A Gentle Guide: How to Do the Ho’oponopono Prayer
The beauty of the Ho’oponopono prayer is its simplicity. There are no rigid rules, complex rituals, or special tools required. It is a practice you can carry with you and use anytime, anywhere. Here is a simple, grounded way to begin.
Step 1: Find a Moment of Quiet
You don’t need a special meditation cushion or a silent room, though that can be lovely. You can do this while washing dishes, sitting in your car before an appointment, or lying in bed at night. Simply turn your attention inward. Take one or two deep breaths to center yourself.
Step 2: Identify the Feeling or Memory
Bring to mind the person, the situation, the memory, or the feeling that is causing you distress. It could be a recent argument with a family member, a regret from decades ago, a persistent worry about the future, or even a physical pain in your body. Don’t get lost in the story or the details of who was right or wrong. Simply acknowledge the feeling of discomfort as it exists inside you right now.
Step 3: Take Gentle Responsibility
Quietly say to yourself, “I take responsibility for the feelings and memories within me that this situation is triggering.” This is the gentle step of owning your inner experience without blaming yourself for the external event. It is a powerful shift from feeling like a victim of circumstances to being an active participant in your own healing.
Step 4: Repeat the Four Phrases
With sincerity and gentleness, begin to repeat the four phrases. You can say them in any order that feels right to you, but the traditional sequence is effective.
“I’m sorry.” (For the pain within me.)
“Please forgive me.” (For holding onto this pain.)
“Thank you.” (For the opportunity to release this.)
“I love you.” (To myself, to the memory, to the healing process.)
Repeat them over and over, like a gentle inner song. You don’t need to feel a huge emotional surge. The power is in the simple, humble act of saying the words. Continue for a few minutes, or as long as it feels calming and helpful.
A Simple 7-Day Practice Plan
If you’re unsure where to start, consider this gentle one-week introduction. The goal is not to solve all your problems, but to build a habit of inner kindness. In prose form, your week might look like this: On Monday, simply find five quiet minutes to repeat the phrases to yourself, without focusing on any specific issue, just to feel their rhythm. On Tuesday and Wednesday, bring to mind a small, personal annoyance, like your frustration with traffic or a critical thought about yourself, and apply the prayer to that feeling. On Thursday and Friday, you might focus on a minor disagreement or misunderstanding with a friend or loved one, “cleaning” the feelings of hurt or irritation within you. Over the weekend, if you feel ready, you can gently hold a deeper, older wound in your awareness and repeat the phrases, offering love and forgiveness to that part of your history without any pressure for an immediate result.
Journaling for Deeper Reflection
Writing can be a powerful companion to this practice. After a session of Ho’oponopono, you might use one of these prompts to deepen your understanding:
- “Today, I applied the four phrases to the feeling of [name the feeling]. I noticed that my body felt [describe any physical sensations] and my thoughts became [describe any shift in thinking].”
- “The phrase that feels most difficult for me to say today is [choose one], because…”
- “The phrase that brings me the most comfort is [choose one], because…”
Remember, this is your personal practice. The key is consistency and gentle intention. It is a commitment to continuously cleaning the inner slate, one loving phrase at a time.
