Lesson 3 - Grounding

[~Elise~]

all right--here it is--Grounding.

Alright then...grounding...what does it mean? Getting grounded? Ground=Earth. Duh, you say?

Well, getting grounded by defination means connecting with the Earth's energy. But is is difficult to talk about grounding without centering, they are very connected.

Grounding helps us to detach from upsetting emotional reactions. by shifting our focus away from ourselves, grounding helps us to control the feelings associated with threat. Thus we can take measured action rather than react impulsively. To ground yourself, pay attention to some aspect of your physical environment: picture the shape, size, and color of near by objects; focus on the smells and the sounds you perceive; or describe what your body touches.

Attend to your breathing: When stressed, our breathing is usually flat, short, and labored. Our breath goes into our upper chests or shoulders. This type of breathing increases tension. Instead, breathe into your stomach at a natural pace. This is diaphragmatic breathing. In this type of breathing, the stomach pushes out as the breath goes in, creating a calming effect. This is the way babies breathe and how we ourselves breathe when asleep!

Attend to your posture: Crooked, stiff, or off-balance describes the body under stress. When sitting, our legs may be stiff and both legs and arms may be crossed in a defensive posture. When standing, we lock our knees. Our body is tense. Instead, uncross your legs and arms, sit or stand up straight using your backbone to support your body, and place your feet firmly on the floor. Relax your legs. These grounding actions support balance and strength.

One of my IRL students, Nepharia said this

Quote:

Sometimes, the Earth opens up to our energy like a woman waiting for her lover. We can push our negative energy into the earth, especially if that energy is just your all around natural greyness, because the earth can recycle that energy and easily turn it into something positive better than we can.
Blood helps the crops to grow. Just because you don't think it's pleasant, doesn't mean it's bad or not beneficial. Hell, even trees steal their energy from the earth, and then sun's light.

I was searching for different ways to ground without using Earth--Here are some I ran across. These are written from the perspective of helping someone ground after a ritual:


Summoning Breath- Ask the person to become aware of their breath. Ask them to slow down their breathing. When they have controlled their breathing ask them to exhale all the air from their bodies that they can and to hold on empty for a count of three. Continue slow breathing with holding on empty, increasing the hold on empty to a count of five. This pattern of breathing summons the subtle bodies, drawing them closer to the physical body. Holding on empty helps to synchronize the rhythm of the blood, prana, and cerebrospinal fluid. If the person will not listen and is diving in and out of their body, you may need to hold their nose with your fingers.

Name Chant- This is a two part chant that helps to reaffirm the person’s place in the here and now. The name Judy is used in this example.
You chant: “Judy, You Are Here. Judy, We Are With You.” They chant: “I Am Here. I Am Here. I Am Here”. You repeat “Judy, You Are Here. Judy, We Are With You.”
Chant until the person brings it to a close.

Food & Drink- Often people in the throes of a reaction will not have any desire for food and drink. Coax the person into eating or drinking something that is sweet, unless diabetes or other conditions make this inadvisable. As soon as possible after the sweet treat, get the person to eat a small quantity of something rich in protein. High protein food is harder to digest which redirects the person’s energy into their body. Moreover, high protein food will help adjust brain chemistry in the direction of normal beta wave consciousness. Less commonly, some people will crave large quantities of sweets (including fruit and other natural sources of fast burning sugars. A small quantity of sugar may be useful, large doses will generate further problems. Chocolate is a good choice for many people— in a small dose

Recharging The Etheric Body- Most commonly, the subtle body that receives the greatest stress in adverse reactions to ritual is the Etheric. This is the energy body that lies just above the physical and closely mirrors the physical form. It is this body that is caught in energy clashes and dissonances of the lower and the higher forces during an imbalance. If the person reports that they feel cold, or are still trembling, or lack fine muscle coordination, use this technique. Place a blue or purple fluorite crystal in their dominant hand and an amethyst in their non-dominant hand. Ask them to intone “Oooo, Ohhh, Oooo” in a low rumbling pitch. Check in with them and repeat until they feel better. If you don’t have crystals available, have them make these tones while you make the tone “Awww” at as low a pitch as you can.

Now--when I conduct a ritual here IRL. I watch each and every person of mine...make sure that they eat and drink something. If that still doesn't work...we go hug a tree or I make them go out barefoot and touch the Earth with feet and hands...sending all that excess energy to Mama Earth. We don't have to do it often, but I especially watch my newcomers.

any of these techniques above can be adapted for solitary use. Here are some others that you can do, as well:

*ground deep in the mother earth's core...sending cords down to her
*M&M's (most kinds of chocolate will work)
*meat ( it's not the quantity that so much counts)
*showers
*sex
*dancing
*jumping up and down on the ground
*laying on the grass
*touching trees
*asking the stone people to help you
*drink lots of good water
*actually anything that makes the body feel it's physicality is good
*having someone push and pat down on your shoulders with the intention of you returning into your body

Centering Techniques stop the excessive mental and physical activity to which we are so addicted and instead focus the mind to quiet our constant mind chatter. This enables you to listen to the mind, body, and emotional talk to quickly receive the messages that signal stress overload. Most of us spend our lives ruminating on the past or worrying about the future. Centering, also called Mindfulness, is a way of focusing on the here-and-now, of truly living in the present.

Cultivate mindfulness: This centering technique focuses our attention on what is happening to us in the immediate moment, rather than attending to other people, the past, or the future. Close your eyes and pay attention to your breathing and your body. Becoming gently aware of what you see, hear, or feel in a deliberate way will, after a few moments, slow your reaction. You can also do this while taking a walk or sitting quietly by yourself by focusing on your physical sensations and breathing.
The following instructions elicit the relaxation response for many people:
•Choose a mental image (a word, number, phrase, or visual picture) or your own breathing on which to focus;
•Find a safe place where you won’t be interrupted and position yourself comfortably;
•Close you eyes when you are ready;
•Taking slow and natural breaths, focusing on your image in time with the breaths;
•Acknowledge distracting thoughts (which are normal) and go back to your focus; and
•Work up to repeating this procedure 10 to 20 minutes, once or twice a day.

Here are some other techniques that you can use for centering yourself--

Breath Awareness #1
While involved in whatever you are doing, bring some attention to your breathing... not your full attention... just enough to bring you back to your calm center. Breathe a little more slowly and deeply.
Breath Awareness #2
When feeling stressed, take several slow, deep breaths. With each in-breath, imagine you are pulling all of your scattered energy and attention back to your Self... your calm inner center. As you exhale, let go of all stress and negativity.
Inner Sun
Visualize a bright sun filling your heart chakra... the quiet, subtle energy field that permeates your chest area. Imagine the rest of your energy field as clear blue sky. When stressed thoughts or emotions arise, view them as clouds floating in that sky.

