Monday, June 30, 2008

Monday, June 23, 2008

You Mean There's 4 of You?


The Kahuna explains - FORMATION OF THE 4 BODIES

The four bodies mature at different times in your life. The Emotional body develops between 18 and 22, the Mental Body between age 28 and 32, and the Spiritual Body between 38 and 42. Most people experience big shifts in their identity during those periods as the body activates and grows. How about you? These are huge learning curves, and we may or may not optimise that body’s development at that time.

The spiritual body activation is often called a “mid life crisis”. Unresolved emotional issues come up, and if they are cleared, all is well. If not, men may find problems with relationships, expressing intimacy, and family values. This can lead to heart disease if unresolved. In women, who they are and what they want comes up. If resolved, the life shocks will spill out and she’ll become very expressive. If blocked, it can cause thyroid problems. Again, all the more reason to learn Huna, build your energy and clear out any unresolved issues.

ENERGY
Mana is life force energy. It’s called Chi in China, Ki in Japan, Shakti or Prana in east Indian system. The hypnotist Mesmer called it “animal magnetism”. Huna was originally called Ho’o mana – the Hawaiians said there was only one real difference between someone who was dead and someone who was alive – one has energy, or mana. And only one’s breathing…

Really simple, and really profound. But then, profound things are really simple. Like that last sentence.

Anything that adds life – is good. Anything that takes away life/decreases aliveness is bad. So some days you have tons of energy and you race to work. Other days are heavy gravity days, when you look over the quilt, the sun is too bright, the sheet wraps itself around your ankle and you just slide slowly back into sleep…

So begin now to pay attention to the energy in your body. The Huna diet book would be one page:

Eat it and have low energy, stop eating it. Eat & energy up? Eat more!


What is your energy doing inside you? How is it feeling inside of you?

You see low levels of mana leads to sickness and dis-ease, and premature ageing. Most esoteric studies taught that if life force energy was low or depleted, or maybe stuck and stagnant, ultimately that would lead to physical dis-ease. High levels of mana leads to empowerment and health, youthfulness and longevity. Imagine sending mana up to the Higher Self, and then having it come back down into the Unconscious Mind, turbo charged. Like rocket fuel.

Max Doubt Replies: OK, so now there's 4 of me? C'mon, you only have one body and that's the one I'm about to bitchslap you with in a minute... The other things aren't 'bodies' - my emotions, my thoughts and my spiritual beliefs are just electricity and chemicals in my bloodstream, making me feel things. And they're part of me, like everyone else.

Trying to say that people go through big stuff at key ages is a big claim to make.

Mid life crisis is just you looking back and taking stock - there's nothing "spiritual" to it, its just time to add up the scores on the doors and see how well, or how badly, you've played the game. And its a good excuse to start chasing skirt that's half your age! I'll show you some animal magetism darlin'....

Profound things are really simple yeah - like this is all tree-hugging hippy crap! See? Simple!

By the way, its a well known fact that every animal that eats gets tired afterwards cos it's digesting the food and that takes it out of you - Christmas pudding and the Queen's speech - works every time.

Who's right? VOTE NOW!

Friday, June 20, 2008

What Exactly Is A Kahuna, And Where Do I Buy One?

The Kahuna went on…

Let’s start with the definition of word “Kahuna”

Ka the light
Huna secret, spiritual, concealed knowledge or wisdom protected like a treasure
Kahu honoured or high servant who takes charge of persons, property or knowledge
Na calm, centred, balanced

So a Kahuna is anyone with specialised knowledge, PhD, a Jedi Master. Someone who protected a state of calmness and balance. Keeper of the calm, centred state. There were all types of Kahuna – in politics, government, planting, fishing, child birth, negotiation, farming, canoe building, navigation, tiki (statue) carving. The areas we’re interested in here include:

La’au Lapa’au doctors of medicine, herbal
La’au Kahea Literally “We call the medicine” - psychologists, faith healers
Kilikilo prediction, divination, runes
Na’auao mystics

It is rumoured that Huna was the secret teaching behind all other secret teachings. Certainly there are legends of an advanced island civilisation sinking and the people of the land sailing to the four corners of the globe, talking their lore with them. The Hawaiian islands are mountain tops centred on a tectonic plate resting above an active hotspot. The volcano on the Big Island is active to this day.

Polynesian is the oldest language on the planet. In fact 80% of the content of Huna has never been published in writing. Originally it was called “Ho’o mana”.

Ho’o = to make
Mana = Energy, Chi, Ki, Life force [as in mana from heaven]
Ho’o Mana = empowering yourself.

