Kahuna Breathing

Ivan Mancinelli-Franconi, Ph.D

Some of the best healing techniques come from nature. They are so simple that we need very little training to practice and implement them. The Hawaiians have a very ancient tradition of healing, a mixture of psychology, religion and philosophy known as “Huna.” This traditional Polynesian belief system and healing tradition was first encountered by Captain James Cook in 1778, when he discovered the Hawaiian Islands. But the “Huna” tradition was already about 3000 years old. The Kahunas were the experts in religion, health, crafts, science, psychology and what today we would call magic. The term "Kahuna” means “keeper of that which is concealed” but was a title, much like our Ph.D., so descriptive words were added to express the field of expertise. “Kahuna,” by itself, today, generally refers to a priest or healer. In ancient times they were selected as children and studied for 20 years before being considered adept. The ancient prayer of the Kahunas was "Let that which is unknown become known."

The American missionaries who came after Captain Cook, in 1819, to convert the Hawaiians to Christianity, quickly grasped the value of the Kahunas knowledge and used them to translate the New Testa¬ment into Hawaiian. The Kahunas, were appalled at how missionaries prayed without proper breathing. The Hawaiians called white missionaries “Haole,” which translates as "with¬out breath, a term applied today to all non-Hawaiians. The dislike of the Missionaries toward the Kahunas, who were seen as sorcerers and adversaries, forced the Kahunas to keep their knowledge hidden to avoid political or legal repercussions.

In the early 20th century, William Tufts Brigham, curator of the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, studied for years the miraculous healings of the Kahunas, but did not find the secret of how it was done. Years later, US-born Max Freedom Long (1890-1971) who in 1917 after graduating from UCLA had gone to Hawaii to teach, met Brigham. Long became Brigham’s student until the latter died in 1926. Long spent his lifetime studying the Kahuna healing arts and found the secret of Kahuna healing encoded in the Hawaiian language. It is through his writings that we became aware of this fascinating healing philosophy.


Conscious and Subconscious Minds

Modern psychology recognizes a conscious and a subconscious part of the mind. In “Huna,” when we refer to the mind, we speak of three selves or three consciousnesses. This is similar to Freud’s theory of personality. The three selves consist of the “Lower-Self” or sub-conscious self, known in “Huna” as “Unihipili,” the “Middle-Self” or conscious self, called “Uhane, ” and the “Higher-Self,” known as “Aumakua,” similar to what Freud called the super-conscious.

The “Middle” and “Lower” selves are attached to the physical body by an ethereal body called the “Aka.” All three selves are connected by an “Aka” cord – a sort of umbilical cord, also known in other esoteric disciplines as the “Silver Cord.”

The “Unihipili,” or “Lower-Self” is the subconscious mind or basic self, and is primarily concerned with survival and the continuity of life. It is the “Id” in Freudian terms. It does not concern itself with others. It only seeks its own reward, survival or gain. The “Unihipili,” only expresses the beliefs it has taken on. It seeks our desires, self gratifications and sensory delights.

The “Uhane” or “Middle-Self” is the “Ego,” or conscious self, the mental or emotional self, the reasoning self. It is the adult self that is conscious of its own existence and has the ability to reason, rationalize and look at patterns of behavior. The “Uhane” holds and creates our belief systems, identities, judgments and values. This is the part of the self that learns, creates solutions and balances the actions of the lower self. Although the vibration of the “Middle-Self” is higher than the “Lower- Self,” it does not experience feelings or emotions unless it works in combinations with the “Lower-Self.”

The “Aumakua” is the “Higher- Self” or "Superconscious." The “Higher Self” is the parental, older, and responsible self. It may be called a sort of fiscal agent or guardian angel who helps us when requested to do so, but does not necessarily interfere unless asked to help. The “Higher-Self,” using whatever higher resources which may be required, brings all desired conditions into reality. Since the “Higher-Self” is the dwelling of the “spirit” or soul, it has a higher vibration than the “Middle” or “Lower” selves, and includes their vibrations within it. It is the “Higher-Self” that our prayers pass through to connect to the “godhead” or “creator.” When all three selves are connected and work together, our life's experiences are easily created and integrated in perfect synchronicity. When the selves are disconnected, our life becomes fragmented, confused and enters into dis-ease.


