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Ho’oponopono Prayer for Forgiveness, Healing and Making Things Right

Ho’oponopono Prayer for Forgiveness, Healing and Making Things Right

The Ho’oponopono prayer could be exactly what you're looking for in your relationships -- with others, with the earth, with yourself.

First things first, I just had to make a print of this prayer, I love it so much. Click here to see the Ho’oponopono prayer print I made! It's a unique gift, even if it's staying in your own home. :)

What Is Ho’oponopono?

Ho’oponopono is an ancient Hawaiian practice for forgiveness and reconciliation. It’s more than the prayer alone; it's a process of making things right in your relationships -- with others, ancestors, deities, the earth, yourself.

The family ritual focuses on working through problems together, openly expressing feelings, and releasing each other. It’s the act and intention of holding a space for reflection, repentance, forgiveness, and gratitude.

Special words are exchanged, emotions are revealed, and forgiveness flows both ways. A ceremonial feast might follow, symbolizing the release.

The philosophy behind this practice is that we’re each responsible for what shows up in our reality. We own our feelings and our experiences. So even if someone else has wronged us, we're the ones saying "I am sorry. Forgive me..."

The foundation of this practice is unity: an unbreakable bond connects you to everyone else, even though we seem so separate.

When errors are corrected externally, errors are corrected internally. When you “cleanse” your consciousness, you contribute to the cleansing of the “collective consciousness.” When you forgive others, you, too, are forgiven because...

As within, so without.

Loving each other and loving yourself is kind of the same thing.

When you focus on healing the past, you help heal your life right here, right now. When you right any wrongs in your thinking, you adjust and amend problems in the physical realm.

As above, so below.

The practice of Ho’oponopono helps you understand and heal the experiences in your life that you’ve “attracted” or participated in, or have been affected by.

“In common with other shamanic traditions, the Hawaiian tradition teaches that all life is connected. Ho’oponopono is, therefore, not only a way of healing ourselves, but others and our world as well.” – Timothy Freke, Shamanic Wisdomkeepers

While the Ho’oponopono Prayer is by no means a complete training in the Hawaiian practice, it can be profoundly healing for all you’ve gone through and are still trying to move through.

I recommend it!

It’s helped me identify underlying currents of resentment and self-loathing in my life (from childhood, school, and surrounding my brother’s suicide) so I can “give them up.” So I can be free, and move forward.

You're allowed to move forward. Small rituals like this one can help.

The Ho’oponopono prayer is part of an ancient Hawaiian practice, and it could play a central role in your relationships and your own physical and emotional healing. Its four tenets: repentance, forgiveness, gratitude, and love. If you're ready to feel better, heal better, and move forward your own way, try this ritual.

The Ho’oponopono Prayer

There are four forces at work in this prayer: repentance, forgiveness, gratitude, and love. These are reflected in the four phrases that make up the prayer.

The phrases, which you can repeat in any order, silently to yourself or out loud, are:

  1. I am sorry.
  2. (Please) Forgive me.
  3. Thank you.
  4. I love you.

It’s natural to resist this practice at first, especially if you've got a lot of healing to do. I was! After a few times, it gets easier.

You might feel better right away, or feel your evolution like a slow melt into love.

This prayer has a lot of power in it.

It’s why I made a Ho'oponopono prayer print!

How You Pray Is Your Decision Entirely

You can chant these four phrases to address a specific problem in your life (regardless of whose fault it is), your past, your ancestral lineage, or your relationship with the earth.

You could also practice for no reason at all.

You can meditate quietly in a state of peace and gentleness. You can repeat this out loud in front of the mirror.

You can even play with the order of the phrases and see if you notice any subtle differences in how you feel.

(This is why in my book, Sleep Rituals, on page 241 in the Mirror Gazing ritual, I included a different version of the Ho’oponopono prayer. To see it, and 99 other rituals for better sleep, get a copy of the book.)

It’s neat to see what questions arise as you keep up with the practice, like:

  • “What am I sorry for?”
  • “Where do I still need forgiveness?
  • "Where am I still seeking forgiveness?
  • “What am I thankful for?”
  • “Do I really feel loved?” “Why am I worthy of love?” “Where do I want to feel more love?”

And sometimes, the questions can be just as enlightening as the answers.

Don’t be afraid to let the words, and the questions that come up, ferment with time. You don’t need answers right away. Let them come without forcing them.

Give the healing, reconciliation and release time to sink into your cells and seep through your life.

Then again, you might feel better right away... a lightening, a wave of peace, a shower of clarity, a freedom like no other.

. . .

Tell me:

Have you tried the Ho’oponopono prayer ritual? If not, do you think you’d like to make it part of your life now?

If you have or do, tell me in the comments. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

~ Jen

P.S. To strengthen your practice, get the special handwritten Ho’oponopono prayer print I made. Place it where you’ll see it, where you most need it. Bring on the healing.

