Surrender to a Higher Power

One of my most powerful and fulfilling experiences happened to me recently in a most unexpected way. Several clients I work with privately were going to be in the area. I decided to do something I’d never done before: hold a fire ceremony for them as a group.

They came from different parts of the world and, while they knew about each other, they had never met.

As we went to the fire we sought to experience together what each of them had only experienced with me individually. I opened the space ceremonially and then sat back and let them tell their story.

In common they realized that while they’d all found their way to my fire in various ways, they were actually answering a call.

There was

through which they found their way.

No one finds their way to the fire by accident.

No one finds their way to me by accident. Not because of who I am, but because what I’m doing is so utterly unique that if someone finds their way here it’s a miracle.

It’s because their spirit brought them here. 

As the evening unfolded, a definite theme emerged…

Surrender

The idea of surrender to a higher power, surrendering what no longer serves us. Letting go of what has served its purpose and being able to move on and trust the way that the surrender offers.

It’s more than just being ready to surrender, it’s more than being able to say the words, “I surrender.” When this happens at the fire,  I stop them to ask,

“What do you surrender?”

I ask them to speak their surrender aloud because the whole universe is listening. The next question is,

“And to whom do you surrender?”

Often the automatic response is,”I surrender to God.” So I gently say,

“Tell me about your God. Tell me what your relationship is with God? How do you relate to that higher power, your source, your creator?” And they do, and it’s rich and it’s beautiful and it anchors something in them.

Signs of Spiritual Surrender

It’s something we often find so hard to talk about. There’s something about sharing these words in a group that makes it more real for each of them.

It makes it real when one person talks about surrendering their anger.

Or when another talks about their relationship with a partner, children or work associates.

To be more accepting of themselves and others and to have an increased ability to listen for what’s theirs to hear, to listen for guidance and to feel the guidance. To feel guided and to trust it.

To experience a greater capacity to forgive themselves and others. To have self-acceptance and a deepening trust in themselves and in the world, in the universe, in the course of their lives.

As they move, tentatively at first, so can you move along… feeling a greater connection to love and to the source of love and to recognize each of us is the source of love.

It causes us to take a step back and pause. To reflect, to listen, to understand.