Complete surrender spiritually is seen as a virtue by some, but is it? Find out what spiritual surrender truly means and why it might not be such a good idea.
One minute, you’re succeeding in life, feeling great, and spiritually, you feel connected to the all. The next, you may start stumbling, feel horrible, and feel so disconnected from everything spiritually, you might wonder if feeling like you had been connected was your imagination. Some people say times like these call for complete spiritual submission, but to what or who, and what does that even mean? Join SpiritualBlossom to find out. Discover what spiritual surrender is and who you might submit to. Find out how it can help and how it can be bad. Then, find out how to know whether to submit, or remain fully in control of your own spirituality. If you ever felt like it might be better for someone else to be in the driver’s seat of your spirituality, but you’re not sure, you have come to the right place. Read on.
What is Spiritual Surrender?
Spiritual surrender is completely giving up control of your own will. It means having radical trust, relaxing expectations, and believing that someone else is in complete control. It also means giving that control to someone else. For some people, the number one thing that spiritual surrender is becomes complete control by a higher power. It also means doing exactly what you feel your higher power or the person who you have given control of you want you to do. It means that if you believe something is right, but you're told by a spiritual person or what you feel is a spirit that what you think is right is wrong, you won't do what you feel is right.
Some people say it means completely giving up worries and belief that someone else will handle everything. Some people find that very empowering because they believe it gives them the freedom to not be afraid anymore. People who spiritually surrender believe that there is a higher purpose that they must follow, rather than their own purpose. This will include a lot of sacrifice and giving up things that are important to you, and that's not something that everyone wants to do. It includes self denial, the daily practice of submission, and some people believe that it will transform them spiritually. This also includes the practice of selflessness, but is that a good idea? Find out here: The Case Against Being Selfless
Who Could You Submit To?
The most surprising thing about spiritual submission is that there's not just one person who you submit to when you do that. Most people who submit spiritually submit in a lot of different ways to a lot of different people. The most common is submitting to your higher power. However most of the time this includes a lot of submission to other human beings who insist that they know what's best. Some people don't necessarily submit to a spiritual being or people, but to some kind of cause for purpose.
Your Higher Power
Submission to the will of a goddess, god, or the universe in general as the most common form of spiritual submission. Some people believe that if they give all of their trust and lay aside all of their personal powers and align with the will of their higher power that it will make them spiritually complete. Some people believe that it will help to unite them with their higher power and make them spiritually pure. Others believe that it will give a deeper sense of connection to universal truths and help them belong to the all. They do this by being completely obedient to the commandments of their faith, letting go of anything that they feel separates them from their goddess or god, and just believing that their higher power knows what's best.
Other People
Some people speak to their higher power themselves, but others give complete trust to their leaders. Teachers, clergy, and lower ranking leaders in their organizations who are considered authority figures may say that they know exactly what the higher power wants and anybody who goes against them is going against the higher power. The very act of questioning such people is seen as questioning the higher power. A lot of people feel very comforted by the fact that they believe there are such human spiritual leaders who have these answers. It makes them feel guided and that they don't have to worry about making the wrong decisions. For other people, blindly obeying human beings can be a deal breaker. Red about relationship deal breakers here: What Are Deal Breakers?
A Cause
Some people completely submit their spirituality and their whole lives to a cause instead of an individual person or goddess or god. This isn't distinctive to just religious causes. Some people submit their whole lives to a sport, a hobby, their career, or even just a family. Everything that they say and do will revolve around whatever cause it is that they have submitted themselves to. This cause will become someone's whole identity, they will not have time or a desire to be involved in anything else, and without it they will feel like they are completely lost. Some people's submission to a cause can become obsessive, and they will be unable to function doing anything else.
When Surrender Helps
Some people will not spiritually submit, but others will. They say they submit because they need to learn, and the people who lead them are those who they need to follow. They say it's good to submit when they know that they are safe with the one they're submitting to, and they know that they are loved and those they are submitting to have their best interests in mind.
You Are Led
Submitting doesn't have to be forever. That can be temporary for when you're learning and you need someone to lead you. You're not giving them complete control of your life, you're just giving them complete trust that they know what's best. To be fair, there are going to be times when we all have to be led or taught. Trusting your leaders does not mean that you give over everything to them. It just means you trust their direction, and that they will know the best thing to do. Where would we be without our teachers, mentors, trainers, and supervisors? One day, someone will need to trust you enough to lead them. You can’t trust toxic leaders at work. Find out what to do about a toxic work environment here: What to Do About a Toxic Job Environment
You Are Safe
It might feel alright to submit to someone if you know you're safe with them. Signs that someone is a safe person includes that they are honest about their intentions and their actions support what they say they're going to do. They will respect you and show that by caring about your privacy, personal space, boundaries, emotional needs, and your relationships. They will listen without judgment, and they're more interested in helping you learn than looking down on you. They will be patient with you, and they will have demonstrated over time that you can trust them. They will validate your feelings and everything they do will show that they care.
