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.
