Ho'oponopono

After the scare tactics of a Mercury Retrograde (I capitalize it out of fear) and the daunting possibilities that come with a new moon, I can firmly say that many people were experiencing a case of the Monday blues yesterday. Myself especially. I struggled through my work day, only getting by with the help of frequent chamomile tea refills, one blessed caramel apple cider, a short walk under the last leaves of Fall, and many weepy phone calls to my sister (I’m convinced she’s not actually my sister but an angel of positive reinforcement, other-worldly wisdom, and ancient grace). 5:30 rolled around and I peeled myself out of my chair and did the only productive thing I had done that day: I listened to the tiny voice that sometimes makes herself known at the pit of my throat (VISHUDDA), she said go to yoga. And I did.

I spent the next hour in a candlelit corner crying in backbends and uprooting all emotions each time we took a heart-opener. After class I had one of those all-encompassing encounters with a soul who recognizes its counterpoint in you. I sat down with a woman who had just come from a weekend-long silent meditation retreat. Needless to say, she had much to say now that she was able to talk again! The universe works in mysterious ways and I can affirm that she was sent to me from a higher source. She taught me a little bit more about kindness, and instilled some hope in me about the inherent goodness in humans, and made me think twice about thinking hotly, selfishly, and quickly.  But most importantly she taught me how to ask for forgiveness. Once I opened up the universe for forgiveness, I forgave myself and so did everybody else. I then proceeded to laugh hard, enjoy a great meal, joyously lose 5 bucks in a game of poker, and dance with my loved one abashedly.  It helped me so immensely that I wanted to share it with you:

Ho'oponopono : the Hawaiian Code of Forgiveness, made to essentially make things right between you and the universe. Based on the belief tht you should never carry guilt any longer than you have to, and that there is transformation in release. We carry within ourselves pieces of everyone we’ve chosen to fit inside our minds and hearts. Ho'oponopono is the process we use to align with the others inside of ourself. The process goes something like this: sit still and come into your minds eye. Imagine an infinite source of love and healing flowing from your Higher Self above you through the top of your head, filling up your body from your crown chakra to your root. Repeat the mantra: I’m sorry, Please Forgive me, Thank you, I love you.

Repeat for as long as necessary… you’ll know when that is.