What role does 'Surrendering' play in Reiki?

Hi Everybody,

I hear the word 'Surrendering' used in Reiki.
What does it really mean?
Where do I Start?

What are all the things I can follow that will assist me with that concept?


Thank You!


THC

For me, it entailed me reaching a crisis point in my mental/psychological and spiritual life. I've dealt with depression (unmedicated and not diagnosed) in the past, and had other issues.

The crisis point wasn't particularly dangerous. But allowing myself to trust that I don't need all the information now (I have in the past tended to be a bit impatient), and that I am on the right path, and everything is ok, has allowed me to simply live in the moment more than I have in the past.

I described the Dancing with the Jaguar journey I took, and that was a very poignant moment in my life.

Another entailed (and I might have posted this already, I don’t remember) coming off my shamanic workshop last October. I was told by my Shaman that I was approaching things with my mind too much, and not my heart. I was trying to intellectualize things too much. I came back and I was lost and upset and didn’t know where to go. It was a huge crisis moment for me, and this was after 3 years of training with her and training in hands-on energy work. Tuesday after the workshop, before I went to bed, I screamed as loud as I could in my head (not out loud) that I was lost, I didn’t know what to do, and to help. And then I just sat there.

Not 10 minutes later my anxiety, fear, and the feeling of being lost calmed down significantly, and I got the message (don’t know if it was a voice or just a knowing—definitely not audible though) to wake up in the morning with the intent to approach my day with an open heart, and go to bed every night with the intent to dream with an open heart. I asked if it was that easy. I got a resounding loud YES in my head.

That has helped tons.

So surrender can be a long drawn out process where you eventually arrive at that conclusion and action. Or surrender can be a conscious decision in a moment of despair as I described above. I’ve experienced both within the last 3 years.

Surrender is the most self-empowering thing one can do.

There are exercises one can do to help reach that point. Things like writing down all your fears, attachments, prejudices, titles, teachers, etc. that have affected your life both positively and negatively. Then creating a little ceremony where you release these items from your life and throw the list into a fire you have built for just this purpose. And do this with the intent that you are surrendering yourself to the will of the universe. Then the universe becomes your playground.

Andy,

I am touched by your response!

Thank You for sharing!

You have answers for everything! I can't even recognise where I am resisting and when and if I am surrendering,.. not even for a handful of examples!!

One order of Brain Soak salts Please!

I am going to see if I can recognise anything and will post soon..

Thanks Andy sharing your personal experiences helps me put my finger on issues that sometimes has no name... If I try it and it works then I accept it ...learning to open up your heart is a great lesson to pass on to others.

I would simply say to stop looking for where you are resisting. Part of surrendering is ceasing all action. Just accept that you are resisting somewhere, and that you can surrender through simple intent.

Now please don’t take this next part the wrong way. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with being curious and asking questions. Being Voracious even. I personally know the drive to know. To have the information laid out before me so that I know where to go and what to do, how to do it, and why I’d do it that way.

But part of surrender is trusting that you don’t need to know. That you know all that is necessary, and when you need information it will be there for you in the moment you need it. Surrendering is Trusting.

Now please don’t let this stop you from asking questions. Its healthy to ask questions if you don’t know something and are curious or unsure of yourself.

But when the overwhelming drive to have answers dies down because you realize that you will know when its appropriate. That’s when you know that you have finally started to surrender.

I am stunned again b'cos this is what I have been thinking too....

I , 100% agree,

Excuse me, while I go bawl!

Andy,


..........................

I used to get the above thoughts and then I'll let it go....I never made the connection.......


I can't write anymore,

................

thehungrycaterpillar wrote:I am stunned again b'cos this is what I have been thinking too....

I , 100% agree,

Excuse me, while I go bawl!

Hug

Hug

Oh, Thank You,

((Hugs)) back at you!


Isn't forgiving also part of surrendering?

thehungrycaterpillar wrote:

Hug

Oh, Thank You,

((Hugs)) back at you!


Isn't forgiving also part of surrendering?

Yes, probably one of the most important parts. But rather than actively "trying" to forgive. Just intend that forgiveness be there, and it will. You may frequently have moments where bad thoughts about instances that required forgiveness will happen. Just be aware of the bad thoughts, but don’t be yourself up over them. Just process them, enjoy them, and let them move on. Part of forgiveness is allowing yourself to have emotions about things.

