Introduction
What if the most powerful tool for healing isn't found in a medicine bottle or surgical procedure, but within your own mind? What if recovery from spinal injury depended not only on physical therapy but on emotional and spiritual cleansing?
This exploration delves into the remarkable story of one woman's journey recovering from a spinal injury, supported by an ancient Hawaiian practice of forgiveness and reconciliation called Ho'oponopono. Her experience, while unique, offers valuable insights for anyone facing physical or emotional challenges.
While modern medicine provides essential physical rehabilitation for a spinal injury, many are discovering that addressing the mental and emotional aspects can significantly influence the recovery from spinal injury. Through this practice, individuals can potentially tap into a profound sense of peace and personal responsibility that may create an optimal environment for the body's natural healing power to flourish.
Understanding Ho'oponopono: More Than Just a Mantra
Ho'oponopono (pronounced ho-o-pono-pono) is an ancient Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness. Traditionally, it was a communal process where family members would gather to resolve conflicts through prayer, discussion, confession, and mutual restitution and forgiveness, often guided by an elder or healer. The term translates roughly to "make right" or "correct".
The modern adaptation, developed by Morrnah Nalamaku Simeona, a recognized healing kahuna (priestess), transformed this group practice into a personal method of problem-solving. Her version focuses on cleaning our internal "memory bank" and releasing negative karma that manifests as problems in our lives. Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len, a student of Simeona, further popularized this method, most notably through the story of his work at the Hawaii State Hospital.
The core philosophy rests on a radical principle: we are 100% responsible for our reality. This doesn't mean blaming yourself for your injury or illness. Rather, it means accepting that the healing power to heal—to respond to your circumstances—lies within you. It suggests that by cleaning our internal world of negative memories, errors, and toxic energies, we can effect change in our external world, including our physical health.
The Four Simple Phrases
The most well-known modern application involves repetitively using four powerful phrases:
"I'm sorry": Acknowledging responsibility for the problem now in your reality. You're sorry that unconscious memories within you are manifesting as this physical issue.
"Please forgive me": Asking forgiveness from God, the Divine, or your own Higher Self for these unseen errors.
"Thank you": Expressing gratitude for the healing that is already taking place.
"I love you": Using love to reconnect with the Divine and transmute negative energies into pure light, a profound act of self love.
These phrases aren't a magic spell but a tool for mental cleansing. They help shift your mindset from one of victimhood ("Why did this happen to me?") to one of empowerment ("I am responsible for my healing").
A Personal Journey: Recovering from Spinal Injury with Ho'oponopono
Let me share a story of one woman's journey—we'll call her Sarah—who found Ho'oponopono after a car accident left her with a serious spinal injury. Facing the possibility of permanent mobility limitations, she embarked on a rigorous conventional treatment plan including physical therapy, strength training, and mobility work. Yet, she felt something was missing.
Despite physical progress, Sarah struggled with anger, resentment toward the driver who hit her, and fear about her future. The emotional weight felt as heavy as her physical limitations. It was at this point a friend introduced her to Ho'oponopono.
At first, Sarah was skeptical. How could saying "I'm sorry" for an accident she didn't cause help heal her spine? But desperate for inner peace and a deeper sense of self love, she began practicing quietly during her long therapy sessions.
While doing her spinal strengthening exercises, she would silently repeat the phrases. When pain interrupted her sleep, she would whisper, "I'm sorry, please forgive me, thank you, I love you," directing the words not at anyone specific, but at the situation and the pain itself. She wasn't apologizing for the accident, but taking responsibility for her inner state and her healing journey.
She started with the physical pain, addressing it directly: "I'm sorry that the memory of trauma is expressing itself as pain in my body. Please forgive me. Thank you for this opportunity to release and heal. I love you."
Over time, something subtle began to shift. The pain didn't necessarily vanish, but her relationship to it changed. The frustration and fear around her condition began to lessen, replaced by a growing sense of self love. She noticed she was more at peace during therapy sessions, which in turn helped her engage more fully with the exercises. Her therapists remarked on her improved progress, noting that her mental state seemed to be positively influencing her physical recovery from spinal injury.
Sarah's story is unique to her, but it echoes a pattern seen in other Ho'oponopono experiences where consistent "cleaning" on internal issues coincides with external improvements.
Learning from Other Ho'oponopono Healing Stories
Sarah's experience is not isolated. While scientific research is limited, numerous anecdotal accounts suggest that this practice of taking responsibility and cleaning internal memories can have tangible effects on physical well-being and demonstrate true healing power.
Consider these documented examples:
A remarkable recovery from spinal injury and illness: Sladjana from Serbia shared that she was diagnosed with cancer in her leg and epilepsy. Doctors recommended amputation, but she decided against it. She began intensively practicing Ho'oponopono, isolating herself to focus on cleaning. Within six months, she reported being fully cured without official therapy, with her epilepsy also disappearing.
Healing chronic conditions: A woman suffering from years of severe skin rashes on her arm experienced a "remarkable transformation" after a month of diligent Ho'oponopono practice. Her rashes vanished completely, and she found a deep sense of inner peace and self love.
Unexpected pain relief: A 62-year-old homemaker in Dubai who had knee pain for years practiced Ho'oponopono diligently. Within a week, she reported her knee pain "vanished completely," giving her renewed energy and the ability to dance again.
