Forgiveness can set you free
At this time of Easter, it is a great moment to reflect on the power of forgiveness and its capacity to set us free - transmuting our pain and opening space for more love
Throughout the Easter break, I have been contemplating the nature of inner pain and the wounds that we choose to hold onto.
Out there every day are countless examples of people who are either quietly suffering with their emotional pain, or loudly expressing and projecting that pain into others. Every person has a right to their own approach but there is a problem at the root of this - in both of these cases the pain remains, either held onto or thrown to another.
This is where the incredible power of forgiveness comes in. It is with the power of forgiveness that we can transmute the pain and let it go, setting ourselves and others free from the burden of pain.
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Forgiveness + Boundaries = Balance
As we contemplate the idea of forgiving, we often find ourselves seeing the extreme of this ideal - ‘The Martyr’. We say to ourselves, but if I am forgiving everything doesn’t that mean that I will just be walked all over and forced to carry the pain of others?
It does not have to be this way - forgiveness does not mean having no boundaries. In fact many of the most loving and forgiving people in the world have iron-clad boundaries. Forgiveness (in my view) is about letting go, seeing the love and light in all beings, forgiving their mistakes and our own.
When you can hold your boundaries firmly and lovingly while releasing pain and blame, you set both parties free and bring balance to your life.
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Forgiving others, Forgiving self - Breaking the cycle of pain.
As forgiveness makes its way into the energetic system of yourself and others, pain is released and more loving lifeforce is able to flow into the world. It is through this process that we break the cycle of pain and return to a more harmonious state.
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Ho’Oponopono, A Powerful Tool for Forgiveness
In ancient Hawaiian philosophy there is a beautiful and simple prayer for actively bringing forward forgiveness known as Ho’Oponopono. You can utilise this prayer for yourself or for others:
I’m Sorry
Please Forgive Me
Thank You
I Love You
As a simple example for this - imagine you had an angry moment at the shops, something went wrong and you found yourself in a heated argument (as can happen to all of us):
Ho'Oponopono for them
In a quiet moment later in the day, sit in meditation and bring the person involved into your minds eye and repeat three times (or more until it feels clear):
‘I’m sorry for losing my temper with you, Please forgive me for getting overwhelmed and pushing pain in your direction, Thank you for walking with me fellow human, I love you’.Ho’Oponopono for you
After doing this for the other person involved, turn your attention inward to yourself and repeat three times (or more until it feels clear):
’I’m sorry for losing my temper, Please forgive me for allowing anger to overwhelm my loving nature, Thank you, I love you’.Letting It Go / Taking Action
Now, from the position of deep forgiveness of yourself and others, let it go with the statement ‘I Let It Go, I Let It Go, I Let It Go’ and then allow it to leave your system along with any emotions you may be feeling. Let the feeling flow and then let it go.
In small situations just let it go, but if the situation was significant enough to require additional action in person then you can now step into this from a high frequency of love instead of guilt.
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Overcoming the challenge of forgiving with assistance
Each and every one of us can find ourselves stuck in moving forward and forgiving significant traumatic situations from the past. Often we need an outside perspective to help us to make some sense of why the situation has occurred and how to let go more deeply.
Healing Alchemy is here to help this through our Shamanic Reiki, Bodywork + Reiki & Healing Immersion sessions - each of which includes Shamanic Guidance alongside the emotional and energy body work to assist you in letting go.
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I encourage all of you to look within and ask yourself what pain you might still be carrying around. Take a moment to forgive yourself and someone else this week, allowing yourself to feel the renewed lightness and freedom in your step that comes from letting go! 🙏
Much Love,
Phil