The energy around me is shifting and unsettled today. There is the usual frenzy out there as the final preparations for Christmas have kicked in, and millions of people across the planet are moving in planes, trains and automobiles to be reunited with loved ones.
But the intensity has been kicked up a notch now that a major snow storm is in the wake for most of North America and I feel a greater disruptive force being added to the mix. Already, people are pivoting, shifting plans and changing carefully scheduled itineraries to adjust to the weather and emotion are running high.
Looks to me like it’s a great time to ground and center. When we get caught up in these strong disturbances, it’s important not to get overwhelmed by events and intense anxiety. I have increasingly been using grounding and centering exercises to protect myself from getting worked up in times of stress and recommend these self soothing skills to balance your spiritual and physical energy and keep you in the here-and-now.
What does being grounded look like?
• a healthy connection to the physical body and senses
• feeling stable and not easily swayed
• feeling clearheaded
• feeling balanced emotionally, spiritually and physically.
Grounding is the process of connecting yourself back to physical reality. It reminds us to live in the present moment and be conscious of what is happening around us.
Some people take the term “grounding” literally and will walk around barefoot or lay in the grass to connect with Earth and nature. The scientific explanation is that like the earth, our body is electromagnetic, and transmits and receives electrical signals in our nervous system to regulate each of our functions. There is a current flowing through our planet, and it has its own electromagnetic field. This is referred to as the Schumann Resonance. As humans, we are bioelectrical beings that evolved to live with exposure to the earth’s natural electrical fields.
While direct contact with the ground is great and can definitely help the experience, it’s not always practical or even possible. Going outdoors to connect with nature however will help greatly, but not when the winds are gusting and storming.
Through meditation, it is possible to achieve a similar result. The following exercise is the grounding technique that I use a few days a week, or when I feel I am feeling scattered, flighty, or anxious. I like to add sounds of nature as background music. Having plants around doesn’t hurt, and lately I hold a stone known for its grounding properties in my hand, like hematite, or a black tourmaline.
An Introduction to Grounding and Centering
- Start out by closing your eyes and taking some deep breaths. Really focus on your breathing and be conscious of each inhalation and exhalation.
- When you feel ready, begin imagining that you have roots growing out of your body that are connecting you back to Earth. With each inhale, these roots grow stronger and deeper, pulling you further into the ground. As these roots grow, you should feel your body getting heavy. Feel the magnetic pull of gravity on the soles of your feet, through the ankles, and legs.
- As you breathe in, you are going to imagine all of the energy that you have left behind in the world coming back to you. Visualise it as pieces of a puzzle gathering and coming back to make you whole. This energy is going to fill you up and restore a feeling of fullness to your soul.
- As you exhale, visualise the release of negative energy clinging to you like lint on a sweater that attached itself to you as you engaged with others. That negative energy is being neutralized and sent away, leaving you feeling light and free.
That’s all there is to it. You can even do it in the airport, or in the car if you are practiced enough to tune out the noise and focus within. The most important tool is your mind, and your breathing. If you can close your eyes, and turn your attention to what you prioritize, you will be able to disengage from the drama trying to pull you in.
Journal prompt for today: when I walk in nature I feel….
Intention for today’s meditation: I am calm in the face of the storm. I am strong and capable of staying safe and grounded.
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