Ho'oponopono

We are a walking mirror. - Don Jose Luis Ruiz, Toltec shaman

Recall that Ho'oponopono is a Hawaiian shamanic technique. Here, in this interview, Don Jose Luis  Ruiz (who is Don Miguel Ruiz' son) describes some shamanic beliefs that relate to Ho'oponoono as well.  I climbed up the Temple of the Sun (Teotihuacan, Mexico City) with Don Jose Ruiz in November 2003 (Don Miguel was there too).

We are clearing the mirror, and ho'oponopono is a technique for stalking the smudges in the mirror, so to speak. These smudges tend to take us (in my experience) through re-runs and loop-de-loops, rather than movement through evolutionary (and magical!) experiences.

Yet even that cleaning up is sort of a mirage effect, just to make our everyday lives dreamier and nicer than say, a nightmare--as no image in the mirror can mar or enhance the mirror Itself--which is actually what you are, a.k.a. the Dreamer. Recall when you sleep at night, you are also each of the dream figures, the dreamscape, the storyline, etc as it arises and falls away all in your Mind; although all being said most people prefer their dreaming, as non-real as it ultimately is, to not be an excrutiating, painful, hell-ride. 

This interview was conducted by Julia Griffen, and the entire interview (excerpt below) is here at The Spirit of Ma'at site:

Don José: Dreaming is a big Being, and we are married to Dreaming. All of life is a dream.

We are a walking mirror. God is a mirror — everything we think, feel, or believe is reflected back to us through this great mirror that is life.

The world is a mirror that reflects back to us all that we believe. The world does not create what we are experiencing. We do that. We create our beliefs, and the mirror of God reflects them back to us.

God can send us only love and beauty. We create the distortions in this mirror of our life that is so short — and so beautiful.

. . . .

Julia:   A shaman said that he used stalking in dreaming to find the weaknesses in his consciousness. How is the art of stalking used in Toltec dreaming?

Don José: Stalking is used in dreaming to find the mental and emotional images that prevent us from being free.

When we dream, we must learn to discover in our dreams the forms or energies that limit us. They may repeatedly take the same form, or they may take different forms. They may appear in many different dreams, or just one dream that reoccurs.

We must dream with the purpose of stalking, to try to stalk who is within ourselves and see what our beliefs are.

We primarily stalk two things in dreaming: thinking (what is in the head) and heartbreak.

By heartbreak, I mean the incredible pain we feel from the terrible things that have happened to us. When we feel the pain of heartbreak, we close off parts of ourselves. In some way, we stop living. If the same situation comes up again, we say, "Oh, no, I won't let myself be hurt again!"

But this is no way to live. Life is so short and so incredibly beautiful. It is such a gift. You must forgive yourself for experiencing heartbreak. You must love the heartbreak in your life, because it is part of living. Most importantly, you must create a better dream.

We also stalk to find the thoughts that keep us chained in "reality." These thoughts that we think so many times limit us. If we can identify these limiting thoughts, we can pull the energy back from their mental patterns and create anew.

It is so important to take back these lost energies and share with the world the gifts given to us from the angels and God. Heartbreak and limiting thoughts are like a cage. They keep us caged, imprisoned, in the three-dimensional world. The cage is created from the fear of being the Self, of being authentic.

Lies and fears about our Self are the forces that keep us in the cage — and they are not real. We must reclaim the key to our cage by pulling the energy back from our thoughts and our heartbreak. In this way, we become free.

Stalking in dreaming can be compared to opening gates. If a state of mind or heartbreak has been identified in dreaming, then we find the opening point of the wound, or the judgment, and we go in our memory to the point just before it occurred. When we remember the time before the memory occurred, we find a closing point for the wound — and then we go a little further back in time, so we can avoid returning to the wound.

Now we can see an entirely different world, or movie. We have created a better dream.

It is possible to use this technique to open a gate and see a different view.

