Grounding Your Energy- The What, When, & How-tos

Happy Spring!
​
Looking at the damp ground and the trees with their ever-so-tiny buds forming I am feeling the energy of hope and renewal vibrating from all around me. Everything is brimming and ready to bust forth into life.  I thought this would be the perfect time to bring up the subject of “Grounding”.

I’m sure many of you have heard this term thrown around a bit but what exactly does grounding mean? How do we know when and in which ways to exercise it?  I would like to take some of the mystery out of this subject with an easy interpretation and some quick tips for getting the wonderful benefits out of your grounding practice.

Have you ever felt scattered, rushed, anxious, or panicky? Of course you have. Unfortunately for most of us these are not uncommon states. However, they are indicators letting us know it is time to “ground” our energy. I think of these states as energy gone willy-nilly, like a live wire. At times our energy accumulates in the “upper chakras” of our energy bodies which correlate with our minds and thought. When you feel as though you can’t get out of your head, this is the ideal time to practice grounding. Grounding pulls our energy downward, hence restoring our energy body’s natural balance and promoting emotional and physical well-being.

We are electrical beings and therefore making a connection to the earth helps our personal energy to operate more effectively, not unlike grounding electrical wires to prevent currents from becoming destructive. It is important to understand that grounding isn’t a practice to be used all of the time. If you are feeling lethargic and heavy in your energy you may actually be grounding too much. In which case, the key then is to stimulate or excite. If however, you are feeling about to blow a fuse here are a few quick ways you can ground your energy.
​

1. Breathe- Grounding is all about our connection to matter. By becoming conscious of your breath you bring your attention back into your body. The inhale immediately connects you to your physical form while the exhale releases the pent up energy buzzing around in your mind (ie. racing thoughts).​
   
2. Make contact- Connect with nature in a hands-on manner such as going for a walk or gardening. Physically touch the earth and be reminded of how supportive and ever-present it is. Walking barefooted is also a wonderful way to plug in to the earth below you.
3. Eat- The physical act of eating connects us to the earth through the foods grown in its soil and provides us with the nutrients we need to sustain a healthy body. Of course the type of food matters. Think of the foods that grow or live on or just below the soil’s surface. Choose foods high in protein and mineral content. Some examples of foods that promote grounding are nuts, seeds, root vegetables, sprouts and grass fed animal proteins. Avoid processed and chemically-laden foods that do not exercise your body’s digestion and are immediately converted to energy. Processed foods register quickly in the brain and cause over-stimulation.
4. Visualize- This technique is especially useful if it is inconvenient or impossible to get outdoors in nature. Sit of the floor with you legs crossed and your eyes closed. Breathe deeply imagining your spine as the trunk of a tree. Visualize roots growing out of your tailbone and pushing into the ground below you. Use your breath to “inhale” nourishment from the ground below you energetically. Give thanks for your connection to Earth.
5. Connect with others- While this involves a bit more time it will surely help you to feel grounded. Seek out people or groups with whom you feel the greatest sense of belonging. Time with family serves to remind you of your “roots” although you may find that you feel most grounded around like-minded people even if they are not biologically related.

I hope you find these simple tips useful as you experience the massive amount of energy that this season brings. As the surge of new life takes hold remember the importance of grounding!