Homework
I am also going to post a couple of meditations. I want you to pick a couple of meditations/techniques--give them a try and report your results.

Elise

This is going to take longer than I thought to get all posted with having to wait 5 minutes between posts. VERY frustrating. I do have a job I need to get to at some point today. Be patient before posting--make sure to wait until I've got a couple of more done. Total of 9 posts to get to.

[~Elise~]

Grounding Visualization:
opening to universal energy.
Sit comfortably, cross legged or in a chair in a balanced position, hands apart, feet flat on the floor. Take a few deep breaths, relax your body, focus your attention.

You are sitting somewhere warm and comfortable, out of doors on a sunny day. It is high noon, and the sun is directly overhead.
Visualize a sunbeam coming straight down from waaaay up above, shining directly on the top of your head.
Relax into this imagining till you can feel the sunbeam warming the top of your head,
physically or in your imagination.

Imagination is power!

When you have the warmth, imagine that the top of your head is a flower.

The crown chakra is called the thousand petaled lotus.

It is classically visualized as infinite petaled lotus that is eternally opening and opening.

You can imagine any kind of flower.

The flower opens to the warmth

and draws the sunlight down it's stem,

into your head,

sparkling, tingling,

into the third eye and throat,

flowing down inside you to fill a reservoir space in your torso,
an oval going from your pelvis to your collarbone.

Filling with light.

Make it as bright as you can imagine.

When the space is filled
with bright sparkling radiant light,
brilliant as the sunrise reflecting off the ocean,
bright like an arc welders torch

we notice the inner container has a hole in the bottom,
and a stream of light leaks from the bottom of the reservoir,

down through your feet, down

down

down

down

down

like a laser beam drilling

down

Waaaaay down

All the way down

to the very center of the Earth.

which looks like a brilliant, fiery crystal. Gaia's heart, Her Kundalini.

When the beam hits the centre,

it seems to spark some kind of explosion down there

it sparks a volcano of light from the firey crystal

A volcano that comes rushing

up

up

up

up through the earth

roaring back up

like "Old Faithful",

back into your feet

(feel them start to tingle?)

exploding the reservoir of light in your center

into star bright radiance, glowing, growing

Brighter, larger

into an oval bigger than you.

shooting out the top of your head

like an umbrella shaped fountain,

sun drops rolling down to describe the oval

that is the perimeter of your aura, two feet above your head

and three feet below your feet

making it an eggshell

complete and sealed against all harm.

A force field bubble defining your personal boundary.

Some of the light keeps going up

keeps going back up

waaaay up

up to where it came from

up there.

The Light above responds with more light, like soft warm rain on your shoulders.

Your center, fed and charged

by the light flowing through you down and up

up and down

increases in brilliance

bigger and brighter

to fill the whole oval of your aura completely.

Feel yourself

as an egg of light

on a thread of light

with the Earth and the Sun connecting to each other through your body.

Energy flowing both ways.

Fire rises, water flows down.

through you

and around you.

When you can hold this mental image clearly,
(as bright and clear as you can make it)
make an internal request for it to stay that way.

Snap your fingers,

"Circuit is Locked in".

Your unconscious will now maintain the light circuit,
while you do other things.

You are now grounded.

How do you feel?

Do you notice:
the complete absence of negative, limiting, or fearful thoughts?
the relaxation and sense of well being?
the tingling of the soles of the feet and fingertips, like they have had a massage?
the sensation of lightness of being?
The sense of being fully present in the Now?
These are the signs of being grounded into Universal Source.
If you try to find an emotion that describes the feeling of this energy,
you will discover that the only word that fits is

Love.

absolute, unconditional love and acceptance.

The shock of this realization sometimes completely un-grounds very insecure people.

Are your feet still tingling?

If this idea makes your feet stop tingling, you need to take a few minutes to slide on past the feelings of being unworthy, you know Source loves you... unconditionally.

Limitlessly.

Regardless of how you feel about you.

If you have become ungrounded,
Go back to the top and start over again.
Take your time, focus on your breathing in the light..
Go ahead! It is very worth doing. You are worth it!

Think of how good that feels... love is supposed to feel good, right?

Think of how good it feels to be in love,
and imagine what it is like to feel that good all of the time,

but

without needing to be fixated on another person as the source of the feeling?

Enlightenment is constantly feeling madly in love with everything and everyone in All of Creation.

[~Elise~]

Opening the Heart Chakra--

Opening the Heart chakra.
while you are grounded, bring your attention back to your center.

Imagine that there is a ball of light,
a star of light,
in the center of your chest,
next to your heart. (the Heart Chakra)

It is very beautiful.
See how it is fed by the light flowing through you... notice what color it is?
Imagine it brighter and brighter, see how that feels.

Contemplate it for a few moments.

Say Hello to it.
Breathe, and focus on your breathing as you listen for a response.

Ask It if It loves you.

You will hear and feel it's answer.

Listen carefully.

Breathe.

Feel your feet tingle.

Ask again.

Listen carefully for an answer,
there will be one: that is a cosmic promise.

It may come in words, a quiet, genderless voice of love.
It may be a feeling, a warmth in your heart or joy and love.
It may even be a painful feeling, if your heart is trying to open and there is a blockage.
It may be a rush of tingles, energy or goosebumps.

Ask the light if it will always love you, unconditionally,
no matter where you go or what you do?
If it's love is limitless?

Stay Grounded, feel your feet tingling,

breathe,

and listen for the answer. It will come, as words or a feeling.

The answer will fill you with joy and awe.
It is very beautiful to know.

If you are really reaching the heart voice, the answer to all of these questions will be yes. The Heart will tell you that you are infinitely, unconditionally loved and that you are and have always been perfect. Ask It questions, to make sure you are in contact with the genuine heart voice, and not the voice of your ego or an entity. It takes practice and mindfulness to build your trust and faith in this inner voice, ... that it has always and will always will be there for you, anytime you take a moment to do this grounding visualization.

Some people refer to the Heart Voice as the Inner Guru.
Ask it for insight into some minor difficulty you have been having.
Choose a small problem to start with, a minor nuisance.

I want you to get better experienced at maintaining the state, while asking questions. It takes practice to stay grounded when contemplating big emotional issues.

Fear interferes with grounding... most negative emotions do... get grounded, first, so fear is absent before questioning the Heart light.

Then learn to do the visualization in two breaths, twenty times a day.

