By Neeti Keswani – Business Storytelling Coach | Ho’oponopono Practitioner | Host of Luxury Unplugged Podcast
🌿 Introduction: When the Body Speaks, the Soul Whispers
Have you ever had a stiff neck that just wouldn’t go away—no matter how many massages, painkillers, or yoga stretches you tried? You’re not alone. We live in a world that often prioritizes quick fixes over deep, sustainable healing, leaving us to cycle through temporary solutions for persistent problems. This is where the journey of true, transformative healing begins—when we stop treating the symptom and start listening to the message.
In my coaching work and personal healing journey, I’ve seen how emotional pain often manifests physically. And the neck—that delicate bridge between the calculating mind and the feeling heart—is one of the most profound places where our inner turmoil seeks expression. It becomes the physical ledger for the soul’s unspoken burdens.
In this blog, I’ll share how the ancient practice of Ho’oponopono, a powerful forgiveness prayer, became my most potent tool not just for emotional release but for tangible, physical relief from chronic neck pain. If you’ve tried everything under the sun but found only fleeting relief, this ancient practice of reconciliation and inner peace might be the missing link in your journey toward holistic wellness. This isn’t just about pain management; it’s about profound, cellular-level healing and the ultimate inner relief we all seek.
💫 The Mind-Body Bridge: Understanding the Spiritual Anatomy of Neck Pain
Q1: What’s the connection between neck pain and emotional stress?
As a Ho’oponopono coach, I always remind my clients: your body is not a separate entity from your mind or spirit; it is the physical manuscript upon which your life’s story is written. It keeps the score with impeccable, if sometimes painful, accuracy. Chronic neck pain, in particular, is rarely just a physical phenomenon. It often represents a heavy, unseen burden—feelings of overwhelming responsibility, unspoken resentment, or a deep-seated fear of speaking one’s authentic truth. It’s a sign that your body is holding on too tightly, especially when our conscious mind is struggling with the illusion of control. This physical tension is a cry for help, a signal that the path to healing requires more than a physical adjustment; it demands an emotional and spiritual reckoning.
Q2: How does Ho’oponopono help with chronic or emotional pain?
The beautiful simplicity of Ho’oponopono is that it allows you to clear the energetic patterns and unconscious memories—what the practice calls “data”—that may be causing and sustaining physical tension. Unlike many therapeutic models, you don’t need to analyze the pain, relive the trauma, or even fully understand its origin. Instead, you learn to speak to the pain lovingly, as you would to a distressed child. The four phrases — “I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.” — are not a magic spell but a sacred mantra that creates a container of compassion. This sacred space allows the contracted energy, which manifests as pain, to finally soften, release, and dissolve. This process is the very essence of authentic healing, moving you toward a state of deep inner relief.
Q4: Why is neck pain spiritual in nature?
The neck is a powerful spiritual conduit. It literally connects the head (the seat of logic, analysis, and the ego) and the heart (the center of emotion, love, and intuition). When there is a disconnect between what we think and what we feel, or between what we believe and how we act, this area suffers immensely. It bears the weight of our spiritual incongruence. When we suppress our truth, avoid difficult conversations out of fear, or live a life that is out of alignment with our soul’s purpose, the neck becomes the physical manifestation of that spiritual blockage. Ho’oponopono doesn’t bypass this pain; it brings sacred, loving attention to the spiritual disconnect causing it, initiating a profound healing that realigns the entire being.
💫 A Personal Testimony: My Journey from Chronic Pain to Inner Relief
Q3: Did I personally experience neck pain relief through Ho’oponopono?
Absolutely. My journey with this practice is not theoretical; it is a lived experience of profound healing. During an emotionally taxing period of my life, I was burdened by a persistent, gnawing neck tension. I invested in countless physiotherapy sessions, sought out expert bodywork, and tried every ergonomic pillow on the market. While these provided momentary ease, they could not touch the root of the suffering. The pain always returned, a stubborn reminder that something deeper was out of balance.
It was when I turned to Ho’oponopono as a practice of last resort that I witnessed a true shift. I began whispering the prayer not as a demand for the pain to leave, but as an offering of love to the pain itself. I would sit in quiet meditation, place my hands gently on my neck, and sincerely say:
“I’m sorry, dear neck, for all the stress and ignorance I’ve placed upon you. Please forgive me for ignoring your gentle signals and pushing through your warnings. Thank you for holding up my head, for allowing me to see the world, for your unwavering support. I love you.”
This daily ritual of acknowledgment and love was transformative. Within a few weeks, the intensity of the neck pain decreased significantly. The stiffness that had become my normal began to melt away. What modern medicine and physical manipulation couldn’t touch, the gentle, consistent power of forgiveness and love began to transform. This was the inner relief I had been searching for—a peace that permeated both my body and my spirit.
💫 The Practical Path: Integrating Ho’oponopono into Your Healing Journey
Q5: Can Ho’oponopono work alongside medical treatment?
Without a doubt. I am a fervent advocate for a holistic, integrative approach to wellness. The body is multidimensional, and so its healing must be as well. I always recommend: see your doctor, get a proper diagnosis, and diligently do your prescribed physical therapy. These are essential steps in caring for the physical vessel. However, I also urge you to check in with your emotional and spiritual self. Often, complete healing needs to happen on all levels simultaneously. Ho’oponopono is not a replacement for medical science; it is a powerful complement—a spiritual technology for reconnection that works in harmony with other modalities to facilitate comprehensive wellness.
Q6: What’s the right way to use Ho’oponopono for neck pain?