Outer reality is a direct reflection of what is present within our individual and collective consciousness. - Barry Snider and Karen Anderson

"What mystics, saints and sages have always known is now being confirmed by quantum physics, transpersonal psychology, and holographic brain theory: Outer reality is a direct reflection of what is present within our individual and collective consciousness. Our ubiquitous crises can’t be fixed or changed “out there.” They will resolve only as a function of a radical, collective change “in here.” The solutions to humanity’s dilemmas will not be found within the level of understanding that created the problems. They can only emerge from a state of consciousness that can hold them all within a vaster, unified field of awareness. That unified perspective is the natural state of the soul, the presence of the Divine within each one of us." - from newly released book by Barry Snider and Karen Anderson, Soul Awakening: The Journey from Ego to Essence

p.s. I agree with Barry and Karen that there is no substantial "out there" divisible from "in here." And, essentially, that's why ho'oponopono can have the "outer" outcomes it does.

I may be one of the few peeps that doesn't have any sense of cosmic crisis, or dilemma. (Even, say, there were a dilemma, you'd be that dilemma too in wholeness.) I have a sense that the universe knows exactly what it is doing, how it is happening and all that that may require "individually" is cooperation rather that our active resistance to what unfolds (and I think it is going to be quite the surprise). Thus, Ho'oponopono is one of many many ways to clear up old webs of rote habit and reaction based on past strategies so that we may spontaneously surrender to the present moment's vast Intelligence.

what do you NEED to do ho'oponopono?

I got a question via email that I thought I'd answer publicly. It was about whether I thought it was a good idea to buy Ho'oponopono videos (and/or secure any other resources).

In my opinion, it is not necessary to buy anything.

It is useful (yet not necessary either) to have Byron Katie's book, Loving What Is: Four Questions that Can Change Your Life (based on The Work process) and also Louise Hay's You Can Heal Your Life (I believe this contains roughly the same content of Heal Your Body A-Z: The Mental Causes of Physical Illness and How to Overcome Them--what you want is the chart of dis-eases and associated symbolism, that's all that I use from the book.)

Yet you can find the nuggets of these books online as well.

There is definitely a fundamental context or paradigm shift that reading and applying The Work provides; however, there are so many online videos and audios of Byron Katie walking through The Work process in real-time on all sorts of subjects, that that is entirely optional. As well, books such as Loving What Is, You Can Heal Your Life, as well as Zero Limits are in libraries and I've checked them out from libraries.

Personally, I do own a copy of Loving What Is (it was a discussion group selection in 2005) and was gifted You Can Heal Your Life--although both books (as are most of my books) have been in storage for two years. I don't own any specific Ho'oponopono books.

So, in the end, it's your call on what you decide you want or need in your library.

Ho'oponopono is actually simple, and I have been doing it since 2003 beginning with only knowledge of the legend (at that time there was no confirmation that such a psychologist named Dr. Len had actually existed and healed said criminally insane ward--at that time, it was an urban legend for all I knew yet it really resonated to me as containing a truth nonetheless), and combined with my applied knowledge of A Course in Miracles (which also corroborated with Dr. Len did as feasible) that was enough to get going. 

I ought to mention that since 2001 I had aslo been working on seeing my "blind spots" (that was my word for "projection" as I was unaware of the terminology until 2002 when I read No Boundary, by Ken Wilber (fantastic book, especially if you're new to nonduality--and how Wilber starts to shatter illusions about space and time in such a short book is truly marvelous; I believe it's Wilber's best and most succinct work) and he used the word "projection") by noticing what I found irritating in "other" people as my cheap form of psychotherapy (cheap meaning absolutely free, and interestingly enough the most precisely relevant workshop I could ever attend--my own life). I thought it was psychological, yet, applying this idea of finding the mirror in myself of what I disliked "out there," proved to pave the path for a pretty wild and wide spiritual journey later on (I had no clue that this would be end result at the time).

