| When grounded, our consciousness is present in our | | | | itself will double our benefit and keep us coming back |
| body and our body is rooted to an awareness of the | | | | for more, whether it's walking, running, surfing, yoga, |
| earth, our greater home. As children of the Earth, | | | | working out at the gym, Tai Chi, Karate, belly dancing |
| being grounded is our birthright and means that we | | | | or tree climbing! Exercise also raises serotonin and |
| are totally present in the now and entirely available to | | | | endorphin levels. These are feel-good brain chemicals |
| participate in the experience of life at every moment. | | | | that automatically give one a physical, emotional and |
| As such, grounding is one of the most important | | | | mental lift, which is an immediate reward that |
| contributing factors to success and happiness in this | | | | dramatically increases the desire to be present in the |
| life. If our awareness is not all here, how well can our | | | | body. |
| life be running? | | | | Communion with nature is another direct way to |
| The act of grounding literally connects us to the vast | | | | create grounding. For the most part, we inhabit |
| intelligence of the earth, a living organism of infinite | | | | concrete cityscapes and sprawling suburban |
| organizing power. Because of that, we are naturally | | | | developments. We have lost our connection to the |
| more relaxed and trusting and can maintain a sense | | | | Earth and forgotten that the Earth is our primary |
| of security no matter where we are - at home, on | | | | home. In ancient times, the Earth herself was |
| the street, in an airplane, on an ocean liner or in a | | | | worshiped as the Creator/Diety, the Goddess |
| foreign land. Because of the strong body connection | | | | Mother, giver of life and all things. That original |
| that grounding ensures, our health can improve as we | | | | reverence has long been eclipsed by modern man's |
| develop a relationship of respect for our body, taking | | | | desire to control rather than cooperate with Nature, |
| care of it rather than taking it for granted. Our ability | | | | resulting in the deterioration of our earth |
| to enjoy the sensual pleasures of life is enhanced, | | | | environment. Not to appear simplistic but I believe |
| too - smelling the spring jasmine, sampling a luscious | | | | the simple act of consciously grounding to the Earth |
| peach, enjoying physical affection. Our overall | | | | serves an important twofold purpose: first, to give |
| awareness of what is going on around us is | | | | each of us a natural sense of security in this world; |
| expanded. We notice the sky. We connect with the | | | | second, to heal the earth. If we connect with the |
| person. We feel the music. We engage with the | | | | Earth, we are acknowledging her in a loving way, |
| chore. With a greater connection to life's natural flow, | | | | which, in itself, becomes a reciprocal act of healing |
| reduced effort is needed to make things happen and | | | | between us. Whether your connection is a trip to the |
| we accomplish more in less time. Our intuitive | | | | beach, a walk in the woods, lounging in your |
| awareness expands, giving us the opportunity to | | | | backyard, or communing with the window box |
| access the inner wisdom of our natural guidance | | | | flowers in your city apartment, the earth connection |
| system or what is often referred to as our "higher | | | | is vital for you and for the planet. |
| self". | | | | There are some very simple and effective |
| Is it not often the case that though our body is | | | | visualizations which can create a strong grounding |
| present, our awareness may not be? How often are | | | | connection for you, as well. You can try it right now. |
| we out there in front of ourselves daydreaming | | | | Sitting where you are, close your eyes. Take in |
| about what hasn't happened yet or behind ourselves | | | | several deep breaths. Become aware of your body |
| wishing we could change something that happened | | | | from the head to the toes. Become aware of the |
| yesterday or twenty years ago? Any number of | | | | earth beneath you. Take your time to create this |
| things from the mundane to the monumental can | | | | awareness. |
| make us lose our presence and grounding on a daily | | | | Now, from the bottom of your spine, create a cord |
| basis, throughout our lives. It could be anything from | | | | of energy and send it all the way down to the |
| an earthquake, to a rude driver flipping you off on | | | | center of the earth. Do it easily with no effort, just |
| the freeway, to a rip-roarin' Saturday night party, to | | | | let it happen. You can visualize your grounding cord |
| a job loss, to death, to a business deal gone south, | | | | as pure energy or as a tree trunk with roots or |
| to drugs and alcohol, to emotional trauma and on and | | | | whatever you like. Pour some golden light, a very |
| on. Whatever it is that creates the dis-connect, it's | | | | high vibration of energy, all over your grounding cord |
| always possible re-anchor and bring our consciousness | | | | to strengthen and clean it. Feel this energy as it |
| back into the point of power - now - to create our | | | | travels down. Keep your grounding cord present - |
| lives in the present. | | | | just say "my grounding chord is in present time" and |
| If we don't know we're ungrounded in the first place, | | | | it will be. |
| how do we figure it out? To varying degrees, the | | | | Stay with it until you can really feel the connection. |
| following are some tell-tale indications. There's a | | | | Take ownership of your grounding cord. You created |
| feeling of general spacey-ness. We feel scattered. | | | | it and you can re-create it over and over again |
| We forget things. We lose things. We are more | | | | whenever you feel yourself losing the connection. |
| fearful and don't feel safe. We're more | | | | Now, create grounding cords from the soles of your |
| accident-prone. We neglect, abuse or take our bodies | | | | feet and send them to the center of the earth for |
| for granted. We get sick more often. We avoid | | | | even better grounding. Picture your bare feet |
| issues and don't take action. We get depressed. | | | | standing right on the lush, green grass of the rich |
| We're tired. We give up easily. It's important to note | | | | earth, growing roots themselves down into the earth. |
| that without grounding, we are most likely operating | | | | Remember, one can never be too grounded. |
| unconsciously from programmed, conditioned | | | | Grounding is an important awareness that over time, |
| behaviors. You've heard the old saying before: the | | | | can become integrated as a transformative life skill. |
| lights are on but nobody's home. If our consciousness | | | | The more grounded we are, the more energy and |
| is somewhere else and we're operating on autopilot, | | | | power we will have coursing through us at every |
| we can't possibly be getting the best results in our | | | | moment to create the lives we really want. As |
| lives. | | | | children of the earth, through regular exercise, |
| So how do we get there? Better yet, how do we | | | | communion with nature and simple visualizations, we |
| stay there? One of the most fundamental ways to | | | | can strengthen and restore our grounding anytime, |
| maintain grounding is through regular physical exercise. | | | | anywhere, always. |
| As long as it's something we enjoy, the pleasure | | | | |