What is Grounding?
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Are you new to the spiritual path?
Then you may have heard about grounding and desperately wanted to ask your yoga teacher about what she was talking during class, but couldn’t bring yourself to ask.
I get it. In the spiritual healing world, we all want to feel like we have out shit together.
Today, you’re in luck because I’m going to show you everything you need to know about grounding but were afraid to ask, including how to differentiate it from its friend-earthing.
You'll be ready for your first day at Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry..or at the very least, know what the hell your yoga teacher is talking about next time ;)
What is Grounding?
I'm not here to bury the lead; in simple terms, grounding means presence and connection and this describes the practice of connecting yourself to the earth and being fully present in your body. It helps you feel stable, balanced, and focused by releasing excess energy and drawing in the earth's natural energy
Grounding aims to regulate your emotions, improve focus and concentration, and release physical tension.
It also has been shown to provide various physical health benefits, such as reducing inflammation, improving sleep quality, and boosting the immune system.
Want to know how to ground properly and effectively?
Download the 5 minute grounding meditation for psychics, empaths and sensitive to mange overwhelm and reduce anxiety!
Why is Grounding Important?
You may come across people who believe grounding is that it's a pseudoscientific concept with no real benefits or scientific backing. Some people believe that grounding is just a placebo effect and has no tangible impact on one's emotional, mental, or physical well-being.
However,A study published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health found that grounding could improve sleep, reduce pain, and decrease stress. In this study, 60 participants were split into two groups, with one group sleeping on grounded sheets and the other on non-grounded sheets for eight weeks. The results showed that 85% of the grounded group experienced improved sleep quality, while 74% reported reduced chronic pain.
This means that grounding actually has some clout and isn’t just some esoteric or abstract tool that the everyday person can’t access….
When you ground, you'll be able to improve emotional balance, mental clarity, and physical well-being .
On top of that, grounding improves the body's natural ability to heal itself. By reducing inflammation, promoting relaxation, and enhancing sleep quality, grounding can create an optimal environment for the body to recover from injuries, illnesses, or stress. When the body experiences reduced inflammation and stress, it can allocate more resources to healing processes, such as repairing damaged tissues, regenerating cells, and strengthening the immune system.
For example:
I wanted to share with you a grounding practice that I've been incorporating into my daily routine for a few years now, which has greatly benefited my mental health and overall well-being. I believe it might be helpful for you as well.
Each morning, I begin with a brief meditation session to center myself and set the tone for the day. I find a comfortable position, close my eyes, and focus on my breath, allowing any thoughts or distractions to gently fade away.
Once I've completed my meditation, I step outside, barefoot, to connect directly with the Earth. Standing on grass or soil, I take deep breaths and sense my energetic roots extending from my root chakra, pelvis, and feet, anchoring me to the ground. This sensation helps me to know I’ve connected to earth’s energy vs. just visualizing it.. As I inhale, I cycle with the Earth's energy into my own, filling my body with a sense of calm and vitality. Simultaneously, I allow any negative emotions or stress being released back into the Earth through the exhale.
After spending about 5 minutes, I return indoors and take a moment to express gratitude for the day ahead. I've found that this simple practice not only improves my mental health by reducing stress and anxiety, but also helps me maintain a deeper connection to the world around me.
Background of Grounding
Don't worry, this is no boring history class.
One of the best ways to understand a new concept is to travel back in time and understand where it comes from and the processes that led to its inception.
For grounding, we have to look at ancient cultures and their healing traditions.
Believe it or not, the invention of shoes (yes! Footwear, the things we put on our feet)], allowed for the modern resurgence of grounding as a health practice, which in turn led me to having a job as a spiritual pratitioner so I can offer you everything I know about grounding.
As people in modern societies began spending more time indoors and wearing insulated footwear, they became increasingly disconnected from the Earth's natural energy. This disconnection led to a growing interest in the potential health benefits of reestablishing that connection through grounding or earthing practices.
As awareness of the importance of reconnecting with the Earth grew, researchers started to investigate the science behind grounding and its impact on human health. This research, combined with the increasing popularity of holistic wellness practices, helped bring grounding into the mainstream. Today, many people are turning to grounding as a way to counteract the effects of modern lifestyles and improve their overall well-being.
Clinton Ober's book "Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever is an excellent resource on earthing. Check it out his earthing products and earthing book here.
How Grounding Works
So far, we've stayed pretty theoretical in our exploration of grounding, and if you're still confused, I don't blame you.
In fact, when I first started learning about grounding, I felt like I was hearing all of the right things, bt my brain and body did not know how to take that information and actually feel a difference. The fact that I’m still here after recovering from a traumatic spiritual awakening and spiritual psychosis, shows that I was thankfully wrong.
Luckily, grounding is truly an experiential process- even if you don’t understand the how’s and why’s, just by practicing grounding, your mind, body and spirit will eventually get on board.
