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 Our vast world offers many models for understanding basic precepts that
help us fulfill our potential as co-creators of our realty. One of the easiest
yet most powerful teachings is that of Huna, the Hawaiian shamanic tradition.
The powerful engine that drives Huna energy is one we all possess, our own
breath. Through use of breath, we can clear energy blockages, release fear,
and open to Universal love and light energies.
Huna is an ancient teaching that offers a philosophy of life with simple
but strong techniques of manifestation. Archaeological research traces Huna
back to the earliest reaches of civilization, with the first historical presence
traced through hieroglyphic images to ancient Egypt. The legends of the secret
teachings of Huna predate our recorded history, and reveal links to the original
12 tribes of Israel. When the first missionaries arrived in Hawaii, they
were amazed to find the natives knew all of the main stories of the Old Testament,
but nothing from the New Testament, suggesting this tribe had indeed migrated
from Egypt, and lived in relative isolation for at least 2,000 years.
Huna can be thought of as a non – exclusive spiritual teaching based
on human psychology. In Hawaii, Christian missionaries began to obtain political
influence over local chiefs as early as the mid 1800’s. Eventually
kahuna practices were outlawed, driving the ancient teaching into secrecy.
The Polynesians kept their teaching hidden from missionaries and other authorities
by a clever code language.
The person who first revealed the Huna code to the West was Max Freedom
Long, a one – time member of the Theosophy movement. Long, who originally
went to Hawaii as a teacher, was fascinated with the powers of the native
medicine healers and shamans. They had techniques of healing people and controlling
their environment but refused to reveal their secrets to a non – native.
Through determined study and inspiration, Long came to understand the Huna
code language and published his first book, “Recovering the Ancient
Magic” in 1936. He authored many other publications throughout the
years; his last book was published in 1983.
The Three Selves
According to Huna teachings, a human being consists of three parts living
in a physical body. With the Basic (or childlike) self being in charge of
the physical functions, you could say the other selves are guests inside
the body. During waking hours, we spend most of our time with the Middle
self or conscious mind. This time spent in the Middle self programs the Basic
self by what we think and how we react to the feelings and thoughts that
rise from the solar plexus. Following are details of each Huna self.
Basic Self – Similar to subconscious mind. It resides in the body,
low, in the solar plexus, or “gut”; in charge of the physical
body as well as the astral body. Having no faculty of choice or self determination,
our Basic self is always conscious and never loses awareness, not when asleep
or even under anesthesia. It always lives in the now and thinks deductively.
This one has a stronger will than the middle self. Each reaction of the Base
self stimulates a feeling that generates energy. If the feeling is not suppressed,
it rises to the mind of the middle self.
Middle Self - Similar to conscious mind. Centered in the head, in the left
hemisphere of the brain, the Middle Self is charged with the duty of programming
the Base self. The Middle self is conscious except when the physical body
is asleep. Perceptions received by the Middle self are distorted by beliefs
held by the Basic self. (As in the person who diets and loses weight, but
gains it back because the low self has not accepted the new body image).
High Self - The superconscious, or High self of Huna is called aumakua in
Hawaiian. It is also known as the Guardian angel and has both male and female
qualities. The source words of aumakua are – AU, which caries the idea
of a “parental spirit” or “guardian”. The root MA
has a translation of “by means of. KUA refers to processes such as
carving a statue out of wood, or creating forms on an anvil. The root word
MAKU means “to harden, gel, or solidify”- in other words, the
High self really makes thing happen!
Although having divine qualities, the High self is thought of as an inner
being rather than as a spirit that lives in the sky someplace. It gives guidance,
information, and inspiration, but does not give orders; rather, it is your
constant companion ready and anxious to help you on your way to perfection. The High Self does not intervene in your life unless you ask it to.
Mana
The Huna selves work their magic using the vital force of life which is
called Mana. It can be compared to electrical energy. Mana can be generated,
held in storage (as in a battery) and then discharged to perform work. It
also has positive and negative poles. Unlike electricity, however, mana can
pass through any substance with no decrease in energy level. This term is
also represented by the Biblical “manna”, as well as the Indian
word for vital life force, “prana. It is expressed through ability
and confidence, as well as physical vitality. Mana energy flows through the
aka bodies in a figure 8 shape starting in the solar plexus and moving down
the legs and up to the shoulders.
Breath is a vital part of helping the Base self generate mana to communicate
with the High Self. In addition to oxygen, the Base self also creates mana
from food and water we consume, as well as energy from the Sun and Earth.
Strong emotion also helps to generate mana, and sound vibrations such as
chanting help to organize it.
In Huna, as in many other philosophies, water is used as a metaphor for
mana. It flows, has waves, permeates substances, and brings life. In the
Hawaiian language, the word for prayer also means ‘to divide the
waters’. The kahunas also knew how to use mental pictures to assist
their base selves in generating energy. One of these is contained in a
Hawaiian word that means ‘to rise up like water in a fountain until
the water overflows’. To use this mental picture stand or sit, and
breathing deeply, imagine a build up of mana water, beginning at the feet
and rising like a fountain that overflows. This ‘fountain rite’ is
one way to exchange mana energy to the Higher Self, so that it can manifest
the answer to a prayer.
Prayer
An important fundamental belief in the Huna system is that ALL PRAYER IS
TELEPATHIC and telepathy is made of messages sent in picture form by the
low self. Also, it is noteworthy that the kahunas used the word “seed’ interchangeably
with the term “Prayer”. The High Self answers the prayer by “materializing” the
picture thought forms for you. The important secret is to be sure to visualize
and pray for what you do want, not what you do not want! (i.e., if you want
good health, do not include your picture of illness)
Prayer is the vehicle for contacting the Higher Self which will in turn
manifest desires. Huna has specific philosophies and instruction regarding
prayer. Since it is the middle self that can think and reason, it must formulate
the prayer and transmit ideas using words, emotions, and pictures to the
Base self. However, the Middle self cannot contact the Superconscious or
High self directly. One of the most profound secrets of the Huna teaching
is that we must reach the High self through the subconscious mind or Base
self. This can explain why some prayers are not answered. They were just
not ‘prayed’ in the right fashion, coming from the mind and not
from the heart and soul of our basic childlike self. The High self responds
to emotion, vitality, and organization of our energy. The Middle self performs
a valuable function in organizing the wishes of the prayer, but it is the
energetic and passionate side of out nature which communicates our heart’s
desire.
Huna breathwork takes us beyond the mind through the power of the heart.
There are many resources available on Huna practice and philosophy. The best
one, though, is inside of us. Take a deep breath, and give life to your dreams.
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