The Fall Equinox is one of the most magnificent cosmic events of the year where great energy shifts always occur. Day and night are equal length and summer completes giving way to autumn. It is a season of permanence and change where you find the inner reserves of strength to change as well. It’s a doorway into a new phase or cycle of life and time for quiet, internal introspection.
It’s a time that celebrates the earth flow, the life-force energy that supports and nourishes us. We can absorb this healing energy by being in nature whether that’s the forest, ocean or simply our backyard gardens. Our earth energies ground and balance us especially in times of stress.
Here are a few simple grounding exercises that you can practice:
Lying on the Earth: Lie on the earth. Use a blanket or plastic drop cloth if it is cold or wet. Take a few deep breaths and quiet your mind. Put your attention on your spine touching the earth. Now begin at the top of your head and release each vertebra into the earth as you move down to your sacrum.
After a few times, pay attention to the earth flow/energy “through” the spine. Feel the earth rising up to meet your spine. Drop down into earth through your spine even deeper—receiving the life force energy for healing. This releasing of the spine into the earth will release tension and bring about profound calmness of the nervous system.
Standing on the Earth: Stand in a comfortable place and gently close your eyes. Take a few deep intentional breaths, inhaling life force energy and exhaling any tension or anxiety. Slowing down and deepening your breath draws more oxygen into your body which reduces anxiety and restores balance to your nervous system.
Begin at the top of your head and direct your energy down through your entire body to your feet. Focus on how your feet feel against the floor or ground. Once you have focused your attention here, tap your feet on the ground until you really feet the energy here. Now visualize your energy going down into the earth beneath your feet as if you were rooting into the ground. Stay here and focus on detoxing your energies into the ground. Open your eyes, how do you feel?
Repeat this as many times as you need until you feel your energies grounded into the earth. And, doing this outside in nature on grass or moss enhances the grounding and calming effect. This is a great way to rebalance and redistribute your energies and you can do it with your eyes open or closed or while sitting or moving. Practice this grounding exercise even when you feel calm and centered so that you become stronger with it.
Mindfulness Movement: Practice mindfulness moving by taking your mind, body, and spirit for a walk. Start your practice by going outside in nature for a fifteen-minute walk. As you walk, focus on your steps and how your body feels as it moves one step in front of the other. Observe yourself taking a step forward toward the future and then releasing your back foot, letting go of the past. The space between your steps is the present. Pay attention to this space with present awareness as you walk.
Repeat these earthing exercises as many times as you need until you feel your energies grounded. Practicing them outside in nature, on grass or moss enhances the grounding and calming effect. This is a great way to rebalance and redistribute your energies and you can do it with your eyes open or closed or while sitting, standing, or moving.
You also ground your energies by touching the steering wheel before you drive away in your car, carry your favorite gemstone in your pocket, or take deep intentional breaths at every natural pause in your day. A regular grounding practice can help you remain calm
Forest Bathing: The Japanese practice of Forest Bathing is a simple way to relax your mind, rejuvenate your body, and rediscover your soul self. You practice immersing yourself in nature in a mindful way, using your senses to derive a whole range of benefits for your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. It is also known as Shinrin-yoku. ‘Shinrin’ means forest and ‘Yoku’ stands for bathing.
Forest bathing in nature allows the stressed portions of your brain to relax. Positive hormones are released in the body. Nature has a positive effect on our mind as well as body. It improves heart and lung health, and is known to increases focus, concentration and memory.
Through practicing forest bathing, you can reach a peaceful state of mind. By paying attention to your senses and moving through the forest mindfully, you receive all the benefits of meditation. It also boosts your immunity and creates wellness. Nature provides you with the greatest gift of grounding.