Also, 2003 was way before I knew of nonduality or nondualistic philosophy. Although, nonduality makes it much easier to grok that there is "No one out there," as Dr. Len repeats over and over and over again.

Ho'oponopono doesn't necessitate any such knowledge as it only depends on sincerity and willingness to question our reactions and look at our own projections and thus, application. Then once we have acknowledged our reaction and the mirror, we just say the four statements, "I love you.  I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you." (With the emphasis on the Thank You and I Love You.) That's it. When I started I didn't even know why I was saying those four statements. I mostly focused on really feeling clear on the projection, and on my reaction. It only occurred to me much more recently that clearing up automatic reactions would lead to a much more responsive, creative fluidity that isn't reactive.

Dr. Len doesn't get into the symbolism at all that I delve into, he uses his intuition and sticks with his immediate reactions to discern what is up for him internally. The symbolism (it can be complex if you're not intuitively adept with symbols--and that comes easier over time especially if you enjoy solving puzzles it can be enjoyable to 'solve' symbolism, but if it doesn't float your boat, don't need to bother with it, keep it simple) and using it to 'treat' dis-eases is my own twist (and it works too).

Other helpful questions or inquiries (hate to make more belief systems up... they're just starting point questions to see for yourself):

1. Is there really two people here? What does Oneness mean, what does it imply? Or, the statement, it's All One?
2. Based on A Course in Miracles, the idea is that everyone that comes into your sphere during your lifetime is there to open you up to encompass more of your self (i.e. One) . It is easy (way easy) to judge others, but to really see that "I am That, too," is pretty much the core of Ho'oponopono and begins to dissolve the notion of separateness.
3. If I heal myself (i.e. usually see past the illusion of something broken or wrong) then I heal all as we are not simply interconnected--there is but One.

I think you'll find there are enough free examples on this ho'oponopono blog, and used in conjunction with Byron Katie's The Work process (the Loving What Is companion book may be worth buying--again, your instinct), it is plenty.

Application rather than accumulating resources will itself yield more and more insight on how to apply it further in a way that feels natural for you.

 The Work process is also based on reclaiming our judgments "out there" and seeing them as ways the mind constructs separation based on past, and mind reiterates the past over and over rather than being aware in present Reality. Byron Katie (she is incredible, btw--exudes unconditional love and joy and freedom like water pouring from a fountain) stops short of saying that releasing our projections helps or affects others.... and in truth, even Dr. Len says the focus has to be on our self, not fixing the outer.... yet it remains that it DOES affect everything since we are everything.

ONLINE RESOURCES FOR THE WORK. Here Byron Katie includes the four questions worksheet which is valuable when you are starting. These queries will become automatic, and you won't need any worksheets with practice. You can find videos online on the official site and also many more on YouTube (search on Byron Katie as the word "the work" is too generic on YouTube).

ONLINE RESOURCES FOR HEAL YOUR LIFE HERE.  I don't really use the affirmations at all, peronally. I am simply interested in understanding the MESSAGE, or the SYMBOLISM for its insight. I also find that Chinese medical resources contain accurate information about the symbolism of certain organs and their associated emotional/energy blocks.

rekindle the joy of life, let go other's acceptance/approval, ho'oponopono for cancers of the blood cells (leukemia or lymphoma)--part 1

The other day a series of blog posts came my way, and connecting dots, they point back to Alice.

I had noted many people talking about bone marrow donors and bone marrow transplants. And figuring it out it all pointed to a 15-year old girl from England with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. She is trying to cross off life-long ambitions in a short timeframe, and the Twitter community decided to help her achieve her "bucket list."  Alice came up again the next day, and the next.

So I decided to find out more about Alice. And, before I knew it  I'd be doing Ho'oponopono  to clear the pattern of lymphoma.