But rather than actively "trying" to forgive. Just intend that forgiveness be there, and it will.

This is where my troubles kick in,
I am unable to do that...I tried, I can't..

.. but don’t be yourself up over them. Just process them, enjoy them, and let them move on. Part of forgiveness is allowing yourself to have emotions about things....

Isn't there a notion that we can't move on unless we are able to forgive? Only Forgiving can facilitate healing, therefore if I don't heal, I can't move on...
I can't teach, I can't do nothing...?

??

thehungrycaterpillar wrote:

But rather than actively "trying" to forgive. Just intend that forgiveness be there, and it will.

This is where my troubles kick in,
I am unable to do that...I tried, I can't..

.. but don’t be yourself up over them. Just process them, enjoy them, and let them move on. Part of forgiveness is allowing yourself to have emotions about things....

Isn't there a notion that we can't move on unless we are able to forgive? Only Forgiving can facilitate healing, therefore if I don't heal, I can't move on...
I can't teach, I can't do nothing...?

??

Here is a moment of resistance for you.

A wise master once said, “Hmmph! No try, do, or do not!” Who can name that master? (CLUE TO ANSWER BELOW)

To forgive someone else, you must first forget yourself the transgression of having had bad feelings towards someone else. You have to truly WANT to forgive. By consciously announcing that you want to forgive, and simply being aware of every moment where that forgiveness lapses (without beating yourself up once again for not being in a forgiving state of mind), the forgiveness of the others naturally follows. Being aware of the moments you lapse is just like, oh hey, that’s not very forgiving of me, and then release the feeling and move on. Now this all sounds easier than it is. And there will be some things you can’t let go of right away. The key is:

BE AWARE

Be aware of when you have the bad thoughts. Explore those bad thoughts with an objective mind. Don’t judge yourself. Don’t judge the feeling. Don’t judge the other person. Just be aware of the feeling and explore it.

Simple awareness really does work. Sounds too simple. But it works!

CLUE: Just call me the Herald of Muppet Wisdom

Here is a moment of resistance for you.

A wise master once said, “Hmmph! No try, do, or do not!” Who can name that master?

, yeah, the bad Yoda!

To forgive someone else, you must first forget yourself the transgression of having had bad feelings towards someone else. You have to truly WANT to forgive. Now this all sounds easier than it is. And there will be some things you can’t let go of right away. The key is:

BE AWARE

I have been in this stage for a few months now. I am intensely aware and have now 'accepted' the fact that the process need to begin.

Be aware of when you have the bad thoughts. Explore those bad thoughts with an objective mind. Don’t judge yourself. Don’t judge the feeling. Don’t judge the other person. Just be aware of the feeling and explore it.

Simple awareness really does work. Sounds too simple. But it works

!

I am keeping this in mind,

Thank You for breaking down the process for me, You often are told 'what' to do but 'the process' is never usually explained!

Learning to embrace forgiveness heals the hurt you feel. When you let go of your resentment that will lead to understanding,empathy & compassion for the one who hurt you. You can forgive the person without excusing the hurtful act. Forgiveness has many health benefits from lower blood pressure to improved psychological well being.

thehungrycaterpillar wrote:

But rather than actively "trying" to forgive. Just intend that forgiveness be there, and it will.

This is where my troubles kick in,
I am unable to do that...I tried, I can't..

.. but don’t be yourself up over them. Just process them, enjoy them, and let them move on. Part of forgiveness is allowing yourself to have emotions about things....

Isn't there a notion that we can't move on unless we are able to forgive? Only Forgiving can facilitate healing, therefore if I don't heal, I can't move on...
I can't teach, I can't do nothing...?

??

One of the things that helped me was sending Reiki to situations in my past. After being attuned to Level 2 especially, I started to get flashbacks - memories of things, sometimes minor little things - from my childhood. I devised my own form of words, which went something like "I accept and send Reiki to that little girl". This all seemed to help. The intention was not to do anything except accept and send Reiki. That's why we have Reiki IMO - actually "doing" forgiveness is not the point. If we are Reiki people we have Reiki to send to past, present and future - "no past, no present, no future" or "all time is now". Sound familiar?

