Laulima: Many Hands Working Together in the Spirit of Aloha
A few years ago, the idea of Laulima was introduced to me, when a Lomi Lomi practitioner, told me a quote by his Kumu (teacher):
“There’s a practice in Hawaii called Laulima.
It is the practice of the Aloha Spirit where we as a group connect spiritually together and with our land. We lay hands on someone with a health issue and raise the vibration by the generosity of Aloha, practicing the presence of the Breath of God, with us. This is Laulima.
At the center of the spiritual meaning of Hawaiian words is“all is only one”. Laulima is delicious. It’s energy work in its least complicated form.
Laulima is quite miraculous, for it is actually the Divine Light’s intention for people to feel better. Remember in Laulima God is present. When two or more people gather God is there. Laulima is not your energy, but God’s ” Harry Uhane Jim 1
Laulima literally means “many hands working together,” (lau-leaf, lima–arm) and it represents a pillar principle within the Hawaiian culture(2).
When applied to healing, Laulima is the universal healing principle of many hands working together in cooperation, love, and harmony. It is the natural flow of Aloha. In the Lomi tradition, it works through the laying on of many hands on the recipient(1).
Hearing Harry Jim (3) describe a ceremony with his grandmother in her nineties reminded me of a scene from James Cameron’s movie “Avatar”. In the scene, the Navi connect together as a group and to the American scientist Grace, who is dying. She is connected to the spirit tree which connects her “to the spirit of the land” (Eywa). Energy is channeled from the group and Eywa to Grace in an attempt to heal her.
With a stirring of intrigue and familiarity, I dug a little deeper. I realized with amazement that I experienced something similar years ago even though I had no experience with Lomi or Hawaiian healing.
It had arisen naturally during a group shamanic healing session I was participating in during a course in London back in 2007. In this session, our teacher was laying hands on the recipient, while connecting to spirit. The rest of us were surrounding the recipient in a circle, supporting the healing through intention and being clear channels for the energy of love to flow through to the receiver. We witnessed a huge transformation right before our eyes as she released massive energetic blocks trapped in her body. She had been trying for a long time to have a baby and at 40 years old, she felt the pressure of the time clock ticking. She was stuck and emotionally blocked. She conceived soon after the session and gave birth to an angelic daughter the following year.
Many of us present in that powerful session bonded deeply from the experience. The spirit of working in love and cooperation and harmony runs deep. In fact, life took on a whole new dimension from that moment on.
I found a reference to Laulima by the Hawaii Convention Center, whose motto is “where business and Aloha meet”. Reading their interpretation was a little less mystical and offers a practical definition:
“The concept of Laulima can be applied to any goal and vision we have in any part of life. Working together is imperative and success is found in the contributions of many hands working together. Laulima embodies the essence of what it means to live Aloha.”
As it applies today, we are all a vital part of our collective success… Laulima transcends into our work, family, social and economic behaviors. Placing emphasis on Laulima in any situation will yield great benefits. A`ohe hana nui ke alu`ia – No work is too big when shared by all (2)
Laulima – Many hands working together in the spirit of Aloha – in harmony, co-operation and love, connected with the spirit of divine grace.
To practice, establish a divine intention, ask for help and set a goal, gather your team. Connect with spirit. Be guided by Grace. Surrender as you are held and let the transformation occur.
The work of Maui Healing Retreat naturally embraces Laulima. It is the Aloha created by the healers working together behind the scenes, within a sacred space with the intention of healing the recipient. The intentions of the giver and receiver are very powerful, magnified by the sacred space that the land of Maui is. This is transformational work at its most divine.
Like so many amazing gifts from the Hawaiian culture, Laulima conceptualizes a spiritual healing principle that is universal.
1.Wise Secrets of Aloha: Learn and Live the Sacred Art of Lomilomi By Harry Uhane Jim, Garnette Arledge
2. Hawaii Convention Center Blog Posted on September 3, 2012 by Sherry Pokakaa
3. Harry Uhane Jim describing Laulima during a demonstration on the Big Island of Hawaii You Tube