I have become interested in spiritual surrender. I used to dismiss this possibility in me since I thought it entailed having a clear idea about God, i.e. that this is what you surrendered your will/ego to. I am not that interested in defining what I think God is since that seems to come from thought and desires, i.e. not experience or faith. (I am a realist, i.e. keen not to be duped). However, it struck me recently that you can just surrender to what you feel is a higher power and that is something I acknowledge and
feel comfortable with.
I would welcome your experiences of spiritual surrender since this is new territory for me. My motive is one of increased spirituality and to be more heart centred. I am at peace with myself but am prone to have strong opinions which I think need softening. I would like to be guided more by a greater power but not quite sure how to do this, i.e. what it entails. I realise being receptive, open is key. (Praying is not a route I feel comfortable about since a personal God is not something I resonate with).
What do you do to experience spiritual surrender i.e. outside of religion and (preferably) without a clear concept of God?
Hi Amy
We all have a higher self, which is an aspect of self that tends to mostly observe but gives us warnings when we are doing something which is in opposition to what we are (that differs from person to person) or when something is not as it should be, like an accident is going to happen around us or with us etc.
So I would say that the surrender that is requires is to self, but this requires self acceptance in an open and non-judgmental way. So rather than placing a judgment of a need to be spiritual (which is basically telling self that we are rejecting self because we are not good enough to be whatever we judge spiritual to be as we are), we simply let go of expectations, judgments and desires that create inner divisional conflicts, then simply relax into self acceptance and be happy to just be.
Hi Amy
We all have a higher self, which is an aspect of self that tends to mostly observe but gives us warnings when we are doing something which is in opposition to what we are (that differs from person to person) or when something is not as it should be, like an accident is going to happen around us or with us etc.
So I would say that the surrender that is requires is to self, but this requires self acceptance in an open and non-judgmental way. So rather than placing a judgment of a need to be spiritual (which is basically telling self that we are rejecting self because we are not good enough to be whatever we judge spiritual to be as we are), we simply let go of expectations, judgments and desires that create inner divisional conflicts, then simply relax into self acceptance and be happy to just be.
I am in touch with my higher self/intuition. (I always thought that higher self and intuition seemed to be one and the same so asked this on several spiritual forums; the replies were all affirmative).
I don't need to be spiritual....I already am! I would like to become MORE spiritual, i.e. purer, less tainted by ego - hence the interest in spiritual surrender.
I can't see myself ever letting go of judgements. I know they can be seen as taboo but we have had all this out before on other threads Paul. I think value judgements are to be carefully monitored, not judgements per se. I don't have expectations either...not my thing.
As mentioned I have peace so the inner conflict is not something that resonates with myself. A desire to improve is beneficial I feel and not to be thwarted. There is a danger of stagnation if we become too complacent I feel and there is always room for improvement but then I don't view that we are perfect as we are (that feels like glossing over issues).
I do accept myself but I don't see this as spiritual surrender.....i.e. surrendering to a higher power. This is what I am wanting to find out how to do. Maybe it's a question of letting the ego take a back seat but am not sure how to do this on a practical level, i.e. in the normal run of things.
I don't believe in a higher power (in the 'God' sense), nor a 'higher self. But it is important in shamanism to surrender to spirits, to the process and to what is.
I recognise a higher power in the form of divine love. Also, in cases of synchronicity, it does feel like a guided hand is at work. I am beginning to think that spiritual surrender might mean giving up freewill which I am reluctant to do. It is freewill that keeps me buoyant, i.e. with a positive mindset. Perhaps my direction is to become more heart centred - it is beginning to seem that way.
I am able to access my intuition, which is when my ego takes a back seat - that is a form of surrender.