Need More Money, Love, Creativity or Better Health? Then Start Cleaning with Ho'oponopono.

What is Ho'oponopono?

First, yes, there are a lot of vowels, welcome to the beautiful and amazing Hawaiian language. But, do not be daunted. It’s actually very easy to pronounce and once you get the hang of it, you’ll find yourself saying over and over again with ease.

Ready? First, emphasize the Ho’, as you exhale. “Ho!” “Ho!” And again, “Ho!”. Then with your lips still in the form of the “o” from “Ho!”, say, “oh-pono-pono” with no emphasis. Now, put it all together: "Ho'oponopono"! See, easy!

Okay, so what did I just say? And whay would knowing about Ho'oponopono have any affect upon my life?

Well, according to Wikipedia and the Hawaiian Dictionary, when you say “Ho’oponopono” you are saying: "to put to rights; to put in order or shape, correct, revise, adjust, amend, regulate, arrange, rectify, tidy up, make orderly or neat." (Wiki)

Where did Ho’oponopono Originate?

Legend says it came from an ancient island in the South Pacific. The island no longer exists. Think of it as the Polynesian version of Atlantis. For centuryies, whenever there was a disagreement, falling out, or break in a relationship, Hawaiian family members would come together to resolve the issues. Healing sessions were often moderated by elders, priests, or shamans. For years, it was a closely-held secret problem solving method, passed down through generations, and only known by true insiders. Later, as the Hawaiian people joined the ranks of therapists, ministers, and counselors, Ho’oponopono slowly began to enter into the modern pantheon of conflict resolution.

How Did Ho’oponopono Work?

Let’s say a family was having a major internal squabble. First, they would agree to do something about it. Next, the entire family would come together to resolve the issue. Sitting in a circle, declared a safe space, family members would patiently take turns airing their issues, and listening to others. Once the issues were all out in the open, the family members, in turn, would take ownership for their part, admitting to any wrong doing, or action that caused the problem. These confessions were heard not with judgement and anger, but with love and a commitment to learn and understand what happened, and the other person’s perspective.

Once everything was out in the open, the participants would take turns apologizing, offering restitution, and expressing their thanks and love for one another. In “olden” times, this also coincided with the sacrificing of an animal. Finally, each member of the family would receive a special lei to signify the resolution and closure of the issue.

Today's Ho’oponopono Came from a Big Kahuna.

Fast forward to 1976, a Hawaiian Kahuna Lapa’au (a Hawaiian healer, with a focus on the use of herbs), named Morrnah Nalamaku Simeona, told those around her that she was “called” to update the use of Ho’oponopono from a strictly guarded secrete of familial conflict resolution, to a healing method for individuals. She felt it was time to make known to the world at large the power and benefits of this healing.

Many traditional Hawaiian healers, leaders, and elders were upset that Morrnah was taking their secret healing method and making it public, but she was willing to risk their wraths in ordered to improve the lives of others. Many derided her, called her names, made hurtful accusations and casted plenty of wicked aspersions, but Morrnah stayed on her path.

You see, Morrnah knew that the fast-paced, post-industrial world would benefit from the power of Ho’oponopono. Not the traditional family focused version, but a new version where every human being takes responsibility for every aspect of their existence.

Morrnah began holding Ho’oponopono workshops where she taught a much simpler, faster and economic way to heal one’s self. An attendee, Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len, a psychologist, was in one of her original classes. At first he thought she was a classic nut-job when she explained the simplicity of the modern version of Ho’oponopono. In fact, he left her seminar three times, only to finally embrace the teachings on the fourth time. He later successfully employed Ho’oponopono to heal an entire mental hospital. You can learn more about him and his work here.

Dr. Hew Len became Morrnah’s protege and began teaching Ho’oponopono. I was fortunate enough to be certified as a Ho’oponopono practitioner earlier this year, and was able— via the power of the internet—to witness one of his, and Dr. Joe Vitale’s, first workshops. (Dr. Hew Len passed through to the next realm of existence on January 15, 2022.)

How to Apply Ho’oponopono to Your Every Day Life

In today’s daily practice of Ho’oponopono, the practitioner takes 100% ownership for the world around her. As with the 7 Immutable Laws, everything in your life is your responsibility; whether its good or bad. When you take this responsibility, no one else is needed to begin the healing. No talisman. No guru. No books. No seminars.

You just start cleaning. You clean constantly. You clean for yourself. And as you clean, miracles will happen. You clean to root out the data/thoughts/programming/beliefs of the subconscious. This ‘data’ is both of your making and inherited from your antecedents. Just like we inherit our eye and hair color from the generations before us. We inherit their karmic burdens, too.

Don’t think this is so? Think about this… Many people who can trace their ancestry back to waring Vikings have admitted time and again a propensity to anger or rage very quickly. Folks with a family lineage to Celtic tribes have said, without having any reasonable explanation or knowing why, that they do not like Italian food, and would never, ever order it off a menu. Historically, the Celts warred and battle against the Romans for years, and suffered endless persecution and enslavement at the Roman’s hands. Coincidence? I think not. And guess what, these past life karmic energies have followed you into the 21st Century, and they need to be cleaned.

My teachers, the learned and compassionate Dr. Hew Len and Dr. Joe Vitale, describe the process of cleaning like this: “You are upset because of a situation. You then turn within, feel the pain, and plea with Divinity (God, Universe, Higher Power, etc) to remove your inner program that caused or attracted the situation. You repeat this “cleaning”, cleaning, erasing, or repairing until you are at peace, or zero.” (At Zero, 32)

What Can I Achieve with Ho’oponopono?

Most importantly, you do not clean to get anything. You clean to clear, erase, or neutralize. You clean to get to Zero. You clean to clean up your karmic energies of this life, and past generations. “You clean to be here now.” (At Zero, 37). At Zero, all things are possible…prosperity of finances, health, love, happiness, creativity…you name it. Because when you’re at Zero, you are one with the Divine. Only when you’ve reached Zero, can you be open to receiving the inspirations of the Universe. Only at Zero can you resolve conflict, remove guilt, maintain happiness, relieve upset, regain your power, lose any resentment or sadness you may be holding, and realize your true self-reality.

I’m excited to be offering Ho’oponopono coaching. I clean daily. I will always clean, and I’m committed to being at Zero more than not. Because at Zero, I can be the best version of me. So, please, consider taking this journey to Zero with me. Click here to sign up for your FREE Ho'oponopono Introduction Coaching Call, and learn more about One-on-One Ho’oponopono sessions, and how it can help you achieve your greatest potential!

Works Cited

Vitale, Joe, Dr. - At Zero: The Quest for Miracles Through Ho'oponopono, Wiley, 2014