Ho'oponopono Demystified: Hawaiian Prayer for Forgiveness

It's fascinating to learn that from Hawaii comes a centuries-old practice of emotional healing that is a great way to find help for people who have difficulty accepting forgiveness.

It is known as "Ho'oponopono," which is a beautiful Hawaiian Prayer for forgiveness that anyone can adopt for themselves or other people they encounter in life.

This ancient Hawaiian practice, which is based upon forgiveness, serves as both a communication method for reconciliation and a tool to restore self-love.

In practice, it acts almost as a mantra to self-love. Surprisingly simple, it is very effective.

So, without diving into a full-blown ho'oponopono certification course, let's demystify the process to help you understand it better!

The Definition

The term ho'oponopono basically means to "cause everything to move into harmony" or to "make everything right." It could be considered a Zen concept.

In the Hawaiian language, "pono", means balance in the sense "life", is in harmony. Everything is balanced, as it is meant to be.

Chanting this Hawaiian prayer meditation over and again is a powerful way for the body to be cleansed of guilt, shame or haunting memories, ill-will, or any other negative emotions that can keep it focused on negative thoughts.

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

You can try it yourself by following the stages below.

You can "cleanse" your mind by chanting the following mantra, while sitting with your eyes closed. This can be considered a type of meditation.

The Ho'oponopono Prayer:

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

That's it. That's all we need. "I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love You." It is very touching indeed, especially when you realize how universal these words can be.

These four simple phrases can be recited regularly to help us develop self-love. This is a great way to soothe the soul and to help you forgive other people.

The traditional Hawaiian forgiveness ho'oponopono prayer for healing, which is powerful and effective, requires that you acknowledge the wrong you have done and to apologize for it.

Recognizing the existence of wrongdoing is an essential part of ho'oponopono. Only then, it will be possible to forgive another person, or indeed, yourself.

You acknowledge love (typically love for yourself) in the final step.

When trying to forgive someone else or themselves, most people mistakenly believe that forgiveness equals total absolution or the elimination of all wrongdoing.

This is not actually the case, as to do so overlooks hurt feelings, resulting in that aspect of the problem needing to be addressed at a later time.

Ho'oponopono and Wealth

Some people believe that they can use ho'oponopono for getting money or acquiring wealth, especially those that are down on their luck, have always been poor, or have suffered a financial downturn.

While this may be true in an indirect way, this is not the prime reason for becoming proficient in the practice.

The lack of wealth is often attributed to a mental blockage that is hampering the growth of a person in financial matters.

In such a case, the mental healing and cleansing offered by the practice of forgiveness and prayer can have the side-effect of releasing the blockage(s) and allowing the person to improve their financial situation.

Understanding True Forgiveness

To the contrary, forgiveness does not necessarily mean forgetting. Instead, ho'oponopono acknowledges the wrongdoings first. This allows all parties to be present and allow for them to feel these feelings. First, we acknowledge the problem. Once we are ready to make a conscious decision to move forward,

True forgiveness is more than just attention. It requires intention and intention. If done right, forgiveness can be one of the most liberating sensations. It feels almost like someone has lifted an invisible burden.

Historically, the ho'oponopono prayers were a form of shared reconciliation mantra for families divided, or Ohana.

It's still an effective mediation tool for forgiveness. You can learn about the technique in more detail with the ho'oponopono certification course by Dr Joe Vitale, in collaboration with Dr Ihaleakala Hew Len and musician Mathew Dixon. It can also be very helpful in healing oneself.

This is a good way to find self-comfort for people who feel guilty.

Ho'oponopono Brings Self Forgiveness

You can practice ho'oponopono mediation by taking a few deep breathes while your eyes are closed. Slowly repeat the mantra 7 or 8 more times:

"I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love You," or whatever is comfortable for you.

Allow the message to resonate for a few seconds by closing your eyes. Open your eyes. How do your eyes feel?

Passive ways can also be used to pray. People may listen to the ho'oponopono mantra while they work or try to fall asleep. This can create positive vibes through osmosis that can be especially helpful in cultivating self-love as well as compassion.

If you are someone who is hard on themselves, this could be more powerful than you think.

It is easier to forgive than it is to carry the guilt and move on. You can only reach a higher level by being kind and compassionate.


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