Forgiveness / January 24, 2025
…forgiveness.
Hi! Hi!
Last week, I had one of those days where everything felt off—edgy, irritable, and out of sync for reasons I couldn’t put my finger on. The harder I tried to shake the feeling, the more frustrated I became with myself. The usual comforts I turn to weren’t helping. I didn’t want to sit down with my emotions, analyze them, or have a heart to heart with them. Honestly, I just wanted to toss them into the deep end of the pool. Playing lifeguard to my emotions wasn’t something I had the energy for.
Instead, I bundled up and went for a walk. The cold air helped clear a bit of the noise in my head, and when I returned home, I felt a little less tangled. Not completely smoothed out, but just enough to feel a shift. I reached for my cards and after a few shuffles the card Forgiveness jumped out.
Forgiveness.
I let the word settle in my mind, turning it over and over. What in my life was calling for forgiveness? The image is from a walk I had taken years ago after a dear friend introduced me to the Ho’oponopono prayer. Intrigued by its simplicity and meaning, I began silently repeating the prayer as I walked.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Ho’oponopono prayer, it is a Hawaiian practice that translates to “to make right” or “to restore balance.” Originally, it was a sacred tradition used to bring healing to emotional, physical imbalances within individuals and communities. A mediator would guide those involved through conversations and forgiveness, with the prayer serving as a ritual to begin and end the process. Over time, it has evolved into a practice that can be used for self-reflection, relationships, or even to bring healing intentions to the world.
The prayer is beautifully simple:
I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.
Each phrase holds its own power. We acknowledge what feels wrong or out of alignment (I’m sorry). We let go of guilt and open the door to healing (Please forgive me). We find gratitude for the lessons in our experiences (Thank you). And we seal it with love (I love you).
At the time I learned this prayer, there wasn’t anything I felt in need of forgiving. But as I walked under that gorgeous sky, repeating the words in my mind, I felt a deep calm - I was inviting in love. That walk softened my feelings around forgiveness—not as something so daunting and heavy, but a friend I could call upon to help me invite love and grace into difficult situations.
I’ve learned forgiveness isn’t always a straight path. It is messy and uncomfortable, and each of us has to find our own way through it. But if we allow it, forgiveness can become a doorway to love—a gentle companion that helps us hold space for ourselves and others with kindness.
Pulling this card last week felt like a gentle nudge to do just that — to create space for love to flow in and to approach my tangled thoughts and emotions with compassionate curiosity.
It had been some time since I turned to the Ho’oponopono prayer – it was a nice visit that helped soften my edges. It reminded me that love and compassion are always within reach, eager and willing to take a seat at the table with us.
Here’s to calling in love together.
Thanks for being here with me.
Susi
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