Forgiveness | at the edge of a milestone

In just a few days we will have completed this amazing Spanish pilgrimage from Seville to Santiago de Compostela, a bit more than 1000 km. I’m also incredibly full of gratitude for the gift of fulfilling another decade of life. Wow! Neither are a small feat. Both make me want to stay in bed for a week with a good book or two.. that is one bed for a week, not seven. Lol

Thanks for coming on this crazy journey with me, all of it. If there are any insights from my quests or unraveling for that matter that has been useful for you, it’s all the more purposeful for me. Take what serves you with love, share a little and discard the rest.

Today marked the anniversary of Daniela’s mama’s death, a woman that she adored fully. She shared that in the final stages of her mama’s life they did a Zen forgiveness practices together and it really helped her cross the great divide with tremendous peace. I found this beautiful.

It made me reflect on the importance of forgiveness both inwardly and outwardly. Not from the ego stance, but for the ability to get closer to true happiness. I thought of various practices of forgiveness that have touched me and the power they hold to true liberation when founded from the right place.

In the Zen Tradition, you may recite:

For harm that I have caused you, intentionally or unintentionally, I ask for your forgiveness. For harm that you have caused me, intentionally or unintentionally I give you my forgiveness.


Hawaiian Huna Ho’Oponono forgiveness practice:

The Hawaiian word ho'oponopono comes from ho'o ("to make") and pono ("right"). The repetition of the word pono means "doubly right" or being right with both self and others. In a nutshell, ho'oponopono is a process by which we can forgive others to whom we are connected

I’m sorry
Please forgive me
Thank you
I love you

There was a psychologist, shaman that healed an entire mental institute with the use of this mantra.


The shamanic way of the Kogi Mamas:

In some of the teachings of the Kogis when doing energy work for the planet and one’s life, you are guided to build tremendous love and gratitude in the heart for every small gift you were given in your life. If we look deeply, the well is endless. If you are offering sacred reciprocity to the waters, you’d ask the spirit of the water for permission. You ask for forgiveness with an offering that you are not an offender and to have severed ties with the suffering caused by ancestral offenders. This too was a profound energetic clearing.

With a practice of deep forgiveness, inwardly and outwardly we can change the imprint of how we walk in the world.

What on earth would be more worthwhile but to live a path of freedom into the lightness of loving presence?

Seven weeks of walking with the mind and all it’s challenges showed me that any grudge, anger, jealousy or resentment pales next to this commitment to see happiness as an inside job. Forgiveness is a powerful weapon which of course has to start in our own heart towards the heart and mind.


Today I wish you a day of clear happiness.
From Spain with love, a bow and smile,

Gisele

P.S. I will have updates very soon on the Ireland and Italy retreats. These are two of my favourite places on earth and both meet very different needs. Ireland’s mystic spirit awakens parts of you that you may not have even known you have. Italy has a capacity to make you feel loved. With the rolling landscape, the sun and with their ancient culinary craft to create memories to last.

Hope you can join me for one of the retreats next May.