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Pranidhana means "surrendering," while Ishvara means "to a higher source." Shiva Rae says, “Ishvara Pranidhana initiates a sacred shift of perspective that helps us to remember, align with, and receive the grace of being alive.” Ishvara Pranidhana takes us away from our constant obsession with the self and ego, and connects us to Source, to the Divine, to that which is in all things, to the TRUE SELF.

I was talking with a girlfriend the other day. Actually it seems like I have been talking to a lot of women lately with a similar unanswered question pestering their mind, “what am I suppose to be doing?” And the question posed is not always directed towards the same thing. Some are inquiring about love, others about work, others about where they should settle down and grow roots. Yet in this particular instance we were talking about the whole picture: love, work, location … all of it. And as we all do from time to time my girlfriend got caught in the inevitable and detrimental cycle of listing all the things she felt she SHOULD be doing.

“Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, it is the realization of how much you already have.” - Unknown

I always think as the summer’s sun begins to wane and the cooler autumn’s air begins to descend upon us, it means that things are going to slow down, that life is going to calm down and with that, so too will my list of things to do. But year after year, this has not been the case, at least with my life. This year, more so than most, I find myself needing to seek balance more than ever. So, inspired by my teacher‘s invitation, different however from my own, as the heat of the summer moves into the ‘desired’ introspection and cooler air of Fall, my invitation for you is to seek balance between all that is still calling you outward and your body’s need now to begin its’ journeying within; to do not what you feel you have to but to do begin now to do that which truly nourishes and rejuvenates your soul. Not sure how to do this? Feeling a little all over the place? Spread too thin? Not sure where to even begin?

I believe the best views are from up close. They’re from treetops, mountaintops, hilltops, behind and below, where you can go unnoticed or plant yourself right in the middle of a world unfolding in and around YOU!