Following up on my previous newsletter about letting go and focusing on what’s most important, I thought it fitting to address the concept of forgiveness, particularly because we tend to feel like it is OK and even justified not to forgive in certain incredibly hurtful circumstances.  Forgiveness has a definition that can be vastly extended. We tend to think of it one-dimensionally, but to forgive, accept, and love unconditionally ultimately leads to healing across time and space… and it can heal not only ourselves, but the entire world.

Feel this energetically.  Just humor me for a moment:

– Think “hatred.”  Think “accusations.” Think “anger.”  Where do you feel these things in your body?  They are heavy, sticky – to me they are like bad breath when we first wake in the morning.

Now let’s brush our teeth.

– Think “love.”  Think “acceptance.”  Think “forgiveness.”  How does that feel?  To me, now we’re not only brushing our teeth but flossing them – and then we won’t need dentures eventually.  You get the analogy.

In layman’s terms, when we forgive our enemy for whatever wrong they have done, we also forgive ourselves. We clean our hearts, we clear our minds, and we are set free.  Further, when we forgive, it “ripple affects” more people, situations, and thus outcomes than we could possibly fathom. Conversely, when we finger point, it suppresses our natural inner light. And, really, at the root of any accusation is fear.  And fear is nothing but our ego telling us we are justified in accusing another for their “wrong” behavior, but who are we to judge right from wrong when it comes to the Laws of the Universe?  Doesn’t every experience offer us some sort of valuable lesson for ourselves?  Everyone, every experience, is our teacher.

One very strong note for those of us who tend to over-forgive (like me), you can still forgive someone or a situation, but if it has caused you a great deal of hurt, you do not need to let that person or situation back into your life.  Really listen to what gives you energy and what does not. Let go of the lower vibrations, the energies that exhaust you and bring you down.

Some suggestions for letting go of resentment:

1. Next Thursday the 19th is a new moon, a new beginning. On a piece of paper, write down what you want to bring into your life, to manifest. Then write down some situations or resentments that you want to release. Hold the paper in your hands, pray on it and burn it with the intent to clear, knowing that your healing – no matter how great or small – positively affects the world.
2. Write down several people that you are struggling to forgive. Try to envision their faces, their energy. Then see them in a place of light, like the radiant sunlight coming through the clouds. See who the really are in God’s eyes.
3. Think of a person or a situation resting on a white cloud of light and love. Imagine this cloud floating off into the sky. Imagine that the person or situation will be resolved and that this person is being sent to a place of peace.
4. Practice Ho’oponopono.  When a person or situation bothers you, remove yourself from it, focus on where it affects you in your body (the chakras – for me, it’s typically the heart or solar plexus/gut), and repeat these words until you feel a sense of calm:

I am sorry.

Please forgive me.

I love you.

Thank you.

Forgiveness and love go hand in hand. When we practice forgiveness, our minds, hearts and souls will truly be at peace. When we forgive those around us, so do we forgive ourselves… and we can keep our teeth.

Much love,
Jess