Ho'oponopono
By Roger Ellerton Phd, ISP, CMC, Renewal Technologies Inc.
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What is Ho'oponopono?
Ho'oponopono comes from Huna - Huna being a western label given to the ancient healing and spiritual shamanism of ancient Hawaii. Ho'oponopono means to make (ho'o) right (pono) right (pono). In other words, make right really right and bring balance back into your life and your relationships with others, even those who have passed on. Inside of you, as parts of your unconscious mind, you carry all the significant people in your life. The world is a reflection of what is happening inside you. If you are experiencing upset or unbalance, the place to look is inside yourself, not outside at the people you perceive as causing your problem.
Ho'oponopono is often referred to as the Hawaiian Code of Forgiveness - when you bring balance into your life, you are in a position to forgive others, as well as yourself. Not forgiving or harboring negative thoughts impedes the neuro-pathways and creates dis-ease or dis-harmony among the cells.
The ancient Hawaiians believed that whenever you meet another person, you establish a connection with them (called an aka cord) that continues even when not in the presence of the other person. Aka cords are the means by which telepathic communication is achieved. It is along these aka cords that vital force and thoughts travel between you, your higher power, any object or person in the world. If your relationship with each of these other entities is in balance, then there is a sharing of energy back and forth along the aka cord that mutually supports both of you. For those who are familiar with the chakra energy centers, you may notice that the points where the aka cords connect are different for some people in your life and this may have meaning for you. If you are not aware of the chakras, we will assume the aka cords connect heart to heart.
As your relationships evolve, you may notice this sharing of energy becomes unbalanced with some people. For example, do you know someone in your life that when you are in their presence you can feel the energy being sucked out of you? To rebalance this energy or to allow you to re-establish a connection with this other person in a safe and supportive manner, the ancient Hawaiians believed that the aka cords needed to be cut or dissolved in some fashion and then if appropriate re-established.
Interestingly, western science is now discovering what many ancient civilizations have known for ages. Theoretical physicist Amit Goswami, University of Oregon, conducted the following experiment: He selected two pairs of subjects. The first pair met and created a bond between them (aka cord). They were then separated; each was placed in a separate Faraday cage (a copper sealed space) and moved 20 meters from each other. They could not see each other and did not know the purpose of the experiment. When one of the subjects was stimulated by a rapidly flashing light, the other subject showed corresponding electrical activity in the visual cortex. The second set of subjects did not meet or bond and the rapid light stimulation of one subject's brain did not influence the other subject's brain waves.
The Ho'oponopono Process
- Make yourself comfortable, breath easily, close your eyes and relax.
- In your mind, visualize yourself in a safe place and create a stage some distance from you and below you.
- Begin inviting people in groups onto the stage - one group at a time. Remember to include members of the group who have already passed on. The various groups may be:
- Your mother and father, or someone who has been like a mother or father to you.
- Your grandparents.
- Your children and grandchildren.
- Brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles.
- Other family members/ancestors.
- Friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc.
- Ex-friends, ex-lovers, ex-spouses, etc.
- A representation of yourself.
- For each group, and do one group at a time, ask the following question: "Do you fully 100% support me in being my true authentic self?" If you get a clear, authentic "yes", thank them and allow them to leave. Anything else, invite them to remain on the stage.
- Once you have gone through all of the groups, there may be a number of people left on the stage. They are there for a reason.
- They may be on the stage because you need to say something to them. Speak from your heart and tell them what is true for you. As you do, notice that some of those on the stage begin to disappear.
- They may be on the stage because there is something you need to hear from them. Allow them to speak. You do not have to agree with what is said, you only agree to hear what they have to say. Once those on the stage have said what they needed to say, you will notice they too begin to leave.
- If there are still people left on your stage, imagine an infinite source of love, healing and forgiveness above the top of your head. Allow this infinite source of love, healing and forgiveness to come in through the top of your head (crown chakra), fill up your whole body and then flow out through your heart down the aka cords to those remaining on the stage - loving, healing and forgiving each one of them, so they too may leave the stage.
- If at this time, there are still people left on your stage, then there is something within you that you are not forgiving or internal issues that you need to resolve. In order for you to move forward and draw this exercise to a close, notice that the aka cords between you and those on the stage begin to dissolve so that these relationships can be re-created in a manner that supports who you choose to be.
- Repeat this exercise on a regular basis.
Author: Roger Ellerton is a certified NLP trainer, certified management consultant and the founder and managing partner of Renewal Technologies.
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