You hear this a lot these days, the must do practice of grounding, otherwise known as earthing. Take your shoes off, and go traipse around some dirt for a while. There's just something so therapeutic about getting your socks off.
On a scientific level, there's a good reason for that - contact with the Earth, connects us to the Earths' natural electric charge. Because we too, are electric beings, this connection brings about incredible benefits - we become deeply stabilised. It is purported to reduce pain, stress, inflammation, improve sleep, blood flow, energy, and your overall sense of well-being. Sounds pretty incredible right? And to date, there's something like 20 studies that show that this is a real thing.. #science.
All you need to do, is get some skin in the game. Barefoot, on any naturally conductive surface, be it grass, dirt, sand, rocks etc. I'm not sure where concrete or pavers sit on this list from a science perspective but I personally feel (and this may be totally in my head) that I feel "better" on "naked" earth, without any man made substances in the way. Each to their own though, and there is something to be said for the feel of warm concrete on a sunny day.
The Earth is a wonderful source of energy - when I ground into it on an energetic level, it feels heavy, slightly moist, rich, calming. It feels like climbing into bed after a long day and finally giving your body permission to relax. And I don't mean heavy in a bad way.. more like snuggling in under a heavy blanket - calming. Just like our bodies produce vitamin D from the energy and frequencies that are generated by the sun, far far away - the beautiful energy source under our feet provides its own energy and frequencies that affect us. The Divine Law of Oneness states that we are all one. Believe it or not, or rather, remember this or not, but we are actually one with nature and the Earth and all it's creepy crawlies. We have separated ourselves so much from our environment, building up walls, and bug sprays, and creating these weird unnatural environments where we forget where we came from.
And hey, no shade, I am totally guilty of freaking out the second nature dares to intrude into my delusional reality. In fact, I remember the most amazing feeling I had when I went to Vanuatu. We caught a tiny, stinky, rickety plane over to Tanna Island. You were lucky to have a flight a day over there, if the active volcano on the island was behaving (fun activity: climb an active volcano at night and peek inside at the lava) and ships daren't sail to it because so many were wrecked over the reefs surrounding the island. There were two little resorts on the whole island, and you could forget about shops or restaurants or any sort of amenities you might expect as a tourist. Everything we ate, was either grown/caught/baked on the island (with the exception of a select few pantry staples), we actually caught some fish on a little boat that was later sent to the kitchen! Internet was only available near reception, and the light in our little beach bungalow was so faint, it barely made a difference. AND IT WAS PURE BLISS. We went to bed when the sun went down (because no internet, no TV, barely any light to even read a book), and we woke up with the sun, feeling so refreshed and energised it was a pleasant change from how we felt back at home.
Our days were spent in nature, swimming in waterfalls, hiking, diving/snorkelling... exploring. I remember swaying in a hammock by the water, whilst my husband was getting a massage - and thinking.. wow, what is this feeling I am feeling in my body? I was so calm, and centered. For the FIRST time in my life since I could consciously remember, I felt like I belonged. I belonged to this planet, I belonged to every creature on it. I felt one with it with every single little fibre of my being, and it was magical. I didn't shy away from the bugs, or the animals, or the lizards in and around our bed. My heart felt whole. That week on that island, safe to say is on the highlight reel for life. That feeling, is what I aspire to (and miss).
It's hard to get there the way our day to day is set up. I mean, here I am now, still awake at 11pm at night, on the internet writing this.
That's why it's so important to do what we can do "plug" back in. And not just physically, but spiritually and energetically as well. A practice that I love to do in addition to the "physical, 3D" grounding above, is energetic grounding. I first came across this concept in a book on energy healing, and over time made it into my own little ritual. There are MANY variations of this so whatever imagery comes to mind for you, roll with it! It's such a wonderful way to diffuse any extra energy you might have buzzing around you in the form of anxiety, or feeling scattered. Doing this practice is a great way to centre yourself, and become more present in the moment. I do this every time before an energy healing, to make sure I am the best channel I can be, or whenever I feel like I am buzzing, and not in a good way. Where are my fellow Anxious peeps, you know what I mean.
SO HOW DO WE DO THIS.
I'll outline it very quickly below, but if you want a more detailed guide, I've put together a little pdf and a guided meditation audio for you to enjoy.
First, take a deep breath. You can be sitting, lying down, or even up in a flying plane - it doesn't matter.
Bring your awareness to the centre of your chest, calling all of your energy back into your body. Once you feel more in your body, send your energy down through your spine, and out through your feet... through the floor, and anything beneath you, down into the Earth. Feel what it's like to hit the soil... and keep going deeper. You can go right into the core, or you can stop part way. I like to stop part way and imagine my energy spreading out like tree roots, anchoring me in. I breathe out. I breathe down through this energy column and tree roots connecting me to the Earth. Any stress, worries, fears, anxieties. All of it is just energy being released back into the Earth. In return, feel the energy that comes back up to you - stable, calm, heavy, comforting. Like a safe blanket being draped over your shoulders. Notice your breath, and your heart beat, slowing down, calm. Sit with this for as long as you need. Bring your awareness back up into your body, leaving the tree roots where they are, to keep you grounded in for the rest of the day.
You can do this as often as you like, whenever you feel a bit untethered from the Earth's energy.
So there you go folks, go forth and ground yourselves, and if you like the energetic grounding practice, shout out and let me know!
Love,
Tash
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