Fundamental understanding of "submissive" and "surrendered state" in magic.
These are my personal thoughts on the evolution of descriptive terms used when discussing mental processes to magic. My thoughts are far from developed on the topic and this is an evolving thesis.
I have been seeing some interesting word usage in magical texts lately. The words "submissive" and "surrendered state" have become increasingly common terms and phrases. While I agree with using these words, I find their adoption of magical instruction fascinating. What do they mean, though, in a mystical context?
Applying fixed definitions to these words, or other phrases similar to these, such as letting go, trusting the universe, etc, is difficult. The act of surrender or submission is different for everyone. No two minds understand or think of these actions in the same way. They carry with them, however, implied meaning. That’s what counts here. I find the new adaptation, at least new to me, of these words fascinating because it paints a picture of magic at the other end of the spectrum, magic based outside of controlling will, events, etc.
I suppose it’s important to note that this mindset is not new. Instead, its method of delivery has changed. This is due to an increasing effort to get a proper universal understanding out to more and more people inside parameters easily understood. This movement is devoted to releasing the human mind from its ego.
A submissive or surrendered state describes the state of the human mind. This typically means the mind is open to ideas or thoughts of familiar and unfamiliar values without confrontation or dismissal. Information can be received, understood, and processed outside of opinions or personal bias. If taken as a working definition, this explanation clarifies why this is being adopted into magic with greater diversity. When our minds are more receptive, our thoughts are much more precise. There is less on the “mental whiteboard” to clash against itself, which is ideal when doing magic.
Obtaining this state before casting spells or beginning a ritual is always recommended. This is done because your thoughts must be clear as you manifest your intention. Stray thoughts can create stray threads of magic, possibly contaminating a spell. This process is/used to be called grounding or clearing space. Yet more and more often, I see this being referred to as reaching a submissive or surrendered state. Either description is accurate.
Our dominant mind is so quick to assert itself. In any train of thought, if the metaphorical “I” feels challenged, the mind is lightning fast to shut that thought down or dismiss an idea altogether. Especially if it comes from an outside source, that instinctual behavior is disastrous when working with the gods and goddesses of various pantheons and other entities of status or power. Beings of power are far less likely to work with you in a nonreceptive state or have failed to detach yourself enough to open to them.
Submitting to the workings of magic or reaching a surrendered state of mind is one layer to opening ourselves to magical influences and energy. Opening yourself to the “forces” around you happens at several layers within and outside your physical form. There is a layer of will involved. You set out to cast a spell willfully. Your intention is to partake in the activity. Then, the mental layer, where the mind is settled to refine focus. The mind’s eye is taken beyond focusing on multiple thoughts. The emotional layer also exists, where the submissive or surrendered state takes shape. At this point, the mind has surrendered its emotional attachment to thought and is ready for submission to external influence. While these layers occur within your physical form, your energy outside your form also opens up and surrenders to outside forces. This is the physical layer. Energetic vibrations begin to alter and sync with external wavelengths.
The layer of surrender and submission is complex. Surrendering emotional attachment to thought does not mean emotion is not involved in magic. This means there is no ego during work. Opinions and personal feelings are temporarily set aside to complete magical work. Emotion itself is a powerful tool when casting spells and is necessary for many forms of magic, but we must use emotion outside the realm of the personal.
Submission to external influence is about reaching a receptive state to understand and process external wisdom or communications from entities or sources. To receive and understand messages from outside ourselves, we must submit ourselves to accessible currents that carry the wisdom within them. Yet it is more than that; it is a temporary intentional release of autonomy to something more significant and higher than ourselves to accomplish a designated goal.
This act is one of synergy between yourself and higher forces. Clear space, free from tension or resistance, is required. While “holding space” is often used to describe what I am trying to convey here, it is far too gentle a term for what I am attempting and quite possibly failing to describe. I genuinely agree with this movement to redefine how connections in magic are described to the general masses. This is what fascinated me about these particular words I have seen used lately to describe the reception process and the opposite side of magic. Magic that is done in a state of surrender to forces outside of oneself. To be a vessel poised to receive rather than manipulate or take. This altogether changes the lens through which magic is perceived and understood.
The paradigm shifts to “How does magic transform through me” instead of “How do I transform through magic?” Such a paradigm fosters a service-dominant approach to doing magic. We become servants of the universal forces and wisdom rather than authority figures. As magicians, this puts us in a position of reverence every time we cast a circle. Facilitating an even deeper and more receptive state to correspond with otherworldly entities and energy.
The words submissive and surrender imply a loss of control. Yet here, they describe methods of accessing knowledge, assistance, communication, and knowledge from various sources, depending on beliefs. These words humble the magician.
I invite you to join me in the chat for an in-depth discussion.
In my experience, you have to literally step aside to perform the magick, receive healing, or set the goal or intention which will help you to achieve what you like.
This is something I’ve been thinking about quite a lot. The difference between doing and being, or yin and yang, or “high” and “low” vibrations. Our culture acts as though creation and inspiration are the only worthwhile activities, in life, in manifesting, in ourselves. And maybe we get to the realization that there also is an exhale, an emptying, a release. In your writing I’m seeing this as the implications involved in the way you talk about surrender and submission.
But I’ve been feeling into surrender to the whole: inhale, pause, exhale, pause; high vibrations and low bass beats; joy and pain. Submission and surrender are words connoting a power dynamic, and for me that reflexively means fear. But in physical activities where we’re not really in control - riding a wave, getting thrown off a bike, falling - tensing to maintain control is what causes the most injury. Relaxing, surrendering, submitting, this is how we’re most likely come safely through the ordeal. There is a healthy fear associated with these activities. Respect and surrender to the fear is also a part of the process.
Thanks for exploring this! The language we use is so powerful and important, and these are some pretty loaded words.