The most beautiful aspect of this prayer is that there is no wrong way to offer love. Your sincere intention is the key. However, for those seeking a structured starting point, here is a powerful flow I use in my coaching sessions to guide clients toward inner relief:
- Create a Sacred Space: Sit or lie down in a comfortable, quiet place where you won’t be disturbed.
- Physical Connection: Gently place your hand or hands on your neck, over the area of pain or tension. Let your touch be soft and loving, not diagnostic.
- Center with Breath: Close your eyes and take several deep, slow breaths. Feel your body begin to settle and your awareness turn inward.
- Recite the Prayer: Begin to repeat the four phrases of the Ho’oponopono prayer slowly, either silently or in a soft whisper. Direct the energy of the words toward your neck. “I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.”
- Commit to Consistency: Do this for 5–10 minutes each day. It is not the duration but the consistency and sincerity that creates the shift. Over time, you will feel not only physical relief but also surprising emotional insights emerging.
Q9: Can I use journaling with Ho’oponopono for deeper healing?
Yes, and I highly recommend this powerful combination for accelerating your healing journey. Journaling provides a channel for the voice of your body, while Ho’oponopono provides the balm of forgiveness. Here is a potent journaling prompt to try:
“Dear Neck, what are you trying to tell me? I am listening.”
Write without censoring, without judgment. Let your hand move across the page as the voice of your neck. What comes out? Is it fear? Is it exhaustion? Is it anger? Then, once the message is received, respond with the Ho’oponopono prayer. Write it out: “I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.” This dialogue is a profound act of self-love that can unlock layers of stored emotion and lead to significant inner relief.
💫 Navigating the Depths: Common Questions on the Path to Wellness
Q7: What emotions are usually behind persistent neck tension?
From my extensive coaching experience, the energetic root of persistent neck pain is often one or more of the following:
- Fear of Judgment: A constant anxiety about how you are perceived, leading to a rigidity in self-expression.
- Unexpressed Anger: Swallowing your words or feelings to keep the peace, creating a toxic buildup in the throat and neck.
- Carrying the Emotional Weight of Others: An inability to set healthy energetic boundaries, shouldering burdens that are not yours to carry.
- A Lack of Self-Support: A deep-seated feeling that you must do everything alone, without asking for help or acknowledging your own needs.
The practice of Ho’oponopono helps you gently release these heavy emotional patterns without needing to painfully relive them. It is a practice of forgiveness first and foremost for yourself, for the parts of you that took on these burdens as a survival mechanism.
Q8: What if the pain gets worse before it gets better?
This is a common and important part of the healing process for some individuals. Think of it this way: when you finally stop and truly listen to a child who has been crying out for attention, they may initially cry even harder. It’s not to punish you, but because they feel safe enough to fully express the depth of their distress. Your body is the same. When you finally offer it loving, non-judgmental attention through this prayer, it may sense the safety to “speak” its pain more loudly. If this happens, stay with it. Do not panic or abandon the practice. Use Ho’oponopono like a gentle lullaby for your aching body. Don’t rush the healing. Trust the process and let it unfold as a sacred love story between you and your own being.
💫 Final Thoughts: Loving Your Body Back Into Balance and Wellness
Q10: What’s one final insight for those healing through neck pain?
Remember this: Your body is not broken; it is brilliant. It is not your adversary; it is your most loyal protector. It has been trying to get your attention, to guide you back to your wholeness. Ho’oponopono does not ask you to “get rid” of the pain as if it were an enemy. Instead, it gracefully invites you to befriend it, to understand it, and to thank it for its service. It is a profound forgiveness practice that begins with yourself.
And in that sacred friendship, in that space of compassionate self-acceptance, you begin to heal. Not just the neck pain, but the very patterns that caused it. This is the path to true, lasting wellness and inner relief.
Your neck pain isn’t just a physical annoyance—it’s a message from your soul. It may be asking you to soften, to speak your truth, to let go of what isn’t yours, or to forgive yourself and others. Whatever the message, Ho’oponopono offers a safe, soulful, and profoundly effective way to listen and respond with love.
The next time you feel that familiar ache, that stiffness, that reminder of dis-ease, I invite you to pause. Place your hand over your heart, then over your neck. Breathe deeply, and with sincere intention, offer the prayer:
“I’m sorry.
Please forgive me.
Thank you.
I love you.”
And be open, with a willing heart, to feel what shifts within you. This is the art and science of self-healing.
💎 About Neeti Keswani
I’m Neeti Keswani, a business storytelling coach, certified Ho’oponopono practitioner, and host of the globally loved Luxury Unplugged Podcast. Through my coaching, I help creators, spiritual entrepreneurs, and wellness leaders align with purpose, heal their inner narrative, and grow brands that feel like soul work. My mission is to guide individuals toward profound inner relief and authentic healing.
I’m also the author of the bestselling book Live Your Dreams and guide people through identity shifting, emotional healing, and visibility coaching.
📖 Buy my book “Live Your Dreams” → http://amzn.to/2osPaok
🎧 Listen to the Luxury Unplugged Podcast → Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts
🌐 Visit my website → https://www.plush-ink.com
📩 For coaching, media, or sponsorship inquiries → info@plush-ink.com
▶️ YouTube Channel → Subscribe Here
#Hooponopono #SelfHealing #EmotionalWellness #LuxuryUnplugged #NeetiKeswani #NeckPainHealing #ForgivenessPractice #MindBodyHealing #SpiritualEntrepreneur #WellnessJourney #InnerRelief