like the cycle is complete.

To begin working with the Ho’oponopono:

Visualize an infinite source of love and healing flowing from source, through you, connecting you with the earth.

In your mind see the person or scenario that you do not feel aligned with and begin chanting, silently or out loud, “I’m sorry, please forgive me, I love you, thank you”.

Repeat the chanting until you no longer feel an emotional attachment to the situation. This may take several rounds of the chant or it may take only a few.

The beauty of this practice is its simplicity. It can be offered in any situation in life where you do not feel in complete alignment.

Several weeks ago a client called me asking me for support with a family issue she was having. Not wanting to overstep her family’s boundaries I suggested she begin the Ho’oponopono for each family member. I also suggested she use Google to seek more information on it. Within just a few days both her and her family found resolution – peace and forgiveness. Coincidence? I think not!

To connect with Teri visit TeriGriffinWilliams.com.