Ishvara Pranidhana: Nectar of Life
I’ve always been enamored with the dance of the butterfly. In my garden this past week, I’ve watched mesmerized as they flit and flutter until eventually landing on their flower of choice. But what about the flower? Although flowers don’t dance through space, might they perhaps call the butterfly home to savor the nectar? This past year, I’ve had the privilege of joining Jenn Gallucci in her monthly Lunar Wheel Circle. In our exploration of the June 14th Gemini New Moon she shared this idea of the mutual attraction of the flower and the butterfly. Immediately this idea felt like it expressed the essence of Ishvara Pranidhana, the practice of devotion.
We are now in the final month of our ten-month journey through yoga’s ethical practices, the Yamas and Niyamas. This month, they culminate with the teaching of Ishvara Pranidhana, often translated as surrender. All the previous practices have prepared us to experience the treasure of what this teaching has to offer. Our cultural conditioning leads us to believe that we are separate beings, on our own, trying to survive in a world full of suffering. In reality, it is often the very life experiences that we think have completely broken us that are actually what crack us open so we can come home to our destiny. Tragically, the sense that we are alone and unsupported can keep us stuck in our cycle of suffering. When we feel that we are not alone, we start to feel safe enough to set down the armor of separation. The practice of Ishvara Pranidhana opens our heart and allows us to let the transformational energy of life in. This profound teaching invites us to change the question from, “Why is this happening to me?” to “What is being asked of me?” This shift helps us see that we are being guided to become what we are capable of becoming, not just for our own wellbeing, but for all of creation. Instead of feeling like we’re always swimming upstream, we understand how to go with the flow and step into the magic and mystery of life. Once we surrender to the power of devotion, we’re drawn to it like the butterfly to the flower. It becomes the nectar that sustains us and guides us home to our essence.
How we find our way onto a path of devotion is as varied as the many types of flowers on our magnificent planet. For some it’s hitting rock bottom. For others, it’s simply their given nature. For anyone on this path, finding community and practices that support devotion is essential. I’ve found that in our culture, devotion is not a familiar or even comfortable topic to explore. It may seem like jumping off a cliff and yet it can be explored gradually, with baby steps. Gratitude, being still and time in nature are some of the ways that open my heart so I can feel the interconnectedness and sacredness of life. The word surrender can imply that we are giving up or giving in. When we surrender and live a life inspired by Ishvara Pranidhana what we give up is only our resistance to what life brings. From this comes a depth of peace, resilience and power that is unshakable.
Solstice blessings and much love,
Sue