The Ho’oponopono prayer is part of an ancient Hawaiian practice, and it could play a central role in your relationships and your own physical and emotional healing. Its four tenets: repentance, forgiveness, gratitude, and love. If you're ready to feel better, heal better, and move forward your own way, try this ritual.

Comments on this post (57)

  • Mar 18, 2024

    Dear Sir/Maam THis is Jaideep From India…I have a close Friend Nilesh Kamble who is heavily into smoking an drinking and falls ill regularly and learns no lession and also takes things causally…I am very very concerned and worried about his health and well being so I request you all to pray hard for him…Amen
    THanking you Jaideep TAmbe

    — Jaideep Tambe

  • Jul 05, 2024

    Thank you for this 🙏 – I stumbled on it while wanting to refresh my memory of this prayer. Then realized I have your sleep book! I have been trying to recover from very- well— difficult depression etc for years. This whole piece and the shares and your kind replies – I feel like it is a sign to me . a) to definitely use this prayer ! And b) to NOT give up. Thank you for your sacred sharing 💕 May we all heal and remember our basic goodness and UNITY together . I am so so grateful . Ty

    — Sarah Knox

  • Jul 05, 2024

    I am so grateful to have found this. For the past 4 years I’ve watched my teenage daughter’s brain be overcome with depression, followed by scary times of self harm and suicidal attempts, months in the psyche ward and having to accept the many scary drugs that she is prescribed as well as her vaping and smoking weed. She went through electro shock therapy which made her forget almost everything for a while…..my partner and I have been in survival mode for so long. Our youngest teen has had social anxiety and won’t leave the house without us, won’t go to school and stays home without any friends, warding off panic attacks if we try to push her to do more. And then last May I broke my ankle in 3 places, just hiking….the post surgery recovery was painful and I couldn’t walk, and had to be cared for while I was on crutches for 8 weeks. I had thoughts that I was cursed. I had thoughts of anger towards loved ones who were going on holidays and hikes. I was very angry with my ancestors, with the Earth, with Great Spirit. But slowly I am seeing that I am just human like everyone else that you see wandering down the street. There are so many of us who hobble, whose brains can’t handle that is happening. Who look down and out. I have thought I was different from “them” for so long. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.

    — Julia

  • Jul 05, 2024

    Hi, you have pretty script writing. Thanks for the writing about the Ho’oponopono prayer, which gave me a mellow and blissful feeling that there’s light from saying those words, altogether, anywhere and anytime. In isolation, the effect of sending complete love may not feel as complete. And, it also feels like it will take a lifetime to perfect! For now, I can just keep practicing.

    — Mari "Vivi" Vega

  • Jul 05, 2024

    Thankyou Sinead O Conner for making me aware of this prayer.
    When I most need it. Xxx

    — Donna

  • Feb 22, 2024

    Mahalo Nui

    — WJ

  • Jun 07, 2023

    All over again I fell in love with a married man and his lies :) I call out loud to the universe and accept my weakness for love. I however say that falling in love is not wrong but hurting someone in love is wrong. So this time my reaction changed. I didn’t yell. I had very little anger, very little hate and very little thought of revenge. I didn’t call his wife and break his family and hurt his children like I had done last time leading to his divorce. I didn’t hurt myself by grieving and accepted the situation and accepted that we/he as human can stray, can fall in love, can get carried away, can lie, can cheat others to meet our needs, can have huge egos of male superiority to ill treat women and take advantage of them. I accepted it all started as my weakness to fall in love and attract another married man again. I manifested this situation. I love him for showing me my strength. There is strength in love. I did say things to bash him about how he had wronged me but without losing my composure. I didn’t beg for love. I didn’t push him to apologise. There was very little drama. I am free from the pain, love heals and love transforms. I am very thankful to him for coming into my life and for healing me and transforming me for making me realise I am responsible for everything that happens to me in my life. I will always be indebted to him. I wish him well. I apologise for the hurtful things I have said to myself, to the universe to the divine and to myself. I send him love, healing and blessings. I love him. I love myself and I love and thank the universe for holding me and carrying me through tough times. I am attracting a very loving caring honest committed respectful married life with the man I love and who loves me now. I am very happy, grateful, blesses and at peace. Thank You dear universe dear divinity. I spread love joy peace happiness and positivity where ever I go. Thank You Hooponopono. Thank You Nam Myoho Renge Kyo Nam Myoho Renge Kyo Nam Myoho Renge Kyo Nam Myoho Renge Kyo Nam Myoho Renge Kyo Nam Myoho Renge Kyo Nam Myoho Renge Kyo Nam Myoho Renge Kyo Nam Myoho Renge Kyo Nam Myoho Renge Kyo Nam Myoho Renge Kyo Nam Myoho Renge Kyo Nam Myoho Renge Kyo Nam Myoho Renge Kyo Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. I love You. I thank You. I am sorry. Please forgive me. I am transforming and growing in to a beautiful person every day in everyway.