No, really, it is easy, with practice..
Take a deep breath in, while focusing on relaxing your body and straightening your spine.
Breathe out long and slow, imagining the light coming down from above,
feeling your breath as the laser beam drilling deep into the earth..
in the pause between breaths, you touch the firey crystalline core.. feel the explosion of love in response...

then a deep breath to inhale the energy coming back up from the Earth into your being, out and around around the edges of your aura
and out the top of your head up up up..
in the pause, feel the energy touch the heavens..
breath out slowly, basking in the Grace flowing down, focusing on the heart, giving thanks for your tingly feet.

[~Elise~]

Clear your mind, and concentrate, on the earth.

Visualize energy coming up through the earth as a green or bronze colored ball.

Bring the energy up through you to your stomach then visualize it dispersing throughout you body and mixing with your own personal energy then draining back into the earth anchoring you to it like roots anchor a tree into the ground.

Feel the earth's energy pulsing strong and steady into your "roots" then up through you, making you feel stable and strong and sturdy.

This Grounds you and helps you attune to the earth. If you start to feel light headed or shaky when doing any techniques etc.

Ground yourself. This is caused by your body not being used to raising energy and containing it.

Take your time and spend however long you need to fully visualize everything as clearly as possible.

Practice as often as needed, however, since you are just learning this exercise try not to practice more than twice a day for now.

[~Elise~]

Here is one from Starhawk:

Grounding and Centering For Activists
By Starhawk
(10-15 minutes)
In an action, in any potentially tense of dangerous situation, we need to be able to stay calm, to feel our fear without letting it overrun us or turn into panic. Grounding is a technique that can help us stay both alert and relaxed when all hell is breaking loose around us.

Grounding begins with the breath. Try this: clench your stomach, tighten your muscles, breath up high in your chest. How do you begin to feel? (People often say, "anxious," "Tense," "Panicky.")

Now relax your stomach, let your breath drop down into your belly, into your toes as your belly expands. Do you start to feel different? For some of you, this might be hard to do. At first it might seem unnatural. Put your hand on your belly, breathe so that your belly pushes your hand out. Practice this, sometimes you need time before you can do it easily and naturally.

Now close your eyes for a moment. Imagine that breath pushing down through your feet, through the base of your spine, as if you were a tree pushing down roots. Let those roots go down through the floor, through the soil below us. Imagine they can feel something of the quality of that earth, what it likes to grow, how healthy it is. Push down through the waters under the earth, down through the bedrock, down into the fire below us. If there's still any tension or fear, let that go into the fire and just burn away into pure energy.

Now imagine you can draw some of that fire up. Feel it as the earth's living, creative energy, and bring it up through the rock and the water and the soil. Bring it up into your legs and feet and the base of your spine. Bring it up your spine and let your spine grow like a flexible tree trunk, reaching up to the sky. Bring some fire into your heart, into any place inside you that needs healing or extra energy.

Bring that energy up through your arms and out your hands, and up through your neck and throat and out the top of your head like branches that reach up to the sky and then spread around you and reach back down to touch the earth. They create a protective filter around you. Take a moment, look at that energy web, notice if there's any places that need to be repaired or strengthened. And notice how the energy in this room feels when we all do this.

Now feel the energy of the sun, shining down on your leaves and branches. Breathe deep, draw that energy in. Breathe it down through your leaves and branches, down through your heart and your belly and your hands. Take it in, feed on it like a tree feeds on sunlight.

Now open your eyes. Look around you, notice how other people look to you when you're grounded. Notice what's changed.

When you're grounded, when your energy is linked to the earth energy, you can still move. Imagine your feet have sticky roots, that can sink into the earth and then release when you move. Walk around a little, really feeling your contact with the earth, feeling those roots grip and release.

Now as you move, stretch your arms out to your sides, as far as they'll go, until you can't see your hands if you look straight ahead. Now wiggle your thumbs, and slowly bring your arms in until your thumbs are just visible on the edge of your peripheral vision. Notice how wide your field of vision can be. As you walk, breathing deep, grounded, activate that peripheral vision. Know that you can be aware of what's going on around you.

And now notice whether you are making eye contact with the people you pass. Keep breathing, stay grounded, keep your awareness wide, but now also make eye contact with each person you pass. How does it feel to be this present in a situation?

Now come back to stillness. As you breathe, feel where it is in your body this grounded place seems to live, and touch that place. Can you find an image for this grounded state? A word or phrase you can say? When you use these three together, touch, image, and phrase, you create an anchor to help you ground quickly in any situation. Try it -- use it.

Now relax. How did that go for you all? What did you notice?

Remember, the more you practice grounding, the more automatic it becomes. If you take even a few mintes a day to practice, you¹ll not only have better energy in your daily life, you'll be able to ground quickly and instantly when you're in a tense situation.

[~Elise~]

Sit peacefully and relax. Let the ground or chair support you. Let your muscles go. You don't have to exert any effort to sit there. Take in an easy, deep breath...and let it out your mouth, parting your lips slightly as you exhale. Let your arms feel heavy, pulling down your shoulders. Breathe... Let that heavy feeling flow down your torso and legs, so you feel heavy and relaxed all the way down to your feet on the ground.

Now picture and feel roots growing from your feet down into the ground. Just like a tree's roots...going down into the layers of cool dirt...growing around rocks...traveling further and further down into the earth. Let the roots grow as deeply as you wish.

Now feel the healing, rhythmic energy of the earth itself flowing up through your roots...slowly traveling up...through your roots, up to your feet and quickly filling your entire body. Feel this positive, grounded, earth energy throughout your being. Take in a deep, cleansing breath... and release.

When you are ready, open your eyes and know that this grounded energy will remain with you throughout your day.

[~Elise~]

http://www.mastersinthemaking.com/articles/empathicgrounding.shtml

For those who are empaths, (and there seem to be quite a few in this class)--there is some AWESOME information here

Elise

[~Elise~]

Close your eyes and sit in a comfortable upright position...

Begin to breathe deeply and comfortably.

Breathe easily and deeply.

Concentrate on your breathing.

Nothing else attracts your attention.

Take several deep breaths and feel the air flow into your body as it "lightens" your being with air.

Now, imagine that the earth's energy is rising up through your feet to join with your breath.

As it works upwards, rejuvinating each muscle it touches .

The energy rises slowly up your calves,

up your thighs through your hips

and upward through your torso, into your shoulders.

Let it flow across your shoulders and down your arms, and

through your hands.

Let it relax and energize your back and your shoulders.

Allow it move up into your neck and flow out the top of your head

and back into the universe from whence it came.