Prayer and Mana

In the “Huna” tradition, prayer is formal, has a purpose, and it is planned. It must be executed as a ritual to be effective. Through prayer we visualize thought forms. These thought forms are sent to God the Creator, through the “Aumakua” who is connected to God. The prayers are sent along the “Aka cord” (the cord that connects the physical to the spiritual self) through the three selves. The prayers are sent through an accumulation of “Mana,” the life force energy created by the breath. “Mana” is also known in other traditions as “Prana,” “Chi” or “Ki.”

“Huna” practitioners learn to concentrate the “Mana,” the vital essence by means of breath control. The ancient Kahunas emphasized proper breathing to channel the Mana to God the Creator to manifest change. This life force that permeates the universe and is highly concentrated in all living things, contains several constituents found in electricity, magnetism, and gravity.

“Mana” can be increased through visualization during the specialized breathing exercises, special foods, and chants, but in particular by consciously building up the “Mana” in the body and accompanying it by a specific thought.

In “Huna,” breathing exercises are used to send “mana” to any organ or thought-form to energize it and strengthen ourselves and others. When we control our breathing we are able to heal diseases, as well as remove our fears, worries and “Lower-Self” emotions.

“Huna” breathing is done naturally and automatically, but there is a proper way of breathing for energizing the body --the "Kahuna Breath"


The Kahuna Breathing Technique – Complete Breathing

The “Huna” breathing technique is natural , not forced breathing that is done through the nose. With regular practice this breathing will become a habit.

1. Sit or stand erect inhaling gradually through the nose and filling the lower section of the lungs applying pressure on the lower abdomen.

Fill the middle part of the lungs by expanding the chest.

Fill the upper part of the lungs pushing out the upper part of the chest.

Although this breathing technique entails three different actions, the breathing should be a continuous flowing motion filling the whole chest in one uniform movement. .

2. Hold the breath for a few seconds.

3. Exhale slowly through the mouth drawing the abdomen in and slowly lift it up while exhaling. After exhaling completely, relax the chest and abdomen.

Once you mastered the “Complete Breathing,” begin rhythmic breathing or the “Ha” breath. “Ha” means breath or “four” and is the sound you make when you exhale during the “Mana- generating” stage of the “Ha Rite.”

The “Ha” or “Four” breaths entails a 4 part breathing process: First you inhale for a count of one (1). Hold the breath for a count of one (1). Exhale for a count of two (2). Hold the breath to oxygenate the blood and activate the lymphatic system. You may use your heartbeat as a natural rhythm. Also, you can inhale for a count of four beats, hold for four, and then exhale for eight.

Now you have learned a new but ancient technique to help you release that which causes imbalance in your life.


Mahalo and Aloha!


Note: As with anything, always consult with your physician before undertaking any new discipline. This article is for educational purposes only and any use other than its intended purpose is undertaken at reader’s own risk. Author does not assume any responsibility for misuse of this information.


References

Barrere, D.B. (1971) The Kumuhonua Legends: A story of late 19th century Hawaiian Stories of Creation and Origins, Honolulu, Bernice O, Bishop Museum

Beckwith, M W (1972) The Kumulipo, A Hawaiian Creation Chant, Honolulu , The University Press of Hawaii.

Freedom Long, M. (1948) The Secret Science Behind Miracles

McBride, L.R. The Kahuna

Smith, SD (1987) Kahuna: Keeper of the Secret . Sunrise Magazine, February/March 1987;Theosophical University Press

James, T, Naope G, and Shutte, R. (1997) Lost Secrets Of Ancient Hawaiian Huna. ISBN: 0-9623272-6-3