So then...
I believe the most powerful way to do this is to be honest with those you have betrayed. Of course this takes courage but will lead to clarity of soul. Many are not ready for this degree of clarity as witnessed by the fear that comes at the thought of facing it. Truth = coherence. Any other approach is fooling one's self (our culture is an inveritable madhouse of people fooling themselves..just look around). There are even lots of fluff new age ways which are nothing more of further ego placation (affirmations without integrated coherency for instance).
Carlos Castaneda was taught a powerful way of absolving "karma" quickly and effectively and that was by restitution. In otherwords, make it right. Balance the equation. The only way to be forgiven by another is to ask for it. Just as important is to forgive yourself. Things that are hidden away are not real. The universe (god) knows all energy exchanges anyway. Your "loved ones" will too, after transition("death"). No third party can "absolve" your sins as you are the creator of your reality so only you can balance your energy exchanges.
I recommned reading Byron Katie's "Loving What Is." She also reverberates what Carlos Castaneda says and that is to face your mess and uncreate it. Facing one's creation is your only true salvation. If you don't, then the universe will give you the opportunity to do it anyway...such is the karmic game. The "sweep it under the carpet" approach just lengthens the balancing required. If not now ....later, the universe is patient.
Also Read the 4 Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.
Many clear, non dogmatic, spiritual people believe the same.
Short cuts to facing things as they are, are just more self lies that lead one around in karmic circles. Being trapped in "the story" or the illusion of life.."maya" tends tend to be generated out of a path of least resistance to facing or owning our creation. Truth is truth and it is the clear, exact path our of debt!
I know this facing truth method may not be what a person may want to hear. That's why absolving "sins" once a week is such a big business. :-) We tend to resonate with/seek the answers of our current awareness. A good indicator of a karmic trap is when their is still doubt or fear in our correction of a karmic event. Again truth is exact and short circuits all doubt and fear connected with the events that one is correcting by facing them directly.
