I Love You
Last Spring I was given a message: “You’re going to be knocked back, but don’t get knocked down.” I thought I knew what it was in regards to. I steadied myself and prepared for what I thought would be the thing that had potential to knock me back. It wasn’t what I assumed. I thought it would be something massive…maybe that thing is coming? What I do feel is like little things keep coming at me, relentless, trying to make me tired or give up. Maybe you’re feeling that way too?
This morning I woke up with a mantra I’ve used many times over the last several years going through my head: The Ho’oponopono. It’s a magical group of four phrases that help to clear memories (known and unknown) and make things “right” again. In fact, ho’oponopono translates from Hawaiian meaning “to make things right”.
When I first started meditating with the ho’oponopono, I used it to help attract forgiveness and love from people with whom I had stressed relationships with, for whatever reason. I’m not sure that’s entirely wrong, but I do think I misunderstood the underlying premise of the prayer.
As if on cue- I saw a facebook post this morning that illustrates why. Imagine you are carrying a cup of coffee and someone bumps into you. The coffee spills, but why does it spill? If your answer is because someone bumped into me - the answer is, “NO.” The coffee spills because that is what is in the cup. If you had tea in the cup, tea would spill.
Whatever we are filled with is what spills out of us when we are jostled. If we are filled with fear, anger, bitterness, and contempt, that is what will spill out of us when we get triggered. If we are filled with faith, hope, and love, that’s what spills out.
The Ho’oponopono is about taking personal responsibility for what is in our cup. We may have no idea all of the ingredients that fill our personal cup. Some of them are buried quite deep. Some may even be our ancestors. However, by realizing that whatever is spilling over when we are triggered is ours to heal, it gives us, individually, the power to heal it! That is the magic of the ho’oponopono. We say these phrases to the hurt, afraid, angry, bitter, contemptuous parts of ourselves - telling us exactly what we need to hear, and it heals those memories one at a time.
You may be thinking “but I’m not…”, but I challenge you. If it’s spilling out of your cup, it’s in YOU. And YOU have the power to change what’s in your cup.
All you have to do is repeat these phrases (any order is okay- but this is the original order, as I understand it); I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you. Say them one time or a hundred times - each time heals another layer of hurt, judgment, anger, jealousy, etc.
This prayer reminds me of Archangel Jophiel. She is a joyful angel and known as the angel of beauty. She helps us admire things with awe, like a sunrise or sunset, a glacier blue lake, or a child’s laughter. It has been said that Jophiel is the angel to ask for help when you need a good hair day or the perfect outfit. She may help with such things, but I think, like the ho’oponopono, she shifts your perspective, helps you to love yourself more and see the goodness within yourself. Once we are able to do this successfully, we more easily extend this courtesy to our neighbors, friends, and family.
No matter whether you’re dealing with a major event in your life, or you’re feeling like you’re in the middle of a dust buster, the way through is love, and that starts with love of self.
I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.
We have the power to mend what divides us, but first, we must mend ourselves. This prayer is an excellent start.
