Forgiveness
Whenever we want to raise our vibration, it becomes imperative to do some shadow work. Shadow work is a fancy way of saying; cleaning and clearing those parts of ourselves we have buried down deep with the misunderstanding that burying them makes them “go away”. Unfortunately, energy always “is”, whether it’s positive or negative. It can be experienced, transmuted, and transformed, or we can pretend like it doesn’t exist and have it surface at the most inopportune times. In order to live in a higher vibration, we need to dig up, dig out, face, acknowledge, and let go of all those moments in life (this one, and past lives) that we have felt shame, sadness, disappointment, anger and rage, hurt, or helpless. It’s always a good idea to get help from professionals, but you can do a large amount all by yourself.
For myself, I started with a lot of journaling. I’ve got a lot of decades of memories that I needed to face. That doesn’t even touch on all the stuff I can’t remember! And, there’s the little fact about continuing everyday life as a human who is in regular contact with other humans. It seems, despite my best intentions, I manage to continue to hurt and be hurt by actions and words. Ugh! I wish it were not that way, but it is. And, the unfortunate part about not being Mary Poppins (aka “Practically Perfect in Every Way”) is that my shadows aren’t all in the distant past. Journaling about daily mess-ups and hurts can be cathartic too. However, that’s only one step and there are more that are necessary.
One of THE MOST BENEFICIAL prayers I’ve ever said has been the Ho’oponopono. It’s simple:
“I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.”
It’s made to be said over and over and over again, keeping the person in mind that you need to forgive and the specific thing that’s causing the strife. It can be a person or an entire planet (I’m not being hyperbolic here. I mean it. If you’re feeling particularly ticked off at this earth on which you’re currently living, take a few minutes of reciting the Ho’oponopono.) The results are magical, whether your subject is a family member, an acquaintance, a friend, a boss, or…the worst repeat offender ever, the person you see in the mirror each morning. Forgiving ourselves and others can be truly transformative.
The first time I heard of the Ho’oponopono prayer was from a Hospice Nurse Friend of mine. It was something she recommended that families say to their dying loved ones. What a beautiful gift! Then, I forgot about it for several years. Ope! (It happens) Then, I started meditating regularly and my best friend recommended THE BEST APP in the world called “Insight Timer”. Insight timer asks for a daily check-in and then recommends meditations/talks/music for you based on your mood. Guess what showed up? Divine-timing and clever Spirit Guides and Angels brought the Ho’oponopono back to me. It turns out, you can search for meditations for whatever you need on Insight Timer, and if you need the Ho’oponopono, it has approximately 777,777 variations on the theme with different lengths, different subjects on which to focus, and different music in the background. I’m pretty sure you can find the right one for your needs.
And, while we are on the subject of forgiving ourselves and clearing our blocks and cords that are not serving our greatest and highest good, I want to recommend some Angelic Meditation options. Archangel Michael - surrounded by a team of angels and making sure we are safe and protected- also carries a sword of light to cut through the thickest, most stubborn cords. Upon asking (yes, you have to ask - or better yet, thank him in advance for his help), Michael will gladly cut through cords. Before long, you too, will be calling him “Mike” and feeling his protective presence all the time. Seriously, we pick up cords from people at the gas station and grocery store and don’t even have to talk to them! Mike can dissolve those unneeded cords in an instant.
Archangel Raphael, whom I’ve affectionately come to know as “Raph”, is right there behind Mike, if you ask, covering your wounds in his green, healing light and helping heal some of the deepest wounds.
Archangel Metatron is a Master at coming through and cleaning up and balancing everything out. Cutting cords can put one off-balance (physically, emotionally, and spiritually), and a quick “thanks in advance” to Metatron will put you right again.
Archangel Gabriel is a great one to call when you feel like you need a little extra love. She’s like the Rose Quartz of Archangels. She will fill you with white light and cover you with her wings, so you feel those warm fuzzies again.
And, in case you might be a little like me, Archangel Raguel might be your new best buddy. Raguel is particularly handy in helping us find the right words and right actions for the best results when we are communicating with others. I wouldn’t be surprised if he authored the Ho’oponopono prayer centuries ago.
Suffice it all to say, Forgiveness of ourselves and of others can be transformative, but none of it is easy. That said, aren’t the most difficult endeavors the most rewarding? None of us are alone. We are surrounded by a Spirit Team that wants only the best for us. Forgiveness is a major step in achieving “the peace that surpasses all understanding”. When I’m not sure where to start, I open my Insight Timer App, search for the song “Calling in the Angels”, and let that jaunty little song bring me to a new attitude. It’s a start.
