Hi, everyone,

This morning I was reading the post on being judgmental (I think it's under "General Discussions"), and Tourbi mentioned something about learning to surrender to the Divine.  As I told her in a PM (she wisely--of course !--suggested we open up the discussion to others here), it's something I've been feeling a desire and need to do, because I instinctively feel that it will help me in innumerable ways.  I've been "forced" (in a good way) to reconsider who/what the Divine is, and what my relationship to it can and should be, over the past year.  As a "lapsed Catholic" there's been this rebellious sense in me for a long time that equates surrendering to the Divine with surrendering to the narrow teachings of what I see as an intolerant Church...but that's not it at all, is it?

I'd just love to hear what others think on the subject, as well as the ways in which you learn to allow yourself that surrender (if you do).

Thank you,

Doe  

Surrender.  My teacher Jonathan Parker brought it out in one of his lectures and then shared how he does it.
It is not coming from a place of, I am a looser and am surrendering to the winner.  It is a place of recognizing that me, the human being, is not here to be the Creative Force of the Universe, or even my universe.  It is a recognition that I can't be in control, that I am the Child, well loved Child of my Divine Parents, who are so prepared to take care of everything.

He suggests to surrender everything, instead of  trying to make a list of things to surrender.  Things good, things not good, things happy, things anger making, everything.
I surrender all my relationships now, my feelings, my weight, my health, my control, being in control, fear of not being in control, judgments of myself and all others, how others behave, how I behave and everything else in between.

I have found that things are changing for me.  My relationship with my partner is subtly changing, for the better.  I have a lot to surrender.  I find myself frustrated that I have surrendered truly.  I keep surrendering my judgments of people, that gets me angry and frustrated.  

It's a choice.  It's a deliberate choice.  I am now finding myself surrendering to Mother, Father, Goddess, God throughout the day.  I am much more at peace, much happier.  The burdens are disappearing and solutions are arriving.  

I hope this helps for understanding where I have been coming from.

Thanks, Tourbi, for starting things off.  At the moment I'm just posting so that I get the "Message reply" emails on this thread, so that I can see others' responses too.  For some reason, I don't always get them on threads I start until I've actually posted something else to them afterwards.

Doe

I'm not sure I understand the surrender concept.  I know that I live with knowing I'm not "in control". I know that I make choices constantly and that I must live with those consequences.  I have lived my life thus far in "thinking" mode.  I know I cannot change another person.  I don't try.  It just never made sense to me to try to change someone else.  If I have to change someone to fit my wants or needs, then I need to find someone else to meet that need or desire.  I tend to see both sides of the story; meaning ok, yeah, I'm divorced.  And I don't think he is a very nice person.  And I KNOW he was bad for.  But I can see his side too.  I don't agree with his side, but it doesn't make him a bad person, just not for me.  
I guess what I'm trying to say is, I know I can make my prayers, or make my magic, and if my "wish" doesn't come about then there is a reason, a factor beyond my control.  I may be disappointed or heartbroken or any number of emotional reactions but all in all I think I am right where I'm supposed to be at the time.  I accept that I can control me (for the most part! insert wry smiley emoticon)  but I can't fix or control everything around me.  I can however, try to make the time and place work well for me and those around me.  
and life for me isn't written in a guide book with answers for everything.  I try to continue to learn, to think, to feel, to share.
I may be totally off base here.  I just don't know if I've surrendered or if I just accept life as it comes or if I'm just completely nuts.
just sayin'

Hmmm I am not sure that I would ever surrender in the ways that I have understood this to mean... I have accepted many things, and I know that there are things that it will do no good to rail against, but I did not surrender to them, just accepted that they are not part of what I am wanting to accomplish. My weight, does not keep me from being beautiful and loved. My anger, does not control me, I control it. It is something that I choose not to let get the best of me... Without that I know that many of you here would not like the person who I would be... Life is about choices and everyone's are going to be different, and while surrender may call out to you... there are those who will never 'get' it as it does not call to them. Surrender for me is just completely letting go, of losing myself in something.. and there are only a few things that I would surrender to, Love being one of them.

I just wanted to add into the discussion.

Light, Love, and Blessings,
                                       Nyte