The Ho'oponopono Prayer was traditionally used to resolve conflict in the Native American culture. Both parties would ask for forgiveness in a dispute and practice the prayer before the confrontation. The goal was to not be "right" but to reach a mutual understanding.
I find the Ho'oponopono Prayer a powerful tool when I feel distressed about something in the world or when I'm judging others or wanting them to be different. When I ask forgiveness for the things that are distressing me, knowing that we are all one enables the energy to shift somehow in a profound way. There are many books and articles about praying the Ho'oponopono and below is a brief outline of how I do it. Feel free to try the prayer out and modify it as it makes sense!
Step 1 : Repentance. "I'm Sorry"
The first step is simply being sorry. It doesn't even have to be something you did. You can be sorry for any pain and suffering you encounter in the world.
By saying you are sorry, you are taking responsibility for this issue in your life or in the world around you. You feel remorse and sadness that this exists in yourself and humanity.
Step 2 : Ask forgiveness, "Please Forgive Me"
Asking forgiveness is a powerful way to heal our own pain and the pain of the world around us. Jesus bookends the Lord's Prayer with an emphasis on the importance of forgiveness:
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:14-15)
Step 3 : Gratitude, "Thank You"
Saying "thank you" in the context of the Ho'oponopono prayer is one of the most impactful ways to grow in this area because you are practicing gratitude for something you are sorry for and need forgiveness. This very much ties into praising the Creator for all things.
Step 4 : Love, "I Love You"
The final step of "I Love You" can be the first step and embedded into all the steps. You can say I love you to anything and everything -- to yourself, your body, your soul, the air you breathe, the house that shelters you, the people and animals you love and those you hate, the systems that bind, all your challenges, to name a few.
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