Happy Spring!
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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.
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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!

1. Listen to your gut

I'm here to tell you that sometimes you need to ask your head and your heart to step aside for a moment. Truth is they are not always the best guides when it comes to making decisions. Why is that? Well because your brain wants to over-analyze, debate, and create an endless list of pros and cons that can riddle you with doubt and delay you from taking timely action.  Your heart, on the other hand, is in search of the most comfortable feeling state which is not always going to get you to a better place. Your gut however, is your power center. It is strongly connected to our Solar plexus chakra, the energy vortex that gives us the will to create in this world. So listen to those butterflies of excitement that arise deep in your torso, even if they feel a bit like fear. Those butterflies are telling you that you are in alignment with that choice. However, if you experience more of a sinking feeling it is a sign to steer clear of that choice. Gut sensations are very helpful in giving you real-time guidance towards the path best suited for you!

​2.  Clear the static

Do what you need to do to adopt a positive mindset. Meditate, go for a walk in nature, watch some inspirational speakers on YouTube. Whatever bag of tricks you use to get you from that place of self-doubt and fear to a place of confidence and possibility ....use them! This is essential before you take any action if you want that action to produce results. 
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3. Ask for neon signs

I'm sure that those of you reading this are familiar with the age-old advice of asking the Universe to provide a sign. Unfortunately, most of us have not yet learned how to fully harness this incredible technique.  We ask vaguely for a sign to come but chances are we miss it when it does or question its validity because we never set up the proper parameters. Next time you seek a clear, unmistakable sign to help guide a decision why not give that sign a symbol and a time frame. For example, rather than the usual, "Universe please give me a sign!" why not try something more along the lines of "Universe please show me a yellow balloon (or insert another somewhat uncommon symbol here) within the next 24 hours if I am meant to do xyz." Chances are much better that your sign will arrive and you will have no doubt that it is giving you the guidance you asked for without waiting and wondering for eternity. Want to learn more about how to ask for signs check out one of my favorite books on asking for signs, Sacred Signs, by Adrian Calabrese, PhD.

4.  Leap

Trust that you will land on your feet! Trust that this benevolent Universe has your back! If you've listened to your gut, cleared the static, and received your signs chances are you are making the right decision, but if you find out that you've messed up trust that you will get another chance to course-correct and get it right. There is magic in action, so like they say, "Strike when the iron is hot." Don't wait around waiting for more and more evidence. Put everything you have in you into taking that next step and watch the miracles happen.

​5.  Give thanks

Gratitude has a way of expanding what we want. So if you've made a decision and have taken the first step down some new path why not pause a moment to give the Universe thanks. Say thanks for helping me to find the courage (even if you still feel shaky), thanks for supplying for all my needs (even if your bank account says $7.11), and thanks for bringing me amazing results (even if you are a long way from your destination). 


Happy decision-making! Visit me at tracicrampton.com.