It's challenging to not take on the grief of the world and let it bog us down. Overwhelmed by the enormity of problems in our life and the world over, we can feel helpless and hopeless. I know this personally. Yet I also know that recently I've been experimenting with daily prayer work that I find helpful and inspirational.
Admittedly, for a few weeks last month, I was struggling everyday with a cloud of sadness that seemed to hang out with me like the fog-banks hang out long into an afternoon in the inland seas around here. All my "tricks" weren't working too well: tinctures, homeopathic remedies, clearing ceremonies, self-pep talks, watching what I eat...even my beloved Zumba classes were a mere temporary reprieve. I'd descend back into the mist shortly thereafter.
It's not as if I hid in bed either---sad or not, I found enough energy to carry on and work a little. Yet the clouds persisted, and it felt like a fight to stay in the game of life everyday.
After weeks of this sad journey, I woke up one morning from a deep sleep with this thought in my mind: "Practice Ho'oponopono." And just like that, the mist vanished. I felt alive and loved and I smiled again. I still read the newspaper and listened to the news; I still felt the grief of the world, I still saw stuff I didn't like seeing all around me, and I still heard from clients and friends who were hurting badly. I still allowed myself to feel it all.
But I didn't feel bogged down from the weight of these feelings and experiences. Instead, I prayed and practiced ho-oponopono, based on the ancient Hawaiian Huna practice of reconciliation and forgiveness. In my personal practice I asked my self the following question for everything I saw or felt or experienced that was discordant, sad, or awful:
"What is it in me that is causing this event to take place, this person to behave this way, this sickness to manifest...?"
I then got answers. And I worked on myself, and this is how I worked: I prayed, "Ho'oponopono: Dear Creator, I am sorry. Please forgive me. I love you, and I thank you." I felt at peace. I smiled compassionately at me and this crazy little world.
Now, this is not just a magic wand I wave when I feel gloomy. Yet it is a powerful tool. And I will never underestimate the power of forgiveness and reconciliation...especially forgiveness of and reconciliation with myself.
There is only so much I or you can do about the ills of the world. You can sign petitions, or I can act kindly towards a neighbor, or you can cry out against injustice, or I can do all sorts of things and take all sorts of action, and still feel its not enough. It never is.
Yet, with the power of a simple prayer and practice, I feel that my working on myself will affect the world in great measure. I believe in ripple effects. I believe in prayer. I believe that this world is worth healing by healing myself.
Blessings, my friends.
Elke
PS: Here's the practice again: "What is it in me that is causing this event to take place, this person to behave this way, this sickness to manifest...?"
Ho-oponopono prayer: Dear Creator, I am sorry. Please forgive me. I love you, and I thank you."