The Power of Forgiveness and the Egyptian Afterlife
Turns out the Egyptians had it right. There’s an ancient Egyptian story about how they would weigh a person’s heart to see if they could enter the afterlife. If the heart was light enough, the soul could pass through the gates.
But what does light really mean?
It means the person wasn’t carrying grudges. They weren’t clinging to material things, or even overly attached to people. They had learned to let go.
So what is the number one superpower that lightens the heart?
Forgiveness.
It’s one of the most difficult practices for humans, yet it may be the most transformational. Forgiveness lifts the invisible weight we carry and restores a quiet dignity within us.
Not coincidentally, forgiveness was also one of the Nazarene’s central teachings—so deeply embodied that he forgave even those who were executing him. That is power on an entirely different level.
Yes, people do awful things. Truly awful things.
But when we refuse to forgive, we don’t just punish them—we carry the burden ourselves.
You’ve probably heard the saying about anger:
It’s like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.
It doesn’t work that way.
Anger slowly harms the one who holds it.
According to Chinese medicine, anger is stored in the liver—about the last place we’d want to stockpile emotional toxins. And yet, here in the West, we’re often encouraged to medicate the symptoms rather than release the cause.
I count my lucky stars that I found something called Qigong, which literally means the cultivation of life-force energy. Through movement, breath, and awareness, Qigong allows us to physically and energetically purge anger from the liver—no side effects, no fine print.
Of course, a healthy dash of forgiveness helps make that release real.
And here’s the karmic twist most people miss:
When you forgive, you let go of the bag of karma you were holding—and the other person finally has to pick it up themselves.
Ironically, holding onto anger, resentment, or hatred can actually delay accountability. Your emotional attachment can keep the energy stuck, even protecting the other person from fully facing the consequences of their actions.
Forgiveness isn’t weakness.
It’s precision.
And remember this: everyone is doing the best they can at their level of consciousness—including you. We all make mistakes. We all fall short.
Forgiveness is the fastest route to ensure that, when it’s our turn, grace will meet us too.
After all:
Judge not, lest ye be judged.
So here’s a simple practice.
Picture whatever you’re angry about.
See it bubbling up from your body, rising like steam.
Watch it float away.
That’s it.
Light heart. Open gate.
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