Ho’oponopono and the Psyche: A Journey from Ancient Hawaiian Wisdom to Modern Self-Knowledge

In the mystical lands of ancient Hawaii, the Polynesian people held a deep understanding of who they were. This self-knowledge was their guiding force, and everyone in their community shared this perspective, living harmoniously with one another.

But in the West, our way of thinking took a different path, all thanks to a French philosopher named René Descartes. Descartes famously said, “Cogito Ergo Sum,” which means “I think, therefore I am.” His philosophy became the foundation of modern science, separating the world of humans from the divine.

This shift from simply being (the “I am the I”) to becoming the thinker (the “I am the thinker”) led to many of the problems we face today. But fear not, because the ancient Hawaiian practice of Ho’oponopono has a unique way of understanding the human psyche that can help us reconnect with our true selves.

In ancient Hawaii, a symbol for a person was described by Morrnah Nalamaku Simeona, the founder of the Westernized form of Ho’oponopono. This symbol consisted of:

A rectangle representing DivinityA triangle within the rectangle, representing the individual (also made of Divinity)

The triangle’s upper pinnacle symbolizing the connection to, or inspiration from, Divinity itself

When someone is inspired by or connected to Divinity, we think of it as Divine Creativity.

Ho’oponopono offers a different perspective on the psyche. Instead of believing in a separate world “out there” and mental thoughts within our body-mind, Ho’oponopono teaches that there’s no true separation, only our perception of one.

Our true nature is Divinity, and our life experiences are the result of taking previously appropriate inspirations and bypassing new, more suitable ones. This cycle creates Karmic Data, which Ho’oponopono seeks to remove from our unconscious memory banks. By doing so, it unblocks our connection to Divinity, enabling us to act through inspiration once more.

In the ancient Hawaiian belief system:

Divinity is like the Sun, always shining regardless of the weather, politics, or lifestyle choices
Karmic Data is stored in our Subconscious Minds, recording our physical appearances, health dispositions, automatic functions, and life experiences as memories

The ancient Hawaiians saw each person as a bowl, collecting rocks throughout our journey. The goal of Pono, or living righteously, was to empty the bowl of these rocks and fill it with white light – the purity of Divinity.

This metaphor is similar to the idea of the subconscious being like a computer’s data bank.

The rocks represent memories, and the white light symbolizes the purity of Divinity.

Living out of stories and explanations is the realm of science and the Law of Attraction. But living out of inspiration is the way of Ho’oponopono.

So, take a step towards reconnecting with your true self and the wisdom of the ancient Hawaiians. Embrace the power of Ho’oponopono and let inspiration guide you on your journey through life.