Some years ago I shared Paul Ferrini’s Four Axioms of Forgiveness with the readers, and I feel the general climate these days calls for a review of these wonderful ideas. They are as follows:
Forgiveness starts in our hearts. Only when we have forgiven ourselves can we give it to, or receive it from others.
Forgiveness is not conditional, even though our practice of it often is.
Forgiveness is an ongoing process. It continues in response to every judgment we make about ourselves or others.
. Every gesture of forgiveness is sufficient. What we are able to do now is enough. This understanding enables us to practice forgiveness with forgiveness.
No elaborations of these four axioms is necessary, for they are quite useful as they stand. What I will do is add one more small addition to this stellar group as follows:
Once we have begun the forgiveness practice, we are free to leave the physical atmosphere if we need or want to. We need not remain in a circumstance, once forgiven and released, that still may contain toxic overtones.
And this makes five….
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