Huna Article
Huna International
Huna and the Root Canal
by Peggy Kemp
Six months ago I had a deep old filling replaced in one of my teeth. It felt fine afterward, but recently
flared up; it hurt so bad I couldn't eat or sleep for 3 days. I went on a liquid diet and lost 6 pounds. It
gave me a new awareness about eating, which was really positive. I often crave salty, crunchy things when
I'm not truly hungry. Sometimes I'm actually thirsty and sometimes I'm just bored or have lost focus on what
I was doing. I've kept that weight off and lost some more since, which is one of my goals. But that
toothache was not the most optimum way to gain that awareness. "I can be aware without being in pain." I
continually tell my ku this, but I often end up learning the most about healing under painful circumstances.
This can change!
In the meantime, the Hunaquest course was about to start, and I was planning on attending, as well as
covering my most important administrative jobs at Aloha International. I had no time to have an aching tooth
draining my energy. Serge suggested that as a pulsating inflammation it was likely to be anger-related, so I
tried blanket forgiveness. That put me to sleep with my hand cupped lovingly over my jaw near the tooth. At
least I slept for a few hours!
I had a funny dream, too. Serge was in it. In the dream I told him that I had been practicing blanket
forgiveness and that I fell asleep. He looked at me kind of funny and said "Hmm, most people don't fall
asleep while doing blanket forgiveness. Maybe you really are sick and should see a doctor."
When I woke up, laughing, I was in so much pain I couldn't see straight. That pain far exceeded my fear of
the dentist. I wasn't sure I could drive my car, but I did. I called the emergency dentist recommended by my
friend Fern (who turned out to be a delightful woman), and had an x-ray and got my jaw numbed for 4 hours
while I got some heavy-duty narcotics and antibiotics in me. Hey, work on every level, that's my motto. You
don't necessarily gain by being in pain. You do whatever works best, and more than one thing if the first
thing doesn't work. It eased the crisis symptoms, but didn't solve the problem. The tooth was still
sensitive and felt hollow and loose. It just wasn't in harmony. I resisted getting a root canal, wanting to
heal it myself, if possible.
One thing it brought to my attention was that I was clenching my teeth at night in my sleep. I was waking up
with my jaw clamped down and pressure right on that tooth. Wow, I thought I was pretty cool, calm and
collected, but there was some maximum stress present. Meditating on beauty before sleeping helped with this
somewhat, but wasn't entirely effective.
Serge suggested the Bowl of Beans technique, since I couldn't think of anything I was really angry at. (See
the bottom of the page for the description of the technique.) I didn't even use the "real" bowl and the
"real" beans, so I may have partially defeated one of the purposes of the Bowl of Beans, which is to
integrate the ku and lono and higher self by doing a physical activity accompanied by a mental statement.
Or did I? I went on a journey to my inner garden, and when I got there the bowls and beans were waiting in
the temple. I did it there and all sorts of things bubbled up. I made the statement "I am not angry at
anyone or anything." I moved a bean. Nothing. "See, I'm not mad at anyone." I said it again and moved
another bean. Nothing. Statement by statement, bean by bean, it came up. I was bone deep angry with
President Bush and the United States government over this unjust war in Iraq. I was angry with a "difficult"
client. I regretted not getting to the beach more. I wished my mother wanted to move to Kaua'i, so we could
be physically closer. I missed my Dad. There was a whole raft of things I couldn't "chew on."
As I returned the beans, one by one, to their first bowl, I blessed everyone, including myself, and asked
the Goddesses to help me forgive everything, including myself, and walk in the ways of loving compassion.
Then I came back. I haven't clenched my teeth nearly as much since then. Nonetheless, the tooth didn't heal
completely. It didn't actively hurt much and I could eat again, but it was sensitive and a little wobbly at
times. It just wasn't "right."
It was really swell being able to take Hunaquest again. I am a really busy person; I don't always take as
much time as I would like to spend in journeying, meditation, and learning. I work shamanically with
clients, but I don't always take the time for personal development. Hunaquest is about personal development,
both of your shamanic skills and your confidence and focus, the key ingredients for success in just about
every endeavor. I am deeply grateful for this time of being outside on Kauai every day for a week, sitting
by the sea or walking in the woods, putting my focus on learning and deepening my shamanic experience - all
this with a focus of really opening to all the wonderful possibilities the universe held for me on my path
as a shaman healer. Hunaquest can be a life-transforming experience if you are willing and open to it. I
have taken it three times now, and each time was different - different issues and questions came up, and
each time was powerful in terms of growth and increase in confidence.
One result of this focused week manifested as an opportunity for my sweetheart Matthew and me to live and
work at an eco-resort on an island in Fiji. This is an exciting possibility and we've been doing a lot of
research around it. One of the items I read about Fiji on the Internet said, "You don't want to have dental
work done in Fiji. If you have a problem, take care of it before you leave." That was pretty direct! Take
care of that tooth.
Of all activities, going to the dentist rates the lowest with me. I actively fear dentists, no matter how
nice they are personally. My ku has been known to take me screaming out of the room when they appear. I have
gagged, screamed, cried and thrown punches. I am a "difficult" client. Using Huna and piko piko breathing, I
have been able to control this panic and actually sit in the chair without using nitrous oxide gas to
half-sedate me. I am really proud of this accomplishment, after 50 years of being phobic about going to the
dentist.
After 2 more weeks went by with no improvement, despite using a variety of healing techniques, I decided to
have the root canal. I did it this morning. I went in at 8 a.m. and had a root canal with no gas to blunt
the edge of my panic. I went in with a firm expectation that everything was going to be just fine, that
there would be no pain, that I could handle the whole experience. I breathed, I did Dynamind, and I put my
focus on pleasant things that could happen in the future, like living in Fiji for a year. They were very
kind to me. They are very nice people. Afterward, the dentist told me that the root was nearly dead, that
the root canal and crown were the only things he had to offer in that case, so it had been the right thing
to do, from his point of view.
Next week I will get a gold peg inserted and a temporary crown, followed by the permanent crown 3 weeks
after that. I'm going to be blessed with two MORE chances to practice Huna at the dentist, and use what I
learned at Hunaquest for healing on myself again.
The Bowl of Beans Technique
Have at hand 50 beans (or shells, stones, or similar items - but small and uniform in shape) and 2 bowls.
Put the bowls side by side in front of you. Put all the beans into one bowl. Move one bean at a time to the
second bowl. It doesn't matter which direction you go, right or left. Each time make a statement. Continue
to do this with all of the beans and be aware of the thoughts and feelings that come up.
The Bowl of Beans technique has two (and probably more) practical applications: manifestation and increasing
awareness.
For manifestation, the statements might be something like "I know all the answers" (before an exam) or "I
know I will succeed" or "I have plenty of extra money, I can afford to donate to others." Continue to make
the statement with feeling and confidence, moving a bean each time. If doubts arise, move another bean and
make the statement again with enthusiasm.
For increasing awareness, the statement might be something like "I am not angry at anyone" or "I am not
guilty about anything." If you do have feelings that are hidden, they will percolate into awareness as you
move the beans.
Give us feedback
Try out the Bowl of Beans technique and let us know how it worked for you. We are always interested in
receiving feedback and hearing about your shamanic healing experiences. Email: huna@huna.org.
Copyright Huna International 2003
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