Think about it - everything you do requires energy, and the more energy you have, the longer you will live, and the more you can do with your life. Huna is all about making connections with sources of Mana. Now that may sound weird and “out there” to you, but there are corresponding systems that you may already be familiar with:

Having a Higher Self/Guardian Spirit— Native American, Hermetic(western Europe) and alchemy
4/5 Elements— Alchemy, Hermetics, Egyptian Magic, Tantra, Western and Japanese astrology
Entering the Dream Time (Moe Uhane)— Native American, Maori in New Zealand, Aborigine in Australia.
Herbs in Healing— Native American, Chinese, etc.
Energy Healing— Philippines psychic surgery, Reiki, Chinese Acupuncture
Numerology— Cabalah, Pythagoras, Japanese astrology, numbers and their vibrational essence
Astrology— Most systems use the stars and planets to predict
Chanting - Native American, Aborigine, Maori, Tantra

Of course these should all correspond if they all came from the same source…? Now is the time for the revival of ancient teachings – a shift is occurring…

Max Doubt’s response?

One way to “big up” yourself is to give yourself a fancy shmancy title! I thought a Ka was a crap motor!

You hear the words “Na” and “Ho!” on the streets of Glasgow ever day!

Methinks that these people keep a calm centred state by smokin’ the wacky backy!

See, you lost me at “faith healer” – are you honestly yelling me that people believe in this hokum? That I can heal myself through the power of spirit or divine intervention or whatever mumbo jumbo you’re pushing? I’ll stick with crawling up to the health centre and coming back with a bottle of penicillin mate! That’s white man’s “Ju ju”

Prediction and runes- it gets worse. You can find these freaks at any health fair, pretending they can read the future from the shape of your belly button fluff. Please! I predict I’m going to stop reading this shortly.

Come back Arthur C. Clarke, all is forgiven.

You get energy from calories, which is food and drink. And the occasional can of Red Bull. Looking at the average Hawaiian I’ve seen on TV there’s no shortage of McDonalds on those islands!

The Muppets had a song about this. “Mana mana doo doo do do do”

Wait a minute – Tantra you say? That’s that kinky stuff that Sting gets up to? Now this might be getting interesting…

Its your turn – tell us who’s right HERE

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Can't Accept You If You'll Misuse It

The Kahuna was explaining that there are numerous ways to express the same thing. Sometimes people get caught up in their philosophy, getting almost righteous about it and that’s always bothered her. People try and tell you the real reason why something is the way it is. According to whom right? And in the process of teaching this she’s trying to stay true and to honour the original teachings.

Any training in esoteric studies should increase the positive character traits in the student. I think we’d all agree with that? It should bring increasing balance of the mind. What is the point of achieving a connection with the creator and infinite possibility, if you lose your rationality, livelihood, possessions and friends? The result should always be balance. You have 4 aspects to your personality – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual – any esoteric study should balance all of these. If not, there’s something wrong…

The Huna author Laura Kealoha Yardley said that “The key to becoming a strong, self-contained Kahuna means creating an inner balance so strong that nothing in the external material world or the internal spiritual world can throw one off centre without the individual being aware of it and possessing the ability to re-establish that balance at will. The reason for this is that balance is not a static state that, once achieved, remains forever. Balance is ever changing, constantly shifting and rearranging itself in order to be established. There is no such thing as static balance. Therefore, in order to experience balance, a Kahuna must learn to constantly shift and rearrange himself or herself according to the exterior world he or she is experiencing. And experience is the key.”

And no real teacher would ever withhold knowledge from anyone who was worthy to receive it. On the other hand, he or she cannot accept as a pupil someone who would misuse that knowledge or betray that trust.

Max Doubt’s response: Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. And facts are facts – you can’t argue with facts. This is the way it is – this is all there is. I believe it when I see it. I can touch it, see it, smell it – it’s real. There ain’t anything else.

OK, I can understand being true to your roots. But what’s this Hawaiian mumbo-jumbo got to do with the price of cheese?

Increase positive traits? Dunno about that. People are people, and they don’t change. I’ve been hoping the wife would change for years! Nah, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

My connection with my creator will be when I pop my clogs! But, I do agree with the old dame – if you’re expecting me to shave my head and wear robes then you can shove it! That’s a quick way to lose my friends all right!

There’s the physical yes – me, my car, my house and my money. And my kids. That’s the emotional part. And yeah it can be mental! Spiritual I’ll leave to the happy clappys and the bible bashers.

Listen, shit happens, that’s all there is to it. You deal with it. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

Balance IS ever shifting – especially after a few pints!

And as for trust – you keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

Your turn: Who do you agree with? The wise old woman, or the cynic? Cast your vote online at www.HunaNow.com

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Join The Great Debate...

