As shared in Tales From the Night Rainbow (Koko Willis & Pali Jae Lee 1987) and in Ho’opono (Pali Jae Lee 2006), one of the earliest concepts taught to them was “Each child born has at birth, a Bowl of perfect Light. If he tends his Light it will grow in strength and he can do all things – swim with the shark, fly with the birds, know and understand all things. If, however he becomes envious or jealous he drops a stone into his Bowl of Light and some of the Light goes out. Light and the stone cannot hold the same space. If he continues to put stones in the Bowl of Light, the Light will go out and he will become a stone. A stone does not grow, nor does it move. If at any time he tires of being a stone, all he needs to do is turn the bowl upside down and the stones will fall away and the Light will grow once more”

 

This story reflects the human journey and choices. We can choose to carry old hurts and be in pilikia (trauma and drama) or we can choose pono, To journey in excellence. Pono and Pilikia cannot reside in the same bowl at the same time.

 

The Hawaiian Dictionary, authored by Mary Kawena Pukui and Samuel Elbert, defines ho’oponopono as “to put to rights; to put in order or shape, correct, revise, adjust, amend, regulate, arrange, rectify, tidy up, make orderly or neat, administer, superintend, supervise, manage, edit, work carefully and neatly; to make ready, as canoemen preparing to catch a wave.”

 

Two other important words and aspects of ho’oponopono are :

Kala – loosen, untie, set free, release, remove, unburden, absolve, let go, take off, undo,

Oki – cut, sever ,separate, annul, cancel

“Health is a state of peace & harmony – illness is caused by stress & disharmony.”

 

 

Bowl of light Tracey

As we journey through life, events, memories, and thoughts, can take on negative emotions, limiting decisions and behaviours that slow our progress and can cause ‘stuckness’ and dis-ease. We simply need to correct the path. Morrnah Simeona – highly respected Hawaiian kupuna , kumu and ho’oponopono practitioner has been quoted : ‘Look to yourself if you’re looking to find the cause of your problems.’

 

A Ho’oponopono session is designed to assist a client to recognize, acknowledge and be self –accountable for the choices , pilikia (trauma, drama, limiting/negative beliefs, thoughts and behaviours, challenges etc ) in their lives. To kala, oki release and remove those ‘stones’ and correct the path to make new positive choices, thinking, focus and awareness.

 

Ho’opono Pono Ke Ala – Making right, more right the Path, is the Hawaiian traditional method for “reconnecting” Self to Self-Greatness.