The famous hospital story: Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len famously used Ho'oponopono while working at the Hawaii State Hospital's ward for the criminally insane. Instead of treating patients directly, he would review their files and repeat the Ho'oponopono phrases to clean his own connection to their illnesses. Over time, the entire ward transformed—violent patients calmed down, medications were reduced, and eventually the ward closed, a testament to its healing power.
These stories don't "prove" Ho'oponopono heals the body in a scientific sense. However, they strongly suggest that addressing the mental and emotional roots of suffering through forgiveness and self love can create an internal environment where healing is more likely to occur.
How Ho'oponopono Complements Conventional Spinal Injury Recovery
Conventional spinal injury recovery focuses on several key components:
Physical rehabilitation: Strengthening muscles, improving mobility, and wheelchair training.
Respiratory management: Optimizing breathing function.
Bladder and bowel management: Regaining bodily control.
Psychological support: Addressing the emotional trauma of injury.
Ho'oponopono does not replace these essential medical treatments but works alongside them by addressing the inner landscape of the patient. Here's how it complements conventional care:
Reducing Stress: The practice can significantly reduce stress and anxiety, which is crucial for healing. Chronic stress produces cortisol and other chemicals that can hinder physical recovery from spinal injury.
Creating Emotional Resilience: By repeatedly returning to a state of forgiveness and love, patients can better navigate the emotional challenges of recovery, from frustration to depression.
Shifting Identity: A spinal injury often disrupts a person's sense of self. Ho'oponopono reinforces that your essential identity—what Morrnah Simeona called "Self I-Dentity"—remains whole and perfect regardless of physical circumstances, fostering self love.
Empowering the Patient: It transforms a patient from a passive recipient of care to an active participant in their healing, restoring a sense of agency often lost after traumatic spinal injury.
The table below illustrates how Ho'oponopono complements traditional spinal injury rehabilitation:
| Conventional Rehabilitation Focus | How Ho'oponopono Complements |
|---|---|
| Physical therapy and strength training | Creates mental focus and reduces resistance to therapy; uses phrases during exercises |
| Psychological counseling | Provides a simple tool for continuous emotional cleansing and self love between sessions |
| Pain management | Changes relationship to pain; may reduce perceived intensity through acceptance |
| Coping with lifestyle changes | Fosters adaptability and peace with new circumstances through forgiveness |
| Building independence | Reinforces 100% responsibility for one's inner state and healing journey |
What You Can Learn: Applying Ho'oponopono in Your Own Life
Whether you're facing a physical challenge like a spinal injury, emotional difficulty, or simply seeking more peace, you can begin practicing Ho'oponopono today. Here's a simple guide to get started:
Identify the Issue: Bring to mind a specific problem—physical pain, a strained relationship, or financial worry. In the context of healing, it could be your specific physical symptom or the fear associated with your spinal injury.
Acknowledge Your Responsibility: Remember, this isn't about blame. It's about accepting that you have the healing power to respond to this situation by cleaning your internal connection to it. You're not saying "I caused my spinal injury," but rather "I am responsible for my healing journey and my inner state regarding this injury."
Apply the Tool - Repeat the Phrases: Silently or aloud, say the four phrases to the Divine, your Higher Self, or directly to the problem itself:
"I'm sorry": For the memories within me manifesting as this condition.
"Please forgive me": For my connection to these memories.
"Thank you": For the healing already happening and for this chance to release.
"I love you": To reconnect with the Divine, transmute the energy, and cultivate self love.
Use Cleaning Tools: Beyond the phrases, practitioners use various "cleaning tools." One simple method is the glass of water technique: place a glass of clean water on your nightstand or with you during the day, intending it to absorb negative energies as you repeat the phrases. Another is mentally visualizing or saying "ice blue" or "rainbow band" to cleanse painful memories.
Stay Consistent: This is not a one-time fix but an ongoing practice of self love. Repeat the phrases whenever the problem comes to mind—during physical therapy, when pain flares up, or when fear arises. The goal isn't to manipulate an outcome but to achieve peace regardless of the outcome, unlocking your healing power.
As Mabel Katz, a modern Ho'oponopono teacher, emphasizes: "The cleaning begins with you. Your peace contributes to the peace of the whole world."
Conclusion: Your Path to Peace and Healing
Healing from a significant physical spinal injury is a complex journey that occurs on multiple levels—physical, mental, and spiritual. While modern medicine provides the essential foundation for physical recovery from spinal injury, practices like Ho'oponopono offer a complementary path to address the inner dimensions of healing.
The story of healing from spinal injury with Ho'oponopono teaches us a powerful lesson: by taking 100% responsibility for our inner world—cleaning our memories, errors, and judgments through simple phrases of apology, forgiveness, gratitude, and love—we may create the optimal conditions for our body's innate healing power to express itself.
You need not wait for a crisis to begin. You can start this practice today, with whatever challenges you face. Speak to your pain, your fears, your limitations. Tell them: "I'm sorry, please forgive me, thank you, I love you." You might just find that what heals is not just the body, but the spirit within it through a profound journey of self love.
🌸 About Neeti Keswani
Neeti Keswani is the founder of Plush Ink and host of the Luxury Unplugged Podcast, where luxury meets spirituality. As an author, storyteller, and self-improvement coach, she helps conscious creators and professionals align with purpose, identity, and abundance through mindset transformation and emotional healing.
Her mission is to empower people to live with intention, authenticity, and joy — blending inner work with outer success.
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