Forgiveness does not mean forgetting. Instead, it replaces negative feelings brought up by remembering a hurt, with positive feelings of healing and well-wishes.

Here is a guided meditation on forgiveness...

Preparation:
Lie on your back on a comfortable surface in a warm place; cover yourself with a light blanket if desired. Let your arms rest at your sides, near, but not touching your body; feet resting about a foot apart. Close your eyes.

Begin breathing evenly in and out: breathe in 2 counts; breathe out 2 counts; continue. Do not hold your breath.

After a minute or more of even breathing begin thinking about a situation where you have been hurt. Stay with the thoughts a few moments while you are lying there comfortably and safe.

Now mentally say something like:
"I forgive you (the person who caused the hurt) for what you did. I send you healing light that you will choose to act in a positive way in the future. What you did to me was wrong; I'm not saying it was okay. I am saying that I choose to think positive thoughts of healing and love toward you now, rather than dwell on negative thoughts of blame and anger."

Next, rest easy for a few moments to balance any fragments of upset, brought up in your body-mind, from thinking about an old hurt.

After a few minutes resting and breathing evenly, either sleep or take a deep breath in and out, stretch and get up; energized.

Forgiveness loosens the knot of hurt
It lightens your body-mind burden.
Feeling guilty for holding negative thoughts?
Forgive yourself and let that go too.
Enjoy the harmonious feelings that follow -

Virtues
Compassion
Forgiveness
Kindness
Tolerance

Article - Susan Kramer
Photo credit Stan Schaap; dunes at Castricum aan Zee, The Netherlands

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