Ho’oponopono, the technique of emotional responsibility

Ho’oponopono is an ancient concept for a modern world. It refers to a Hawaiian art of problem solving, taking care of their most emotional consequences: those that we often do not take into account. To do this, we must be able to ask for forgiveness, correct, make amends and offer kindness. It is, after all, a mental hygiene strategy with which to promote adequate emotional responsibility.

Ho’oponopono was a deeply rooted practice for centuries on several Polynesian islands, and although for them it had a clearly spiritual connotation (the purpose was to connect with one’s own divinity), It was not until 1976 when this interesting philosophy reached the Western world in a way that was as revealing as it was useful.

It was Morrnah Nalamaku Simeona, a Hawaiian priestess and healer who adapted traditional hoʻoponopono to today’s social realities.. They say that her achievement was a true treasure, a gift to the field of personal growth and above all, to the world of positive psychology. If in the past this practice was carried out as a group with all the members of a family, today it has been individualized so that we can practice it at all times and when we need it.

Hoʻoponopono allows us to release burdens, redirect tensions, purify errors and channel all those entrenched problems that sooner or later, as we already know, are somatized in the form of diseases. Achieving this can be much easier with this ancient technique…

“Ho’oponopono”, a practice that promotes coexistence

The Hawaiians believed that people are connected to each other through “aka.”. It is a kind of “etheric” conduit through which life energy flows. Now, sometimes, this invisible conduit or channel becomes weak or sick due to our differences, problems that we carry from the past, lies, words spoken or silenced. The energy stops flowing with such harmony and then it happens, discomfort, problems, disorders arise.

Ho’oponopono helps us heal the “aka”. Not only does it repair the bond with those people who are important to us, but it It also allows us to recover the connection with ourselves. Because if there is something that defines this philosophy, it is the ability to practice kindness in its broadest sense, as well as an active and involving forgiveness that begins with oneself and that knows how to recognize what is ethical, what is virtuous and noble.

It is clear, however, that we are not dealing with a type of psychology with a scientific basis. However, despite its spiritual and non-experimental tradition, was highly effective in solving different social problems: acts of crime, disputes between neighborhood groups, families, different ethnicities and even existential problems of a good part of the Hawaiian community.

It is known, for example, that ho’oponopono was implemented in prison programs with great success. The elders guided the inmates in this practice to resolve tensions and conflicts, promoting an adequate emotional catharsis that improved coexistence in Hawaii’s penitentiary institutions.

How to apply ho’oponopono in daily life?

Ho’oponopono is the code of forgiveness and emotional responsibility. A fact that exalts this type of philosophy is the need for us to understand something very basic: all conflict arises from oneself. We should not look for external blame, we should not place all responsibility on others for what happens to us, bothers us or takes away our calm. We all have the power to change things and turn them in our favor through kindness, common sense, and ethical and emotional coherence.

To achieve this, to shape that healing energy that makes up ho’oponopono, we must put the following strategies into practice.

The 5 steps of ho’oponopono

The first step is to become aware of our negative attitudes, emotions or behaviors, those that separate us from the people we love, those that in turn impact our well-being and personal freedom.The next thing we will do is take responsibility for our actionsof what was said or not said, of what was done or avoided, of what we have not tried or of the mistakes made and their consequences.Next, it is time to visualize and feel love. We must vividly experience the affection we feel for that person or people whom we have neglected. We will open “an inner channel” that connects with the other person. Now, it is time to take the step, to ask for forgiveness. However, something important must be clarified: in Western culture we tend to say “I’m sorry” and we believe that we are done with that. However, To complete the cycle correctly we must also receive forgiveness from the other person, we must listen to the “I forgive you”.

The last step, and not least, is to experience liberation. The Hawaiians said that when the “aka” reconnects between us by healing the bond, our souls are free again. It is a wonderful sensation that allows us to feel fuller, lighter and prepared to resume our paths with greater security and wisdom. Ho’oponopono is, as we see, an exceptional type of philosophy capable of guaranteeing our well-being and the quality of our relationships. Let’s put it into practice.

Bibliographic references:

Pukui, Mary Kawena and Elbert, Samuel H (2009). Hoʻoponopono: Contemporary Uses of a Hawaiian Problem Solving Processes University of Hawaii (1986) ISBN 978-0-8248-0703-0

Simeona, Morrnah, Self-Identity through HoʻoponoponoBasic 1, Pacifica Seminars (1990)

Vitale, Joe, Hew Len Ph.D (2011), Zero Limits. Obelisk Editions

You might be interested…