Ho’oponopono

Track 11 | Mother Medicine (6:51)

Mother Medicine - Sara Emmitt Album Cover

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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