I am responsible. I love you. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you.

I am responsible. I love you. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. – Hoʻoponopono mantra

From Wikipedia:

“Hoʻoponopono (ho-o-pono-pono) is an ancient Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness. Similar forgiveness practices were performed on islands throughout the South Pacific, including Samoa, Tahiti and New Zealand. Traditionally hoʻoponopono is practiced by healing priests or kahuna lapaʻau among family members of a person who is physically ill. Modern versions are performed within the family by a family elder, or by the individual alone.”

As way of introduction from William Bloom’s blog:

Its origins are in the village and clan communities of ancient Polynesian culture.

In these communities no one was considered an isolated individual. Every single person was a member of the interdependent community and bloodline. Every single person in some way or another represented their clan/family/lineage/village.

So If one single person behaved criminally then the whole family, clan and village felt they were responsible for that behaviour. A criminal action belonged to and was the responsibility of the whole community.

If there was a wrongdoing therefore the whole family and village would come out to take responsibility for it, to redress it and to heal it.

In this spirit, the Hoʻoponopono Prayer was communicated by the whole village and it was addressed to the spirits, to the gods, goddesses, the ultimate Spirit and Gaia.

The first line addressed to Spirit: “We are responsible.”

The second line addressed to Spirit is: “We are sorry.”

The third line addressed to Spirit is: “Please forgive us.”

Those three lines are the heart of the prayer as the community took full responsibility for one individual’s aberrant actions. It was in taking responsibility — as an adult who understands the interdependence of all life and the absolute need to take responsibility — that the prayer finds its fundamental power. – (read more here) –

The videos leave out the line “I am responsible” and it seems a very important part of it to me as well which is why I shared the excerpt from William Bloom‘s blog.

I suggest considering that sentiment of responsibility when listening to the guided meditations. I agree that we are responsible for one another. This is also in keeping with the trauma model that understands that we all impact one another and therefore we must be involved in one another’s healing. There is no separation. Open Dialogue supports this view as well….the family and the community are all a part of the process of healing from that which is referred to as psychosis.

and another

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