Pandora, it sounds like you've got a handle on the situation

When you let go of your resentment that will lead to understanding,empathy & compassion for the one who hurt you. You can forgive the person without excusing the hurtful act. Forgiveness has many health benefits from lower blood pressure to improved psychological well being.

empathy & compassion for the one who hurt you??

That's a very tough one,

I do want to say Wayne & Andy, You guys are cool!


- for being able to talk about tender feelings on the net. If Wayne had not started it I would never have had the guts to do it.

Chris and Bridget,

I agree with your outlook and advice and will definitely be suitable for a lot of situations,
but in my case it is not one of those easier ones..

Thanks , I appreciate your advice, I would definitely use them in my other situations!!!

thehungrycaterpillar wrote:

When you let go of your resentment that will lead to understanding,empathy & compassion for the one who hurt you. You can forgive the person without excusing the hurtful act. Forgiveness has many health benefits from lower blood pressure to improved psychological well being.

empathy & compassion for the one who hurt you??

That's a very tough one,

THC. It is a tough one. I would never suggest something that I have not experienced myself. It does not happen overnight there are exercises you can do to release the hurt feelings that you hang onto. I'm not talking about easy ones either. When you let them go you'll be surprized.

THC. It is a tough one. I would never suggest something that I have not experienced myself. It does not happen overnight there are exercises you can do to release the hurt feelings that you hang onto. I'm not talking about easy ones either. When you let them go you'll be surprized.

Hi Bridget,

REALLY?
What kind of exercises?

XXX
THC

thehungrycaterpillar wrote:

THC. It is a tough one. I would never suggest something that I have not experienced myself. It does not happen overnight there are exercises you can do to release the hurt feelings that you hang onto. I'm not talking about easy ones either. When you let them go you'll be surprized.

Hi Bridget,

REALLY?
What kind of exercises?

XXX
THC

THC, I know that issues can be to sensitive
to put out here on a public forum. Lets start
with one that can be adapted to most situations.

Using your own words........we need to forgive
ourselves, when we are angry with ourselves
for making poor choices.We can be our own harshest
critic/ judge. “if only… . I should have…” The past
is the past and hanging on to it, is to much baggage
to carry around.

Write a letter to yourself.

Dear THC,

I forgive myself for..........
I understand that mistakes are not failures
if we learn from them. .......I am learning
everyday as a result of this experience.....
I release being critical & judging myself so
that I may continue to go forward into my future
without this baggage from my past.

Love, THC

You can then burn the letter as a symbol of releasing/letting go.


You can also journal .......
I hold on to my baggage because:
I have believed if I let go of my baggage it will mean:
if I let go of my baggage it will help me in the following ways:
I now choose to let go of my baggage:

I have taken folks through visualization to help them release their baggage.

thehungrycaterpillar wrote:I do want to say Wayne & Andy, You guys are cool!


- for being able to talk about tender feelings on the net. If Wayne had not started it I would never have had the guts to do it.

You are very welcome.

thehungrycaterpillar wrote:

When you let go of your resentment that will lead to understanding,empathy & compassion for the one who hurt you. You can forgive the person without excusing the hurtful act. Forgiveness has many health benefits from lower blood pressure to improved psychological well being.

empathy & compassion for the one who hurt you??

That's a very tough one,

One way to put this that has made a ton of sense to me is this:

If someone (or you) does something that negatively affects another person, and that other person responds with or harbors negative feelings, then it just exacerbates the situation.

The old adage of "two wrongs don't make a right" comes to mind here.

But, and even if it is hard, if you can say in the face of adversity, "You have hurt me, but I love you anyways." That will go a LONG way to changing the nature of the engagement.

Lets start
with one that can be adapted to most situations.

Using your own words........we need to forgive
ourselves, when we are angry with ourselves
for making poor choices.We can be our own harshest
critic/ judge. “if only… . I should have…” The past
is the past and hanging on to it, is to much baggage
to carry around.

This is not the scenario in my case though!

You can also journal .......
I hold on to my baggage because:
I have believed if I let go of my baggage it will mean:
if I let go of my baggage it will help me in the following ways:
I now choose to let go of my baggage:

I have taken folks through visualization to help them release their baggage.

I WILL most definitely use this one, most appropriate for me, for now, for what I am looking at!


Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!