Fire in my heart; Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō

View of Mauna Kea

My arrival to the big island of Hawaii coincided with the new moon. This was one of many synchronicities which encouraged me to feel that I was on the right path, and where I needed to be. My favorite intuitive astrologer provided a guided meditation for February, which I finally found myself ready for that first night. It happened to be a Hawaiian prayer known as the Ho’oponopono meditation. This consists of repeating the words;

I am sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.

At the time I wasn’t sure what I was apologizing for, nor why I asked forgiveness, and who was I thanking? The very next day I had Nahko and Medicine for the People shuffling on YouTube music on my way up to the Pu’u ‘O’o Trail. I was reminded to look beyond the illusion of separation to the truth that we are all one, and I am as much a part of the Great Spirit as it is a part of me, as well as everyone I encounter.

If I want to know God, I must know myself
I want to see God, I must see myself
I want to love God, I must love myself

During my trek over lava rocks and through patches of jungle I found myself inspired to say the prayer out loud. I kept repeating it until somehow I began singing it, trying out different vocal inflections. Over time I began inserting additional details. “I am sorry for worrying too much, please forgive me for being distracted, thank you for bringing me back to present. I love you.” When my ankle started to ache from behaving like a mountain goat all day I paused to massage it and chanted the original prayer as if I was apologizing for the strain, and thanking my ankle for all the work it was putting in.

Inspiration dawned as I pushed onward through the longest hike I had undertaken in decades in the heat of the Hawaiian Sun. My phone has a voice recorder and to ensure the words were not lost I pulled it out and created my own prayer of appreciation, it was an empowering way to feel thankful for the experience I was having. I transcribed the words below to share with you.

I love my legs for they support me

I love my feet for they move me

I love my eyes for they lead me

I love my heart for drumming the rhythm of my life force

I love my lungs and veins, the chemists of this bodily manifestation

I love my ears for the awareness they bring of fellow life forces around me

I love my nose for guiding me in what fuel to put in my body

I love the trees for the oxygen they provide for all of us

I love the breeze for how it feels against my skin and carries on it the seeds of new life

I love the earth for rising to meet my feet and the friction that connection creates which carries me toward a new journey each day

When I awake I praise the honor to be here and bear witness

I’m sorry, please forgive me, thank you, I love you.