Continue absorbing the calm energy into every atom of your body,

Rejuvinating your entire being with pure universal energy.

Allow you body to feel recharged and grounded.

Feeling the beautiful connection to mother earth, the source, and your inner spirit.

[~Elise~]

FINALLY

All right -- you should have PLENTY of options here.

Pick a couple of the techniques/meditations and do them for the next couple of days to a week and POST the results.

Elise

[Amythyst]

I've just run through this lesson for the first time a bit ago. I was wondering how these classes would work on a computer. I am amazed-- in my mind, it sounds and feels like you are standing right in front of me. (for the grounding visualization)

I don't think I've ever been very good at this type of thing, but this is what I felt this time...Half way through the grounding I had a rush of goosebumps up my legs. A few seconds later I had the sensation of having my tummy taken away, like when you are riding on a carnival ride, or you dream you are falling.

I don't really understand what was happening. But there it is. I'll keep practicing.

[AstralMagick]

I couldn't get the empath link to work, so I used Starhawk's Ground/Centering.
I really liked the trip, expanding my focus to more than just the surface of the earth. I felt kind of like I was analizing a text with many ways of seeing it. The further you dig around, the deeper your thoughts.

[Amythyst]

I couldn't get the empath link to work either.

[Infinite Grey]

Since I have the natural empathic abilities of dark matter, that link was useless... but everything else worked fine

[Sobeq]

I won't have a chance to actually try these exercises until Sunday or Tuesday at the latest, but they sound very interesting! I will be sure to check back when I've been able to do them.

[~Elise~]

will check the link. and repost if necessary

Elise

[~Elise~]

I am amazed-- in my mind, it sounds and feels like you are standing right in front of me. (for the grounding visualization)



Ya know -- Rick says I live in his head... maybe I'm in yours too! :boing:

Elise

[CelticMoon11]

A lot of what is posted here I already do regularly although I've found making more time for it as a result of this class has been benefitical Im a lot more clear in my thoughts and more consciously aware of my reactions

[Wytchie]

I too am fairly familiar with these type of techniques, but I had let them slide a bit and forgotten how renewing and calming, 'clearing' they can be...thank you so much for this homework:fpraise: , I really needed it but didn't realise how much!

[~Elise~]

It is amazing how we let the basics go. And it is what we need the most to build a strong foundation for self defense.

Doesn't do any good at all to shield yourself if you're not grounded and centered... you just lock all that stuff in with you.

That's why we're headed back to basics!

Elise

[~Elise~]

http://www.mastersinthemaking.com/articles/empathicgrounding.shtml

Empathic grounding link

Updated it in the orginal post, too

Elise

[Sobeq]

Okay, so I've tried the first exercise posted! It felt very good. I've never tried any other form of grounding aside from the tree root exercise you posted as well. I frequently do that in the morning. I really enjoyed the first one. My question for you is -- how long should that take? It seemed to work too quickly for me. It was very vivid and I did feel grounded -- it felt like it took at least half an hour, maybe more, but it was very brief. Any advice?

[Wolf_love]

Thank you. The name chant was something very new to me so I got excited and tried it. I am feeling so much better! I am not lying, I really am. I really needed some rounding here after going through a messy week with my cousin. It certainly feels so good to be "back" as in the connection with the earth.

[~Elise~]

Okay, so I've tried the first exercise posted! It felt very good. I've never tried any other form of grounding aside from the tree root exercise you posted as well. I frequently do that in the morning. I really enjoyed the first one. My question for you is -- how long should that take? It seemed to work too quickly for me. It was very vivid and I did feel grounded -- it felt like it took at least half an hour, maybe more, but it was very brief. Any advice?

It takes as long as it takes. No guideline to that.

Elise

[~Elise~]

Thank you. The name chant was something very new to me so I got excited and tried it. I am feeling so much better! I am not lying, I really am. I really needed some rounding here after going through a messy week with my cousin. It certainly feels so good to be "back" as in the connection with the earth.

Again--we forget to do the basics. We get so out of touch with being grounded that we forget how it feels.

I can NOT stress this enough for ALL of you. Do this daily. Do it before you get out of bed and start your day.

If you will do this and the shielding that starts next week on a daily basis; it will become a habit. It doesn't take more than 10 minutes to start with--and even less once you've been doing it daily.

THESE ARE THE FOUNDATION OF GOOD SELF DEFENSE.

Elise

[atropa]

Sorry I haven't posted yet, I've been at my grandmother's alot, she's about to pass. I am, however, in serious need of grounding right now with everything going on, and as soon as my kids go down for their naps I'll be trying an exercise or two. I'll post it as soon as get a chance. Thanks for being patient.

[moonbride]

I tried the exercise with the tree roots and I've tried grounding before but I wonder if I really put my all into it in the past because I've never felt anything quite like it. My feet actually tingled like crazy and I felt pretty energized afterwards. I'm definitely looking forward to trying a couple of the other exercises.

[Brightshores]

These all seem to be really good exercises! I've never tried anything like this before -as I said before, I'm fairly new to all of this.

Firstly, as I was reading them online, before I even started "doing" any of them, I felt inspired and I started feeling energy moving even then. Also- while reading the "empath" exercise, I realized I happen to have a lot of empathic characteristics, and I never even suspected it! Huh. I guess you learn something new every day... :hmmmmm:

I did two of the tree-root exercises, and the one with the green ball from the earth. I definitely got the tingly-feet! I would like to do the first two, dealing with the crown and heart chakras, but they seem to be a bit more involved, and I haven't quite gotten around to them. The only real problem that I had was that as I was doing them, I started "blending" some of them in my head - pulling characteristics from one of the meditations into another. It seemed to work for me, but I don't know if that's a good or bad thing.


Atropa - best wishes to you and your family - may you find peace during this difficult time. :hugz:

[~Elise~]

if the meditations seem to meld together, then let them. Nothing wrong with that.

Keep up the work, guys. Good reports.

Elise

[Rowan Darkmoon]

I've tried these for a few days, and I feel a LOT more calm and centered. I also feel a lot less anxious, and I ruminate on things less. I work in the mental health field, and am constantly around other people's anxiety, and I forget how much baggage that adds to my own personal "stuff" even though I love what I do.

I did all the exercises first, and I felt very very light and tingling (mostly in my hands, feet, and third eye) with the first one. Very light, almost like I was floating out of my chair, and then I felt very calm and at peace. Then I did the tree root one, and I felt VERY solid, like my feet were glued to the ground and it was going to be really hard to get them unstuck. :lol:

I like them in combination because I get different effects from both of them...I felt more calm and peaceful with the first two, and then more grounded and centered with the tree root exercise. I liked them a lot!