You Are Loved
If someone truly loves you, you might feel safe submitting to them. They care about your feelings, and show devotion to you over time. They will be more concerned about your feelings than things that they want. They won’t need you in their life, but they will want you in their life. They will put you first and never be selfish with you. The longer you are together, the more you will want to be together. When somebody loves you, you will be one of the most important things if not the most important thing in their life. There are signs someone loves you and you can read about them here: How Do I Know if He Loves Me?
When Surrender is Bad
It's not always a good idea to surrender to people though. If someone is so authoritative you have zero say in anything, don't give them that kind of power over you. When you're not allowed to think for yourself, it’s dangerous. Don't submit. When questions are silenced or met with anger, walk away instead of submitting. When someone threatens you with punishment if you don't do everything they say, don't give them any control over you.
You Have Zero Say
Submission is not involuntary servitude. It just means that you give complete trust and aren't filled with doubts like you would be with someone that you have not given yourself over to. If you have no choices, aren't allowed to express preferences, or are told to do something just because you're told to do it, you don't have any say in the matter. Someone who treats you like that does not deserve the trust of being in charge.
You Aren’t Allowed to Think
We are all born with a hungry mind, wanting to learn, explore, and grow. Anyone who would try to restrain that or take it away from you is a dangerous individual and has some kind of problems. You can't fix those problems for them by letting them push you around. Such people need to feel power over others and giving it to them is enabling them instead of allowing them to go and get the help that they need. Enabling abuse is a form of self-sabotage. Find out how to end it here: How to Stop Self Destruction
Questions are Silenced
Some people refuse to allow questions, and they don't think that they should have to prove themselves. Never submit to anyone like that. Signs that someone silences questions are if they ignore any concern that you have, and when you ask them why something is the way it is they say something like ”Because I said so.” It's fair to say that sometimes even leaders get tired, and they just need people to help them with things. However, someone who never answers questions or gets upset when you ask them a question should never be trusted.
Punishment is a Possibility
When you decide to trust someone enough to let them lead you, and they begin to threaten you if you are not obedient enough, they don't have your best interests in mind. Such people can be very good at hiding this when you're first getting to know them, but over time is it noticable. The minute they start to give you the silent treatment if you're not doing everything they want, or they try to take things away from you that they know are important to you, they're punishing you because you're not stoking their ego. They do not deserve your trust. Such people struggle with humility. Find out how to defeat the ego here: Humbleness - The Art of Defeating Your Ego
When Can You Surrender?
Some people won't surrender to anyone or anything, but other people feel the need to at times. There are some signs that it might be okay to surrender. If it feels right, trust yourself and go with it. If you are certain that it's safe to do so and no one is threatening you, go for it if you want. If nobody else will benefit from this and you retain free will, you are able to question things, and can leave any time you want to, give it a try if you want.
It Feels Right
Deep down in your soul, you always know what's right for you. Do you know the difference between something that feels right and something exciting? When the initial allure of something wears off and you're not dizzy with anticipation, if things still feel right, go for it.
You Know It’s Safe
You should be fully aware of the risks of getting involved before you completely give yourself over. Whenever someone is promoting themselves as a beacon of leadership or a safe person or space, they will always focus on what they feel are their best attributes. However, they won't necessarily be honest about their imperfections, what they personally need to work on, and what the drawbacks of being involved are. So, you're going to need to look into that yourself. Make sure everything is safe before submitting yourself.
You’re Not Being Threatened
If nobody is threatening you with punishment, disenfranchisement, or belittling you if you aren't completely obedient, this might be a good bet. Anytime someone tells you they will bring harm or suffering upon you if you don't do everything they say, don't give them any control over you whatsoever.
Nobody Else Would Benefit
Giving over should only benefit you. If someone benefits financially, or they gain power by having you under their control, it’s dangerous. If they seek to take ownership of anything of yours, that’s bad. It is a great honor to hold people's trust but also a great responsibility. If someone is focused on what they can get from you by having control, don't give it to them.
You Retain Free Will
You should always be able to make decisions, and have the freedom to come and go at any time. Anyone who tells you that once you come you must stay forever is dangerous. Anyone who tells you that if you leave you can never come back doesn't care about you. If you don't retain full freedom, don't give anyone that type of trust.
People who want us to fully trust them count on our submission, but not everybody deserves that trust. Spiritual submission can be good when you're led by the right person, and it can also be bad. Make sure you feel safe, there are no threats, and you retain full free will if you're going to submit. Spiritual submission isn't for everyone, but if it's for you, it should benefit you and not harm you in any way.
Do you have concerns about something that you're thinking about giving yourself over to? Reach out to one of our psychics to find the answers today.
About the Author: Lady Saoirse has studied magic and lore for most of her life but started walking her own Magical Path after being spiritually reborn in the desert. Today she is a High Priestess for The Temple of the Goddess, she is a psychic advisor and spiritual counselor, she shares her gifts as a Psychic and Content Writer for Mysticsense and SpiritualBlossom, and she writes for PaganPages.Org emag and Green Egg Magazine.