This could easily be a longer post, but it is also related to the entire series of posts here. I started this blog in August 2010, and geared it initially for  a few folks that were using Ho'oponopono to clear the Gulf Oil spill. That's somewhate yet another story, except that they both involve blood dis-eases, and blood symbolism.

Without sifting through the archives, the symbolism fundamentally points to a lack of vitality and joy.

However, lymphoma and leukemia are more specific. Let me quote from Indian medical doctor Samthan Reddy, whom is on an exploratory journey into mind-body-spirit, he writes specifically about cancers of the blood cells (like leukemia or lymphoma) below:

"Blood is also associated with life-force or vitality. When the “life-blood” flows strongly, we feel vital and joyous, full of enthusiasm and inspiration. However, when a person is afraid of life, feels unsafe, does not give expression to their ideas, becomes withdrawn and experiences a lack of joy, they may be prone to blood-related illnesses.

. . . .Leukemia is one of the most common cancers affecting children.

Louise Hay offers specific insight into the thought patterns that may lead to Lymphomas. She correlates lymphomas with a tremendous fear of not being good enough, a frantic race to prove one’s self until the blood has no substance left to support itself. The joy of life is forgotten in the race to find acceptance."

Back last October 2010, I did some ho'oponopono on non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for a friend of the family. However, in all honesty, going through a breakup the month before I was not in the best place to feel joyful.

Doing ho'oponopono is more than just running through a mantra, "I love you, please forgive me, thank you, etc." One really delves into the pattern--"yours", "theirs", "collective" (it's the same) and what's universal about the message embedded in lymphoma and pulls out the roots. There's a message there to be gleaned and heard and acknowledged, so to dismiss it and go directly to the mantra isn't effective (from my experience--I'm open to hearing other experiences). It persists if not heard.

The key message for lymphoma: "The joy of life is forgotten in the race to find acceptance."

 
Yes, that has pretty much defined my life, until about 2006. Then, I went through a period of opening up and being myself, and being goofy (I have an exuberantly delightful 5-year-old side to me) and being happy and unconventional (which comes naturally). 

I glowed. Sometimes I actually sensed an energetic "disapproving" look that I'm too happy. But at that time what others' opinions were didn't register. And in fact, it felt like other people were lighter too...  as if it were infectious.

The thing that got me to shut down again may (not 100% sure) revolve around these "gifts" that were by-products of the sense of oneness. Gifts to do with healing and other little miracles, which is why I decided to do this blog publicly, even if it's a very, very difficult blog to find on Google. (It feels better knowing people say that healing is natural ability of every one--which I also believe, but isn't mainstream either.) You are meant to find it if you have, trust me--this blog is not announced from any rooftops.

That's a long-winded way of saying I was willing to call off a magical, remarkable, unfolding life because "WHAT WOULD THEY THINK!?" Sure, some shadow material (i.e. shadow as in hidden, unmet not "evil") evitably shows up after such a shift, and this "approval" one was the doozy.

Same day as Alice arrives in my sphere, I read:

"Fitting in, as the wonderful Brene Brown so astutely points out, is not the same as being accepted for who you are – in fact, the one renders the other impossible." - Justine Musk

In Justine's post, she links to a piece by the writer Sherman Alexie. He has a young man come up to him after a reading. He is wealthy so at first Alexie isn't sure why he so readily identifies with the protagonist in his novel. (The myth that wealth means no prob.)

His father wants him to go be a soldier"like me." Son wants to be a writer. He's conflicted. Joy. Approval. Is it a choice?

"I could offer that young man nothing but my empathy and the promise of more books about teenagers rescuing themselves from the adults who seek to control and diminish him." - Why the Best Kid's Books are Written in Blood, by Sherman Alexie

It doesn't go unnoticed that Alexie titled it "written in blood."