    — Wounded

  • Feb 02, 2023

    What if a person who has wronged you greatly, pops this little gem of a prayer out there so you get the message. It’s no apology to the wrong they committed, I don’t forgive as they didn’t ask directly, they can’t love cause they only hurt and I thank every part of my own being that they can no longer abuse me, surely if they chant this then they should have accountability??? I can see me chanting this to let go of the hurt, but when they say they doing this prayer it is hurtful

    — Kez

  • Feb 02, 2023

    The hardest thing for me to wrap my brain around is the asking forgiveness FROM someone who has done me great harm. The words feel hollow when I chant them about this person. Any further dialogue that can help me reconcile this would help :)

    — Shazz

  • Jan 07, 2023

    Thank you for the explanation abd information. I came across this prayer via a podcast earlier in the year and I tried it and lovedit. It did find it hard the first few times, but soon I felt relief and tension leave my body. I love it and use it a lot, it has really helped me. Stick with it even if at first it’s difficult. I have the word on a key ring now too.

    — Vicky

  • Dec 09, 2022

    I am sorry, forgive you, love you, and thank you. Love for all beings.

    — Miriam Penalba

  • Dec 09, 2022

    I am brand new to Ho’oponopono. How many times this prayer needs to be chanted nay, repeated – what is the threshold? Thanks.

    — K C Tharakan

  • Dec 09, 2022

    For the first time I came to know about it today. I am not clear about the number of times one has to repeat these phrases. Also I would like to know if multiple matters can be healed at the same time. An e-mail reply will be highly appreciated. Thanks.

    — Tharakan Kc

  • Oct 10, 2022

    i am sorry , please forgive, thank you, and i love you

    — Favian Dias Do Rosario

  • Sep 05, 2022

    Hoponopono in Spanish:-

    Lo siento mucho
    Perdóname!
    Te amo
    Gracias!

    — Maria Socorro Jimenez

  • Sep 05, 2022

    Thank you ! This prayer is powerful! I use in conjunction with Reiki and the tapping treatments! I guess you can add it to anything in your life! ❤️

    — Maria Socorro Jimenez

  • Aug 10, 2022

    This is amazing! Recently on a spiritual journey and this hit me like a lightening bolt and strengthens my inner journey!! ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!! Thank you for sharing

    — Jared

  • Aug 10, 2022

    As you know, ho’oponopono translates as ‘to correct an error’.

    The error is that we imagine ourselves to be someone, or somebody. A role, or role-set.

    Morrnah Nalamaku Simeona, however, said that from the beginning of time ancient (Polynesian) Hawaiians were brought up in the knowledge of who they are from an early age.

    Ho’oponopono has a (somewhat) unique model of the psyche. Whist it acknowledges that we have conscious awareness, experienced as duality and thought of as different vibrations or wavelengths, ultimately it sees all beings as one system comprised of what in ho’oponopono is called Divinity.

    Once such as state is realised, most rituals become redundant. Pleasure and pain are present and experienced, yet they are NOT the person. Nor yet are automobiles, aircraft, yachts or money desired for their own sake (but simply as a means to experience fulfilment as we seem to travel from place to place).

    As Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len was fond of reminding us: ‘There is NO out there’.

    Best wishes,

    Stephen

    — Stephen

  • Mar 14, 2022

    Hi this has really helped me I found out about this from a friend who’s mother had told him about it and gran it’s helped me heal and release a lot of hurt thank you can u email me please thanks love and light

    — Jen robinson

  • Feb 25, 2022

    Thank You Thank You Thank You for posting prayer and sharing this page with all of us.

    — Lazaro Balseiro

  • Jan 23, 2022

    it is so great this prayer

    — mariya malappura.m

  • Jan 23, 2022

    It is the most soul cleansing ritual to do. I highly recommend it to everyone. 💖 Thank you.

    — Colleen

  • Jan 16, 2022

    So beautiful
    Thank you

    — Don

  • Jan 02, 2022

    I love this prayer. It has helped me with learning to love myself. I was diagnosed by my family Dr. with depression, and type 2 diabetes. It
    remimded me of the time that I tried to commit suicide a year ago just before covid started and stressed out from my jobat work.I am 51 years old. I am thankful for my husband , and my family and friends that have supported me though my hard time.I am thankful for life and a second chance. I have three beautiful children. Two are married . One is engaged to be married someday.I am looking forward to her wedding day. I’m thankful for my 5 beautiful grandchildren that I get to visit on PEI . ❤
    I am sorry forgive me
    Thank you
    I love you

    — Rose Matheson

  • Jan 02, 2022

    I am sorry I Love you Thank you Please Forgive me

    — NAND Kishor VARMA

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