Forgiveness in general

We face a couple of choices in relation to the issue of forgiveness. One choice is that we continue to harbor feelings of hurt, rejection, anger, fear, and the like, against a person (or group of people) for the rest of our lives.

The result of this can become manifest in physical ills (stomach upset, ulcers, general nervousness, etc). It can poison our outlooks on life in general. It may also have karmic consequences once we pass through the door to the other side of existence.

The other choice is to sometime forgive the person (or group of people), let go of the negative memories and feelings, and move on with our lives.

That is not of course, anywhere near as easy to do as it is to say. Sometimes we have been hurt very, very badly by those we felt we could trust and were close to us. Even members of our own family may do things (consciously or unconsciously) that will basically, scar us for a long, long time. Knowing that we should forgive them for our own benefit, if not theirs, is a good metaphysical position. But knowing we should forgive them, and actually being able to forgive them can be two very different things that are worlds, if not universes, apart.

Stating that we forgive them, and really forgiving them may be two equally contradictory positions. Further, trying to forgive someone of all of the things we perceive they have done wrong to us, at one time, may be an almost insurmountable task.

Therefore, the following meditation, meant to be "one small step" toward eventual total forgiveness. Repeat and modify as you feel the need.

FORGIVING SOMEONE

Sit comfortably with your back straight, in a room that is dimly lit. Make sure you are not going to be disturbed during the meditation. Hold a rose quartz crystal in your hands while you do the meditation. You can have some nature music on (or other gentle type of music) in the background, but not too loud.

Concentrate, and still your mind. Focus your thoughts on the rose quartz crystal. As you feel yourself becoming calmer, picture the face of the person you wish to forgive rising above the crystal.

Say to them that you feel they have hurt you very much. Even though they might not have meant the hurt, you have felt the hurt. You wish to forgive them and either re-establish the ties between the two of you, or forgive them and break off all ties, wishing the other person well.

See a rose colored light coming from your heart chakra and flowing to the rose quartz, filling it with energy. See that rose light rising to envelop the face of the person you wish to forgive. Feel the forgiveness, tolerance, and hopefully love flow from your spiritual self to the crystal, and see it then also surround the person's image. Notice if the person's expression seems to change to become more friendly and positive.

After you feel you have done this an appropriate length of time, then dismiss the person's image. See it rise into the air, taking with it the forgiveness and the positive feelings you have sent.

See the rose energy flow back into your heart chakra. Then thank the rose quartz for helping you, and place the crystal back. Turn on the lights in the room or open the curtains and let the room be filled with light.

After you have finished the meditation, do something positive. Do not expose yourself to negative news images, or do something you don't really want to do for a few hours afterward.