So, Alice comes up precisely in a time where I feel last vestiges of shackles falling. I feel joy for no particular reason. I feel silly, and fantastical (as in fantasy day-dreams just pour into me) and frolicking like a wild mare seems true. But that's frowned on, right? We must be somber, serious, smart (smart folks behave). The amount of energy (enthusiasm) running through me is astounding. And then I remember the voices around, "Don't you know everything sucks! Wipe that smile off your face."

I think that's the message that many 11-year-olds get (Alice has been sick for four years) as they are "growing up."---"Be more serious you're not a child anymore. Be ____ (whatever you are not). Listen up and obey....don't you want our love?"

Conditioned love will make anyone sick. Seeking conditioned love too.

Alice has been sick for four years. I have been sick for four years (the shadow stuff came strong in fall 2007). Not sick physically--I learned how to read symptoms and messages before they get out way of hand; practice Ho'oponopono since 2003--no, I mean I was sick pyschically for four years. Hiding the light under the bushel, I believe that's the adage.

Anyway, there is no choice. It's the whole planet, dare I say, whole cosmos' health at stake. There is no need to bend to sate any conditioned love (I'll like you if___). Being joyful is being love itself.

Part 2 forthcoming. (This is a big topic.) If you want to delve deeper, I also recommend reading the chapter in Women Who Run With the Wolves, by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, on self-preservation (she shares the story of the girl with the red shoes). Pinkola Estes expands on the fairy tale of The Red Shoes and its themes in an audio rendering produced by Sounds True.

ART CREDITS: "a little Amelie" (girl with red shoes) photo via creative commons licensing by Lubs Mary; 2nd photo by Wet Behind the Ears

...everyone has the healing ability: both self-healing ability and the ability to facilitate even miraculous healings for others - Gene Ang Ph.D.

I like what Gene Ang Ph.D. said in a recent radio interview, and wanted to share this as so many folks feel as if they have to be gifted, or particularly trained to be of service. I was also impressed he mentioned A Course in Miracles--since that is where my beliefs around disease were shattered as well. I no longer use the Course per se, but I want to give it credit.

Ho'oponopono really starts with your surroundings and what's out of kilter (i.e. dis-ease), look at your shared consciousness, and then clear what's been hidden (until now).  It requires no medical degrees, no psychology degrees nor formal training. 

There are ways to heal instantaneously, and those too also require giving up the belief that only people with credentials are healers. I once read someone say that their teacher/trainer said, "Healing is not something you do, it is something you are."

In any case, the types of healing I have had dropped into my lap require a willingness to be completely present, and also not view an imbalance in another as "them," not "me." The notion of discrete, disparate objects and entities starts to fall apart as you delve into this more, and a singular fluid Oneness makes more and more sense (it doesn't quite work as a philosophy, or a system of belief, so keep open inquiry until it is direct experience).

This is from a radio interview on the Shiela Gale show, June 9th, 2011:

Q: {Paraphrased from audience question emailed in} She says she is trying to help everyone around her immediate sphere who seems depressed. "I would love to do what you do and help people around me, myself, and others...."

[Actually if that many people "around" her, are depressed, ho'oponopono would be perfect.  Look into her own reactions and projections on depression, then be thankful for having this be shown and out into the light, love, forgive, clear.]

Sheila [radio interviewer and host]: {Paraphrased } I think there are a lot of people needed to become healers on the planet, and maybe people that are looking for new ways to make money.

Gene Ang Ph.D., Pranic Healing practicitioner (plus other modalies, and formally trained at Yale as a neurobiologist):

"The thing that came out a lot with the Reconnective Healing philosophy and what they're trying to do is to point out that healing is not really a special gift.   Like we were just saying, everyone has the healing ability: both self-healing ability and the ability to facilitate even miraculous healings for others.  And because of the acceleration occurring during  this time... on the positive note that means a lot of different abilities really don't take the same kind of, what I we expected before, where a person would have to train for ten or twenty years to facilitate really beautiful healings, it can really occur right away when a person is open to it. So that is a possibility. And that's happening to a lot of people."