Ho’oponopono
Track 11 | Mother Medicine (6:51)
Ho’oponopono is an ancient Hawai’ian prayer for forgiveness. Roughly translated, it means “to make things right” or “to return to balance.” This spiritual practice involves learning to accept full responsibility for our actions and for the part we play in our relation to all things. This is a profound medicine for humanity, and I feel deeply grateful for it coming into my life.
In a particularly painful relationship transition, I found myself continuously humming Ho’opononpono as a mantra I had learned years before. It became a soothing balm for my mind and heart, and a tool for moving through each moment. Slowly the prayer evolved in my voice and a melody wove into the words. Verses began to rise in the spaces between the mantra, and before long, I had a full song rooted in this precious prayer. Through this song, I was able to alchemize pain and resentment into love and gratitude, leaving my heart open and clear for the path ahead.
I bow deeply in humble reverence and gratitude to the Hawai’ian lineage that birthed this powerful prayer, and so graciously shares it with the world, so that we may all evolve and prosper as a human race.
Ho’oponopono Lyrics
written by Sara Emmitt
I knew it would end this way
two broken hearts on a rainy day
There isn’t much left to say
we both know it’s time for us
to go our own way
Surrender to this moment
there is no one to blame
there is no right or wrong here
only lessons in love and pain
We did what we were meant to do
I was me and you were you
Finally ready to
see this contract through
I’m sorry
I forgive you
Thank you
I love you (x2)
Love the one who judges
Love the one who lies
for they are the one who’s hurting
deepest down inside
Truth is found in the moments
when we come back to ourselves
when we ride the waves of emotion
instead of getting caught in the swells
I’m sorry
I forgive you
Thank you
I love you (x2)
I know you didn’t mean to hurt me
I know you are in pain
for the times I was hurting
I hurt others
I wanted them to feel the same
When I go into the heartache
I dive as deep as I can go
and I end up at the bottom
face to face with my very own soul
It says “I’ve been here all along”
and then it smiles at my surprise
for all I had to do
was come right back inside
So thank you for this breaking
and thank you for this pain
for without you in my life
I may not be finding myself again
I’m sorry
I forgive you
Thank you
I love you (x2)
Love, it doesn’t go away
Nor does it make any mistakes
So I fill my heart
with my very own love
and I radiate it out
below and above
I send it to you
in abundance and wealth
for I know that to love you
I must first love myself
I’m sorry
I forgive you
Thank you
I love you (x4)
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released June 20, 2021
Original songs, vocals and guitar by Sara Emmitt
Cello, Banjo, Violin, Second Guitar, Bass: Avery Johnson
Bass: Brian Ellison
Drums: Mike “Squid” Gullekson
Piano: Daniel Herman
Mandolin: Drew Emmitt
Harmonica: Dave Emmitt
Mixed by Daniel Herman (Mineral Sound)
Mastered by Jake Mackie
Cover art by Stepha Lawson (@thelanguageofbirth)
Recorded by Avery Johnson at Stone Cottage Studios in Boulder, Colorado.
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