I've put together a few examples of grounding below to help you better understand and see it in a tangible way.
Example #1: Grounding as an Empath and Intuitive
My client Teresa has applied grounding in her daily life as an empath and intuitive.
She says she can now, “recognize when I am too open and over absorbing other energies and how to address that with grounding very quickly and effectively. I can say that I have developed a better understanding of how the Universe/Spirit can speak to and guide you if you are open to learning and listening.”
This means that she can alchemize her gifts of absorbing so much energy from everyone else and figure out how to use it to her benefit-not to her detriment. (her words, not mine!)
Want access to The Grounding Course for Empaths, Sensitives, and Psychics?, a step-by-step guide so you can do this too? You're in luck because I’m officially enrolling students and would love to you join a community of like-minded people with the same desire you have: to be a better person in this world by being more present and connected.
Example #2: Grounding in Your Intimate Relationships
This means better communication and a deeper emotional connection…and I don’t know about you but when I’m feeling hear and connected, the bow chicka wow wow with my partner is 100000% times better, amirite?
An example of this is you being more present in a conversation with your partner and can you can engage in more meaningful conversations, actively listen, and respond thoughtfully, leading to improved communication.
The best ways to implement this in your own relationship is:
Develop a personal grounding routine: Before focusing on improving communication within your intimate relationship, it's essential to develop your own grounding practice. This may include walking barefoot on natural surfaces, engaging in grounding meditation, or using grounding tools like mats and sheets. By creating a consistent personal grounding routine, you'll cultivate emotional stability, self-awareness, and presence, which are key to effective communication
Practice active listening: Grounding helps you become more present and focused, which is crucial for active listening. To improve communication with your partner, make a conscious effort to listen attentively without interrupting or formulating a response while they're speaking. Maintain eye contact, offer verbal and non-verbal cues that show you're engaged, and ask open-ended questions to encourage further discussion. Active listening fosters understanding and empathy, creating a safe space for open and honest communication.
Incorporate grounding exercises into your relationship: Engage in shared grounding experiences with your partner to strengthen your bond and enhance your emotional connection. You can try practicing grounding meditation together, going for nature walks, or participating in activities like gardening or outdoor yoga. These shared experiences not only help both of you stay grounded individually but also create opportunities for meaningful conversations, mutual vulnerability, and increased empathy, all of which contribute to improved communication in your intimate relationship.
Here’s how you can apply it:
When my husband and I first moved in together, we would argue a lot about household chores. We realized our communication needed some work, so we decided to try grounding to help us out. We decided that we wouldn’t have conversations that could lead to arguments without grounding our energetic bodies first.
With this, we were able to have a calm and open conversation about chores. Turns out, most of our arguments came from miscommunication and unspoken expectations. With clear minds and grounded emotions, we created a fair chore schedule that worked for both of us. Ever since we began grounding, our communication has been way better, not just about chores but in all aspects of our relationship. Practicing grounding together has really made a difference and brought us closer as a couple!
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Example #3: Grounding at Work…the watercooler, or anywhere there is a “Karen” present
So, my client shared this funny story about how they use grounding at work, especially when dealing with difficult customers, aka the "Karen's" of the world. One day, they were confronted by a particularly demanding Karen who insisted on speaking to the manager about a trivial issue. Instead of getting flustered or frustrated, my client took a deep breath and decided to practice a quick grounding meditation. With eyes closed and a serene expression, they quietly said, "Sure, let me get the manager. But first, I just need a moment to connect with the Earth and center myself."
The bewildered look on Karen's face was priceless! My client stood there for a few seconds, focusing on their breath and grounding themselves while Karen watched in confusion. Finally, Karen mumbled that it wasn't necessary to call the manager anymore and left the store in a huff.
Grounding to the rescue! And now, my client has a funny story to tell whenever they need a laugh at work.
Video Time: Grounding
Still not sure you get grounding well enough to explain it to your friend who is in desperate need of some grounding techniques? We all learn in different ways.
Check out this video to see if it helps you out: (note: this grounding video was a part of a healing from trauma series-even if you have never experienced a trigger (luckyyyyy), you will find important information in this video about grounding that is for anyone-from any walk of life!)
Did you relate to my story about my struggle with grounding? I especially like how I shared the similarities between grounding and breastfeeding because if you’ve ever had to whip out your boob to feed a starving infant, you know EXACTLY what I’m talking about.
Grounding: Key Takeaways
I hope grounding is crystal clear to you now.
I started on this path because there was a lack of accessible information for people like you and me.
Do you still have questions? No shame in that! You can contact me here or find me on Instagram where I'm always happy to answer any questions.
One thing you can do to get started with grounding, is grab my free five meditation designed exclusively for empaths, sensitives, and psychics who need to reduce anxiety and manage overwhelm.
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