[~Elise~]

You, RM, probably more than anyone else in the class need to ground and shield before you go to work. There is a lot of yuckies out there that you don't need to be bringing home. (and you probably do without realizing it)

Elise

[Rowan Darkmoon]

You, RM, probably more than anyone else in the class need to ground and shield before you go to work. There is a lot of yuckies out there that you don't need to be bringing home. (and you probably do without realizing it)

Elise

Yeah, I already know how much junk I can drag home in magically charged areas, but I actually never thought about it until the past few days that my work would be one of those places due to everything that's going on in people's heads there. :lol:

[~Elise~]

different POV --that's what I'm going for here. Glad everyone is getting something from the exercises. Keep it up for the rest of the week and report. New lesson next Monday.

Elise

[Sage WindMoon]

I do the tree exercise a lot - it's one of my favorites. This time I did the "earth energy" version in post #4. It was cool, although I got kind of light-headed and dizzy early on when I was taking up the energy. That feeling dissipated when I let it drain back into the earth. Thanks for the useful exercise variations!

[Sobeq]

Well, I've been working more with it, and I keep finding that the sooner something disconcerting happens to when I've grounded, the more easily I'm knocked off center? Although that might just be because I'm definitely having some hormone related mood swings. Any ideas? I did the exercise where the earth's energy rises up to each part of your body -- I did start to get a little... not jumpy or light headed, but sort of a mix of both. On the whole, though, I'm feeling much better all the time. I work for my stepdad -- and we both tend to feed off of each other's emotions, so when one of us gets stressed, the other starts to tense up, and it builds. That's been happening less frequently, I don't know if that's because of the grounding or just less stress.

[~Elise~]

Well, I've been working more with it, and I keep finding that the sooner something disconcerting happens to when I've grounded, the more easily I'm knocked off center? Although that might just be because I'm definitely having some hormone related mood swings. Any ideas? I did the exercise where the earth's energy rises up to each part of your body -- I did start to get a little... not jumpy or light headed, but sort of a mix of both. On the whole, though, I'm feeling much better all the time. I work for my stepdad -- and we both tend to feed off of each other's emotions, so when one of us gets stressed, the other starts to tense up, and it builds. That's been happening less frequently, I don't know if that's because of the grounding or just less stress.

If you stay grounded--his energy won't be able to affect you like normal. You may want to go look at the empath link, too.

If you're staying grounded--you should not be able to be knocked off center. You may want to get that energy dissapted back to the earth. Sounds like you're hanging onto it... that's not good--as you see.

Elise

Elise

[moonbride]

If you stay grounded--his energy won't be able to affect you like normal. You may want to go look at the empath link, too.


I know this post wasn't directed to me but I'm still following along and working on the exercises as well but I have a question and I hope it's not a silly question that I'm just missing somehow...

How do you stay grounded exactly? I get how to ground yourself... but how do you stay that way? And if you stay grounded... then why would you have to do it every day as a practice?

I really feel like I'm learning a lot from this class and enjoying it very much btw...

[~Elise~]

I do the tree exercise a lot - it's one of my favorites. This time I did the "earth energy" version in post #4. It was cool, although I got kind of light-headed and dizzy early on when I was taking up the energy. That feeling dissipated when I let it drain back into the earth. Thanks for the useful exercise variations!

That's the point--to get you out of the norm and see how you've let that become routine to the point that it isn't effective any more.

I've been doing this for years.... I still have to change my shields up on an annual basis now. And I've had to also incorporate Rick's shields & protection, as well. We've had to find a way to meld them.

I can tell you it was VERY hard for me to turn over house shielding/defense to him. HUGE trust issue. I've not had to do something like that. He melded with what I had, but that is his role and even though I love him and trust him with my life... it was still hard to let that control go. (imagine that.... me with control issues. go figure :hahugh: )

But, in my defense, my home was also the home of Guardians, the group I'm HPs for... so I was also turning over defense of those people, as well. Our home is still the home of Guardians and is safe and snug :viking: ... much to the dismay of some in the community. :lol:

I'm sharing this so y'all will see that even the teacher has to change things up occassionally and that it isn't always easy to do. So I do know what I'm asking from you--I've been there, too.

Elise

[~Elise~]

I know this post wasn't directed to me but I'm still following along and working on the exercises as well but I have a question and I hope it's not a silly question that I'm just missing somehow...

How do you stay grounded exactly? I get how to ground yourself... but how do you stay that way? And if you stay grounded... then why would you have to do it every day as a practice?

I really feel like I'm learning a lot from this class and enjoying it very much btw...

In the beginning it takes DAILY practice to stay that way. after about 3 months or so, you'll find you only have to do it every other day or so... then down the road... weekly...then once a month--I'd pick like a new moon to renew them-- then after a year or more--you'll do 'em quarterly (I'd do the Sabbats at that point--eventually it'll work to yearly.

That help?

Elise

[moonbride]

In the beginning it takes DAILY practice to stay that way. after about 3 months or so, you'll find you only have to do it every other day or so... then down the road... weekly...then once a month--I'd pick like a new moon to renew them-- then after a year or more--you'll do 'em quarterly (I'd do the Sabbats at that point--eventually it'll work to yearly.

That help?

Elise

Yes, that helps... thank you.
I definitely noticed a difference in myself over the past week that I've been doing this. I'm definitely much calmer, I've handled small crisises around the houser much easier, I'm staying more positive and helpful with a friend who is going thru some tough situations right now... the list goes on.

[Amythyst]

I have discovered this week that 1) finding a few spare-- uninterrupted-- moments in a household of 8 is a feat in itself 2) the past few years have been so tense with in-law, step-son problems that I am wound up tighter than a kite string. I had no idea, until I began these exercises, how stressed out I was. I thought I was handling it pretty well. I was wrong.

The thing that worked best for me was the simplest... I would lay flat on the ground, beneath our maple tree, and I don't know how to describe it really, but it was as if the tension would drain from me and a feeling of serenity and peace would envelope me. Does this mean I was grounding? Is that why children instinctivly sprawl out on the gound like this?

I realize that I need much, much more work and practice in this area and will benefit by it both emotionally and physically.

By the way, I'm sure there are a few neighbors who wonder what in the Sam Hell I'm doing under the tree!

[Kmartin60]

:yayah: Dont feel bad, hubby caught me HUGGING tree and asked "What the Sam &^(& are you doing?" 8O and then he saw the Runes I had inked on my palm....

One look, and then "I dont want to know do I" and flounced away........

