Seven Key Principles of Ancient Hawaiian Healing
Every culture has its own approach to living and healing. No matter your culture or ethnic background, you too will discover that your family genealogy had ancient techniques to support the whole of the person – body, mind and spirit. Before there were physicians, hospitals and healthcare professionals, there were healers.
You can journey back to Before Common Era (B.C.E.) to find many ancient healing principles and techniques that supported the whole of the person. Great examples with significant wisdom include China’s Qigong, India’s Chakras, and the West Africa’s Ashanti tradition, to name only a few.
The ancient Hawaiians are another excellent example. Their techniques date back to at least 325 A.D. but are thought to have originated in B.C.E. Similar to the Chinese, Indians and West Africans, there principles of living were focused on the interconnectedness between the body, mind and soul and its interconnectedness to the rest of the Earth, its inhabitants and nature.
Hawaiian Ceremony
Huna, Explained!
The Ancient Hawaiians describe “Huna” as learning to work with your personal life force energy. It was originally called Ho’omana with “mana” referring to life force energy and “Ho’o” meaning “to make.” Ho’omana then was empowering the person to feel, explore and use his or her energy. Students were encouraged to study Ho’omana to increase the energy, to create with the energy and to balance the internal and external aspects of his or her physical body.
The Essential Huna Principles:
In Huna. the seven key principles were practiced daily to help the individual live life more fully. Take a moment now to explore each of the principles, reflect on the larger concepts and see what, if any, resonate with you.
1. The World is What You Think It Is. (Ike) You create your own reality. As you see the world around, so then is the world.
In Serge Kahili King’s book, Huna: Ancient Hawaiian Secrets for Modern Living, King provides definitions around each of the Hawaiian terminology. For Ike, it means “to see, know, feel, perceive, be aware, understand.”
2. There are no Limits. (Kala) Energy is not trapped by the physical body and all is interconnected. Separation is an illusion. Through the use of our own creativity, we are unlimited.
Kala means “to loosen, untie, free, release and forgive.”
3. Energy Flows Where Attention Goes. (Makia) Humans have between 50,000 to 70,000 thoughts every day. Your thoughts and feelings form the blueprint for what will enter into your life. Be very aware of your thoughts!
Makia means “aim, purpose, to aim or strive for, to concentrate on.”
4. Now is the Moment of Power. (Manawa) There is no past nor is there a future. There is only the now, the present moment. You have the power in the present moment to change limiting beliefs and to offer forgiveness.
Manawa means “time, season, affections, feelings.”
Aloha – One of the Seven Huna Principles
5. To Love is to be Happy With. (Aloha) Love and happiness go hand-in-hand. Be open-hearted and loving and your happiness will be there too.Aloha means “love, affection, compassion, sympathy, kindness, charity and so much more.”
6. All Power Comes for Within. (Mana) We are responsible for our experience and have the chose to determine a new direction if we wish.
Mana means “supernatural or divine power, miraculous power, authority power.”
7. Effectiveness is the Measure of Truth. (Pono) All systems and organizations are arbitrary, so determine what truly works. We must look at the effectiveness through the lens of its personal, social, environmental aspects – the whole of something not just one part.
Pono means “goodness, moral qualities, correct and proper procedure, excellence, well-being, prosperity, success, assets, use, purpose.”
In King’s book, he simplifies the seven principles even further for his readers.
- Be Awarethat the world is what you think it is. Decide you have the power to succeed.
- Be Free because there are no limits. Give yourself the right to succeed.
- Be Focusedbecause energy flows where attention goes. Increase your desire to succeed.
- Be Herebecause now is the moment of power. Start right now with a will to succeed.
- Be Happybecause love is the source of power. Enjoy and acknowledge the good that is.
- Be Confidentbecause all power comes from within. Always trust yourself.
- Be Positivebecause effectiveness is the measure of success. Always expect the best.