Psycho-spiritual Hygiene: Forgiveness

It is impossible to be truly present or at peace if you are harboring anger or resentment about past injustices. Forgiveness is a most powerfully elevating practice that cleanses and unburdens. Most famously, Jesus' primary teachings were about the healing capacity of forgiveness.

There is so much to be said about forgiveness, but here I'll share a forgiveness practice loosely based on Ho'oponoPono, an ancient Hawai'ian practice for familial and community harmony. A simple yet powerful exercise for conflict resolution, with it's roots in Hawai'ian shamanism.

Whenever conflict or discord arisises, those involved practice in four steps:

I am responsible, I apologize...
First, each person takes responsibility for creating the situation. One might say, "As creator of my reality I take FULL responsibility for creating this situation, for my actions, for yours and all that has transpired here. I apologize to myself for creating this situation, which has caused suffering. I apologize to each of you. I apologize to the universe, as well, through which all are connected and through which all is impacted by this discord." Each person involved follows with the same acceptance of total responsibility and apologizes.

I forgive...
Next, the apology is accepted and each person is forgiven for their having created the situation. "I forgive myself for creating this situation, which has created suffering. I accept your apology and lovingly forgive you, I forgive the universe for allowing such suffering to be created, and of which we are an extension."

I Love You...
In the recognition that we are all one we say, "I love you." Said because it connects hearts. Said because love is truth, love is spirit. (Love is God.)

I Thank You...
Said because there is nothing left to say. "I thank you for your forgiveness, it unburdens me. I thank you for your apology, for your willingness to re-establish harmony, and for the lessons we're learning through resolving this conflict. I thank the universe and I thank myself."

Traditionally, it is assumed that each person involved in the conflict participates. However, I find these same principals, applied privately, are powerful in helping me to forgive myself and others when its not possible or appropriate to ask the others to participate.

May we be blessed with great capacity for forgiveness, may we dwell in the peace that follows.

Blessings,
Tammy

www.BroadcastSol.com

Psycho-spiritual Hygiene: Grounding

So, we're on day 19 of our 40 day meditation for peace. The intention behind the 40 day meditation for peace is to make a positive contribution to the collective consciousness, understanding that we are all are connected and all is impacted by our inner harmony (or discord).

I'll have to admit that attempting this meditation at this particular time, tapping into a frequency of peace, is proving to be quite challenging for me. It's giving me the opportunity to become aware of how easily I can be impacted by the collective consciousness and its current fearful state. Since we started the meditation, election politics has been ramping up, the U.S. financial system has taken a dramatic turn for the worse, the global economy seems to be in a downward spiral, the news is seemingly constant, unavoidable, and overwhelming. I've found myself easily distracted from taking the daily self-care actions necessary to help stay in a mentally and emotionally healthy/stable place. However, I recognize that in times like this my commitment to such discipline is of utmost importance. In fact, it's nearly impossible to do a meditation for Peace without attending to my psycho-spiritual hygiene, so to speak. So, my next few posts will be around techniques to help stay centered and stable amongst external instability.

One that has been particularly helpful for me this week is grounding. Last year, while laying on a huge stone in the Andes mountains, I was struck with the realization that the Earth is incredibly generous, the most powerful of Curranderas (healers). She is willing to receive and has the ability to transmute negativity.

This exercise can be done in just a few minutes. Stand, sit or lay on the Earth. Acknowledge her, thank her for her beauty, power, abundance and blessings, then ask her to soak up any negativity and fear that you may have taken on from others and from the news. Continue by asking her to receive and transmute any of your own fears. Allow it all to drain from you. Next, send your energy into her, rooting deeply into her like a tree. Ask her to ground you and keep you safe. Allow yourself to feel safe, connected, grounded, and unburdened. Allow these feeling to take root and grow strong. When you feel finished and stable, thank the Earth for her generosity. May we be blessed with great capacity for such generosity.

Peace and blessings,
Tammy


www.BroadcastSol.com