Hey, if anyone ever does say anything tell them "It could be worse I could be praticing sky-clad!" and see their reactions!......

Man, I wish we didnt have so many rocks, thats sounds like it would be relaxing,.....I'm jealous, Kim

[Brightshores]

Wow - I just tried the first meditation - the one focusing on Light.

Very, very strong stuff - I've been pretty energy-depleted lately, and when the energy came up from the Earth, it literally almost knocked me off my chair! :holycow:

Now I just have to find a way to make all this part of my daily routine - I'm a Virgo and introducing new things to my daily routine is a long, drawn-out process!

[~Elise~]

Best thing I found to do was to do first thing in the morning before I even got out of bed. If I didn't do it then, the day got too busy and I'd forget.

just a suggestion.... not a rule or anything.

Elise

[~Elise~]

I have discovered this week that 1) finding a few spare-- uninterrupted-- moments in a household of 8 is a feat in itself 2) the past few years have been so tense with in-law, step-son problems that I am wound up tighter than a kite string. I had no idea, until I began these exercises, how stressed out I was. I thought I was handling it pretty well. I was wrong.

The thing that worked best for me was the simplest... I would lay flat on the ground, beneath our maple tree, and I don't know how to describe it really, but it was as if the tension would drain from me and a feeling of serenity and peace would envelope me. Does this mean I was grounding? Is that why children instinctivly sprawl out on the gound like this?

I realize that I need much, much more work and practice in this area and will benefit by it both emotionally and physically.

By the way, I'm sure there are a few neighbors who wonder what in the Sam Hell I'm doing under the tree!

Wanna hear something funny--one of my IRL students got real buzzed from a meditation she was doing for homework for a class. She called all jazzed--worried -- what do I do??????
Knowing her backyard... told to go outside and ground herself, go sit under a tree. Welllllll---she took me a bit tooooo literal and did what you did laying under the tree....except she ran out the back and threw herself on the ground under the tree.
Lady next door was out with her son and asked my student if she was okay. Yes, she said...just grounding myself.
The kid piped up to the mother and said, "Why doesn't she just go to her room?" :lol: :lol: :lol: :hehehehe:

Had to laugh out loud when she told me that one.

Yes, you're grounding yourself. Stay there long enough.... the tree will talk to you and share energy. may take a few times, but it's pretty cool when it happens.

Elise

[moonbride]

Wanna hear
Lady next door was out with her son and asked my student if she was okay. Yes, she said...just grounding myself.
The kid piped up to the mother and said, "Why doesn't she just go to her room?" :lol: :lol: :lol: :hehehehe:


Omg that's hysterical! :lol:

[~Elise~]

I thought so too. Just wait till I tell her I've posted her story here.... _wedgie_

[moonbride]

Still practicing this every day and noticed how different some days are from others. I can really tell when there's a lot going on in my life from one day to the next because some days it takes much longer to get myself grounded than others. Then the days when I feel a little calmer and more relaxed it almost takes me no time at all... almost to the point where I'm worried if I really did it right because it happens so quickly.

Just an observation...

[misfitroxy]

I have to wonder if I'm doing something wrong here. I've tried a couple of the different exercises so far and the visualization portions have gone well. But afterwards, I wind up spending the rest of the day feeling oddly buzzed. Not in an energetic, go-getter kind of way, but an almost stressed-out, ready to snap at any second way. I don't feel emotional, necessarily. There's no anger or tears. I just feel like a rubber band pulled too taught.

Perhaps I'm drawing the energy up and not letting it cycle properly (though I thought with the universal energy/egg of light exercise that it was supposed to stay with you, just in a fluid motion around you)? I can't recall if I've mentioned it in here before or not, but it may be worth repeating that I'm astrologically almost entirely air and water. There's only a touch of fire in my chart and practically no earth whatsoever. As such, I've spent much of my life very resistant to the missing elements (I am terrified of fire and heat and begin to sweat from fear at the thought of lighting a match, and I can't stand grit or dirt. I was always the little girl standing to the side of the sand box saying "Mommy, I don't want to get in there. It will make my dress dirty."). I realize the importance of finding a way to balance myself and ground. But since my makeup is so lopsided, perhaps that's causing the problems I described above. Or maybe I'm pulling at straws here.

Also, I have determined that I absolutely cannot make my way through any grounding meditations in the morning before getting out of bed. Any kind of visualization sends me right back into dreamland. I've found myself falling asleep while my alarm is still running for several mornings now (something which never happens normally) by attempting to ground at that time. I usually wait until I've been awake for an hour or two and then give it a go. But then I'm dealing with the type of strange mania I mentioned in the beginning.

Anyone have any thoughts? They'd be greatly appreciated.

[Pandy Fackler]

I've tried breathing techniques the most. It seems that whenever I'm in the most high-stress situation, I'm in a place where I don't have much other choice. I work as a pizza delivery driver and so I practice better breathing in my car all the time.

However, I think my favourite technique is to go outside with my shoes off and feel the earth. It gets me back to my centre the fastest.

[~Elise~]

I promise I'll get to this... my IRL class is showing up in moments and I don't have time to write all that I want. I'm actually teaching THIS class today in a workshop format. Then we'll have ritual for Full Moon.

It'll be tonight at the earliest.

Elise


I have to wonder if I'm doing something wrong here. I've tried a couple of the different exercises so far and the visualization portions have gone well. But afterwards, I wind up spending the rest of the day feeling oddly buzzed. Not in an energetic, go-getter kind of way, but an almost stressed-out, ready to snap at any second way. I don't feel emotional, necessarily. There's no anger or tears. I just feel like a rubber band pulled too taught.

Perhaps I'm drawing the energy up and not letting it cycle properly (though I thought with the universal energy/egg of light exercise that it was supposed to stay with you, just in a fluid motion around you)? I can't recall if I've mentioned it in here before or not, but it may be worth repeating that I'm astrologically almost entirely air and water. There's only a touch of fire in my chart and practically no earth whatsoever. As such, I've spent much of my life very resistant to the missing elements (I am terrified of fire and heat and begin to sweat from fear at the thought of lighting a match, and I can't stand grit or dirt. I was always the little girl standing to the side of the sand box saying "Mommy, I don't want to get in there. It will make my dress dirty."). I realize the importance of finding a way to balance myself and ground. But since my makeup is so lopsided, perhaps that's causing the problems I described above. Or maybe I'm pulling at straws here.

