Ho’oponopono? Really?

“I love you. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you.” Ho’oponopono? Or cultural appropriation? Let’s explore.

Those four statements, popular now to the point that when appearing in succession they receive a knee-jerk, “ho’oponopono!” reaction of “recognition.” However, while those four statements form an effective sound bite for marketing, they do NOT comprise the Hawai’ian spiritual practice of ho’oponopono. Those four statements were popularized in Joe Vitale’s book, “Zero Limits,” as a representation of an updated ho’oponopono practice after he discovered it, through Dr. Stanley Ihaleakala Hew Len. The updated Self-Identity Through Ho’oponopono that both of those two men studied, which includes not only those four oversimplified marketing statements, but also nearly 200 SECRET components, was created by Mor
ah Nalamaku Simeona, a Hawai’ian Kahuna Lapa’au. She was recognized by the State of Hawai’i as a Living Treasure in 1983. Mor
ah Nalamaku Simeona was Dr. Hew Len’s teacher. At its ancient cultural core, ho’oponopono is a Hawai’ian problem-solving method applied to two or more people in conflict, characterized by participatory reconciliation and forgiveness. The word translates, basically, as, “to set right.”

Indigenous cultural practices watered down for the convenience of the mainstream serve to dilute those practices rather than honor them. Yes, it’s a common occurrence especially in western society among those proclaiming unity, but the theory of us all being as one doesn’t mean everyone blending into the mainstream. That’s just more control, more elitism, more barely masked entitlement & mainstream privilege asserted. The paradigm, “we are as one” means we all share a common core with Divinity – not unlike fingers on the same hand share one origin in the palm, but serve different purposes.

Spiritual depth is not akin to ordering at a fast food restaurant. There’s no app for it on your eye phoney. True connection with Spirit builds deliberately through consistent, proper practice over time, not unlike one sheet of tissue paper stacked on top of another. From Monday to Friday you may not even notice a difference. But after years of investing quality attention, you’ve built an entire new spiritual house.

There are no shortcuts. Sipping ayahuasca with a group of curiosity-seekers over the weekend till you throw up and have “weird” visions won’t bring you enlightenment, raise your vibration, catalyze deep healing, or whatever terms comprise current the new cage buzz words. Put in the work. Pay attention to what you’re doing. Every. Day. Every. Night. Adjust your life around the changes you feel, as you feel them.

All of those changes will not feel warm and fuzzy – developing true spiritual depth is a destructive process. Friendships shift. Romantic relationships change. Family dynamics feel pressured. Tastes change, ranging from food to entertainment to exercise to favorite color choices. Learn to sit with discomfort and create from there. When inner peace and joy are found, those qualities cannot be taken away. Period. Handle decisions and change circumstances from that place of inner peace, which does not fluctuate dependent upon circumstances. You won’t become a giddily grinning Stepford robot, but you will develop true connection, unflappable strength, and the sweet serenity that grows, organically and authentically, from making regular adjustments & developing new coping and communication skills.

Mahalo nui loa (many thanks) to those individuals who are both mature and responsible enough to respect indigenous cultural practices when incorporating them into one’s existing spiritual life. Head’s up again to those seeking a fast, cheap, easy answer: There are no shortcuts. Sit down and get comfortable with discomfort coupled with the humility that comes along with the realization that your Spirit is found within your own breath and your own heartbeat. Listen to it. Dispense with whatever is in the way and just listen. Shhh. Your Spirit is calling.

For those interested in receiving full training in Self-I-Dentity Through Ho’oponopono, IZC, LLC offers affordable workshops worldwide, facilitated by specially-trained instructors who hold integrity. For more information, visit: http://www.self-i-dentity-through-hooponopono.com

Miracles and blessings,
Dr. Renee