The Kahuna sat on a tall stool in the room with the lights turned down a little, and her students sat looking up at her in expectation of what was to come. They were a small group of enthusiastic beginners who’d heard stories about Hawaiian Huna and were keen to learn more.

“Aloha!” she began, which means welcome, share my breath[ha], share my space.

We’re going to explore some of the ancient teachings of old Hawaii – get our hands into some real hands on concepts you can take away and use after this week. We’re going to be talking about Spiritual growth, healing and psychology in an art that was rich in language, song and legends. Now Huna’s not for everyone – some people see it and are turned off by the “s” word – spirituality. So it can be a tricky subject to look at. I’d like to show you some ancient ways that I’ve looked into and I’ve certainly had my horizons expanded as a result, and I hope you’ll have the same insights.

These concepts are easy to learn, and easy to use in daily life. There are some gems here that you’ll find nowhere else. So lets begin, and the best way to begin is to begin at the beginning…. And so let’s begin in the ancient way with a chant. In Hawaii the highest compliment you can pay someone is to write a song for someone, or better, sing a song to them…. This is a traditional chant to the goddess Laka, and it says:

Oh goddess Laka
0 wildwood bouquet, 0 Laka
0 Laka, queen of the voice
0 Laka, giver of gifts
0 Laka, giver of bounty
0 Laka, giver of all things
I greet you with love.


The Initiation Chant: “E Laka E”

E Laka e
Pupu we'uwe'u, e Laka e
E Laka i ka leo
E Laka i ka loa'a
E Laka i ka wai wai
E Laka i na mea a pau
Ano ai ke aloha e


…and with that, they’d begun.

Max Doubt says: Oh here we go – a happy clappy new age meeting! Room full of saddos who need to get out more. And to think they’re actually paying for this!

For starters, we’re not Hawaiian, so who cares? Give me some fags, Big Brother and a Saturday night out and I’m a happy man. I mean, what else is there?

Spiritual growth? I’ll show you a 50 year old malt whiskey – now that’s spiritual growth! Listen, here’s the deal - you’re born, you work hard and if you’re lucky you get a watch, then you die. End of. Nothing more to it. No afterlife, no higher power – you’re just gone. Game over. El deleto.

All of this pseudo-religious stuff is just a fall back option for folk who need propping up. Life’s hard – live with it. We’ve all got battle scars, and it toughens you up. Life’s really simple – learn your craft, work hard, save the pennies and hope for the best, because that’s all there is. And if you’re lucky you make it to the end with all your faculties. Some poor buggers don’t – they get kept in the basement for 20 years, or gassed by their suicidal Dad’s exhaust fumes. That’s them, not me. Nothing I can do about it.

And there’s the kicker – a Hawaiian chant?! I’ve always been a good wee chanter myself! But C’mon, what’s that all about? GET A LIFE!

Your turn: Who do you agree with? The wise old woman, or the cynic? Cast your vote online HERE

Sunday, June 08, 2008

Who Else Wants A Free iPod?

Meditation On The Spanish Retreat



This week I'm in the Murcia region of Spain at the world class La Manga resort. Walking up the hill in the blazing sunshine I said to Cheryl that I didn't feel any real connection with Spain. Totally unlike Hawaii, where everyting is sacred - the
trees, the winds, the land, the rocks. To me, and only having been here for 3 days, I felt no affinity or bond with this country.

Then Cheryl made me stop and wonder - she said that was because I'd had no spiritual training or history with Spain, whereas I first started studying Hawaiian Huna in 1996 and then subsequently trained in Hawaii over two and a half years. And I've
often said that when my feet touched the ground in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii, I immediately felt that "homecoming" feeling that I'd only ever read about. In sharp contrast, Spain felt arid, dry and impersonal.

Until today - today we spent the afternoon at La Cala [pictured above] - a small, private beach surrounded by tall cliffs and thrashing ocean, and there I felt compelled to repeat a 5 Element Meditation on the lava rocks jutting out into the sea, just as I'd done at the city of refuge Ho'naunau in Hawaii...

Feeling the scorching fire element on my skin, thankfully cooled by the air element of the sea breeze, sitting on roasting hot lava rock with sand particles between my toes connecting me back to earth. All the while looking out over the powerful water element rhythmically pounding the outcrop down to a smooth, polished ramp that slopes steeply into the frothing waves...

And then it struck me - the five elements have no nationality, no regional accent and no political preference. They're just there. Ever present. It doesn't matter where you are. The Hawaiians say Hawaii is a place inside you - its a feeling - its
a connectedness to the five elements [including the etheric I'o that permeates everything] that make up everything, even you and me.

So Spain now feels different. Or rather, I do. I had a hunch that coming to Spain to run a Retreat would have other effects on me...