Also, I have determined that I absolutely cannot make my way through any grounding meditations in the morning before getting out of bed. Any kind of visualization sends me right back into dreamland. I've found myself falling asleep while my alarm is still running for several mornings now (something which never happens normally) by attempting to ground at that time. I usually wait until I've been awake for an hour or two and then give it a go. But then I'm dealing with the type of strange mania I mentioned in the beginning.

Anyone have any thoughts? They'd be greatly appreciated.

[misfitroxy]

I promise I'll get to this... my IRL class is showing up in moments and I don't have time to write all that I want. I'm actually teaching THIS class today in a workshop format. Then we'll have ritual for Full Moon.

It'll be tonight at the earliest.

Elise

Please take your time. I'm not rushed for an answer/suggestions at all. Just wanted to check in and see what you (and my classmates, if anything comes to mind from their experience which relates) thought about it.

I will add that last night, I came across a daily morning dedication/centering prayer to the elements that involves all four (as well as the Spirit energy). I'm going to start trying to incorporate that into my morning routine and see if that particular approach makes a difference for me.

Have fun with your workship and ritual!

[~Elise~]

I have to wonder if I'm doing something wrong here. I've tried a couple of the different exercises so far and the visualization portions have gone well. But afterwards, I wind up spending the rest of the day feeling oddly buzzed. Not in an energetic, go-getter kind of way, but an almost stressed-out, ready to snap at any second way. I don't feel emotional, necessarily. There's no anger or tears. I just feel like a rubber band pulled too taught.

Perhaps I'm drawing the energy up and not letting it cycle properly (though I thought with the universal energy/egg of light exercise that it was supposed to stay with you, just in a fluid motion around you)? I can't recall if I've mentioned it in here before or not, but it may be worth repeating that I'm astrologically almost entirely air and water. There's only a touch of fire in my chart and practically no earth whatsoever. As such, I've spent much of my life very resistant to the missing elements (I am terrified of fire and heat and begin to sweat from fear at the thought of lighting a match, and I can't stand grit or dirt. I was always the little girl standing to the side of the sand box saying "Mommy, I don't want to get in there. It will make my dress dirty."). I realize the importance of finding a way to balance myself and ground. But since my makeup is so lopsided, perhaps that's causing the problems I described above. Or maybe I'm pulling at straws here.

sounds like you're holding onto the enetgy and not letting it go--so you're on a power 'high' all day.

Try ground with water--do it in the shower in the morning. Let the water pour over you and take all the 'yuckies' down the drain. Then let it pour over you, empower you and see yourself become resistant to all -kinda like 'water off a duck's back'. Let that be your shield.

just a thought-something from you to build from.




Also, I have determined that I absolutely cannot make my way through any grounding meditations in the morning before getting out of bed. Any kind of visualization sends me right back into dreamland. I've found myself falling asleep while my alarm is still running for several mornings now (something which never happens normally) by attempting to ground at that time. I usually wait until I've been awake for an hour or two and then give it a go. But then I'm dealing with the type of strange mania I mentioned in the beginning.

Anyone have any thoughts? They'd be greatly appreciated.

as I said--use the shower instead of bed. I just know that I had to get it done before I started my day. I don't shower in the morning, usually. I'm a soak in the bath kinda girl. That is how I end my day.

Elise

[~Elise~]

Lesson 4 is up!

Elise

[Philosophia]

Can we still post in lesson three? I'm busy at the moment and couldn't complete the lesson on time...

[~Elise~]

of course, you can still post!

Elise

[misfitroxy]

Try ground with water--do it in the shower in the morning. Let the water pour over you and take all the 'yuckies' down the drain. Then let it pour over you, empower you and see yourself become resistant to all -kinda like 'water off a duck's back'. Let that be your shield.


Thanks so much for the follow-up. I think this is a fine idea (though I'm not a morning shower person either, but it would probably be a fabulous way of letting the day's stresses out in the evenings and preparing me for a peaceful sleep) and will give it a go for sure.

As I said before, I just started a new morning salutation of sorts that involves all four elements (plus the spirit energy) and I think it's having a positive effect. I speak to each element in turn while facing its respective direction and then pause to imagine that element beneath my feet, brushing over my face, rising within me, etc. So we'll see where that takes me as I establish it as a daily practice. At the very least, I'm hoping it will bring me a bit closer to those elements I'm less accustomed to working with due to celestial disparaties. :)

[slntmom]

i ve been doing the visualizaton technique and it gives me alot of energy but when i send the energy back into the earth i feel very relaxed for the rest if the day. actually the energy is sometimes better than sex. hahahahah

[~Elise~]

i ve been doing the visualizaton technique and it gives me alot of energy but when i send the energy back into the earth i feel very relaxed for the rest if the day. actually the energy is sometimes better than sex. hahahahah

Better than sex? :gagged: :foh: :foh: :sadeyes:

Oh hell with it..... Do we need to be talking to someone? :smash:

Elise

[Hermgirl]

I have found the breathing to be really useful.

I started with the basic breathing, and decided to spend five minutes concentrating on my breathing--this was quite interesting, and I also found that if I did it before going to bed, I had no trouble sleeping. Other times I found it energised me.

I then started incorporating the pushing the roots down and bringing the energy up exercise--this was quite beneficial, I believe. I will continue this one, combined with the breathing, long after this class I think.

Thanks for some great exercises!

[CelticMoon11]

Is there such a thing as being 'too grounded' is there a way if you are too physically grounded to "un ground" for rituals where you want to deal with more astral experiences etc?

[~Elise~]

Too grounded? Possibly

as for un grounding--intent--I think would be all that is necessary

Elise

[Wytchie]

Is there such a thing as being 'too grounded' is there a way if you are too physically grounded to "un ground" for rituals where you want to deal with more astral experiences etc?

Something I have been told about in the past relating to this is an extension of the roots evercise here; to 'reach' higher planes you keep your roots, but think of yourself like the trunk of a tree, with deep roots to be grounded but with branches reaching up high to connect to higher planes.

Not sure if this is helpful to you but I thought I'd mention it:)

[atropa]

Ok, sorry I'm late coming into this lesson. I first tried the simple breathing exercise. It was very nice, very relaxing. I came away feeling calm and ready to face the kids after their naps :) I then tried the visualization with the sunlight and flower. I really liked this one! I came away with all the feelings you described. I have difficulty with visualizations sometimes, but this one was fine. I still feel all warm and protected, and can really feel the light (for lack of a better term) around me.

edited to add:
My baby daughter woke up a few minutes after the visualization. I was feeding her and we were tummy to tummy. I was so aware of her energy and love and my insides felt like they were being tickled.

[Garden of Eden]

Oh dear. I feel terribly guilty about not keeping up with my lessons. And the daily forum subscription email-of-doom isn't helping. But I am, right now, copying the exercises into my magical journal and I will come back with results in the next few days.

[innocent]

I tried the "Grounding and Centering For Activists" one as well as a few others and I found that the best way to get grounded was to do some breathing things while touching my hands to the ground. ( dirt, sand, or stones- I'm very allergic to grass)

[Garden of Eden]

I tried the second exercise (the nameless one) and was a little surprised by how physically heavy I felt immediately afterwards. I did it first thing in the morning before I got up, and the heaviness stayed with me for about an hour afterwards, though it wasn't unpleasant, just... odd. I did feel very stable and truly connected to the earth. I tried it again tonight and the heaviness was not so bad, though still present.

[Kmartin60]

:wave: Hi! I have tried the different versions several times, but have found that most just are hard to get solidly grounded with!
(Does that make any sense?)

The heart chakra felt good....and was very calming for me, but it seemed like I was adrift before long...

I know that doesnt sound like it makes sense, but most all of these versions (Sorry, cant spell teqnic properly! I dont think?) left me feeling that away....I would be "Fuzzy" headed afterwards, and just off kilter....

Could it be that the "Tree" root version works for me because it's the first one I ever learned and have been using it for so long? That one is an automatic reaction every day for me! Even without realizing it sometimes.....just kinda curious...sigh...will keep trying the others along with it, cant hurt! 8O

Brightest blessings,

[Jenne]

FINALLY

All right -- you should have PLENTY of options here.

Pick a couple of the techniques/meditations and do them for the next couple of days to a week and POST the results.

Elise

*hoping it's not too late*


Clear your mind, and concentrate, on the earth.

Visualize energy coming up through the earth as a green or bronze colored ball.

Bring the energy up through you to your stomach then visualize it dispersing throughout you body and mixing with your own personal energy then draining back into the earth anchoring you to it like roots anchor a tree into the ground.

Feel the earth's energy pulsing strong and steady into your "roots" then up through you, making you feel stable and strong and sturdy.

This Grounds you and helps you attune to the earth. If you start to feel light headed or shaky when doing any techniques etc.

Ground yourself. This is caused by your body not being used to raising energy and containing it.

Take your time and spend however long you need to fully visualize everything as clearly as possible.

Practice as often as needed, however, since you are just learning this exercise try not to practice more than twice a day for now.

I loved this one...

My favorite center is the Earth. I'm a water sign, and I have a strong affinity to the ocean, but when I need centering, I need to attune myself to a gravitational force, through my core. I usually imagine a thread that goes from the top of my head through my ribcage, into my bottom and then into the ground as I sit "criss-cross-applesauce."

This one is nice because it does the opposite--the ground forces come UP INTO you. I love that. I'm using this one from now on, to see if my energies are raised easier.

Thanks, Pearls59!

[Caitlin.ann]

I'm sorry its taken me so long to respond to this. I've tried the grounding visualization technique and found it quite helpful. I felt centered and like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. :)

[~Elise~]

Not too late.... glad you like that, Jenne

Sacredsin-that's what is supposed to happen

[Skylah]

Sorry I've taken so long to post my homework... I've tried the excersizes, and the ones that feel right to me are:

"picture and feel roots growing from your feet down into the ground. Just like a tree's roots..." The reason that this one works so well for me, is because the tree meditation I've always used is very similar. It makes me feel peaceful and connected.

"Visualize energy coming up through the earth as a green or bronze colored ball." This one, though new to me, obtained almost immediate results. I can feel the energy mixing with my own (a very strong tingling sensation).

Thanks Pearls:)

[Pandy Fackler]

I've had a few that've worked for me. One is just watching my breath. I can do this when I drive or wherever I am and I only have to take a out a second to notice I'm not breathing in my stomach and to correct it. Visualizing I have roots is also a good one but I'm having trouble imagining that the roots go with me when I walk. It's easier if I can just stand still and imagine my roots go way down, I pick up energy from there, loosen my negative energy into the earth, and then walk off leaving my roots and negative energy for the earth to fix.

The ones I've never been good at are imagining balls of light or anything coming out of me or from me... I just don't like those visuals and they don't do anything for me.

[Philosophia]

Grounding/Visualization: Opening to universal energy.
Strangely enough, this grounding exercise really refreshed and opened me up. I felt as if something was opening up and I was wary at first because I’ve never really felt it before. I’ve done it a couple of times now and I’m feeling a lot more aware than I had been. The lotus was beautiful and I really felt it opening one petal at a time. I don’t know whether I think this is a good grounding exercise but I do believe it’s brilliant at opening me up more to the energy around me.
Opening heart chakra
I was little unsure about this meditation to begin with because I’m not too comfortable in that area. I do know that I have a lot of work to be able to fully open it, but I couldn’t do it right. One time I felt a strange chest pain and I thought I may have been exerting too pressure on it. I definitely will be working on this one a lot more.
Earth
I’ve variations of this grounding exercise before so I kind of know what to expect. Unlike the others I did this standing up because it felt more comfortable. My feet tingled and I felt that I was growing roots into the earth. I also did this exercise outside in the morning and this really woke me up. The earths energy was somehow different, a calmer, serene feeling that grounded me better than the other meditations. I walked around for awhile and I felt that the roots were being connected to all the other living plants around me. The water made me feel like I’m growing with the fire connected to the spark of passion that I need to have. When I breathed and clenched my stomach, it made me feel tense and anxious, and I didn’t like this very much. This may sound strange but I felt like a tree with the roots connecting deeply into the ground. To be this present in a situation is rather strange because I’m usually not this open to everything around me. It was an odd feeling because I was seeing thing I’m not usually noticing, like blades of grass growing and a nearby fruit tree budding. An image that I’m going to use for this exercise is a tree with roots that can be seen. It’s an image that came to me when I was ending the meditation and become worried that I wouldn’t be able to do it at the spur of the moment. The smell I use is of freshly dug soil and newly shorn grass. A sound I use is the rustling of leaves that combines both the air and earth.
Overall I felt that I was much more grounded and secure in my day-to-day activities then I had been before previously. I was also very aware that I wasn’t picking up the energies of others much and that I wasn’t being drained by shielding like I had been previously. Over time, I was becoming much more proficient in this technique that it now is a part of my morning routine that I have to do.
Quick grounding meditation
I do this meditation to everyday and, for me; it’s a quick way of simply grounding myself anywhere I’m feeling rather edgy, over excited or even drained. It is a great way of simple doing it at any time or place, and it’s usually like instant coffee (a quick boost when needed).