Spring is finally here! Although Mother Nature can be fickle when it comes to weather…. However, after more than three months of grey skies and more snow than I’ve seen for years, the past few weeks of blue skies and sun and even some rain has melted the mountains of snow and renewed my energy. Spring brings life back to the land, along with a renewed sense of hope, a renewed confidence that all will be well.
What does spring look like to you? In my world, our grass isn’t yet as green as the picture above but new growth is visible. I see the first spring flowers just starting to bloom, snow drops and blue bells. Others are poking their leaves above the earth. The beaches of Lake Huron are finally clear of snow and we can see the new beach-scape the winter storms have sculpted. It’ll be another month before we see buds on the trees. And we may yet have more snow (I’ve seen blizzards in April).
Still…everything feels ready to burst into life once again. So this month, I’ll be offering you a few easy, mindful practices to reconnect with Earth energy, directly and deeply, after the indoor months of a long winter.
This week, try a practice called “EARTHING”. It’s very easy, yet so beneficial. Just get barefoot, even for a few minutes if it’s still too cold, and connect with the earth…stand on grass, dirt, sand, stone…whatever you can.
The Earth has a natural electrical charge said to be beneficial for us. Wearing shoes and boots disconnects us from this subtle energy. There’s even some science that claims “bodily contact with the Earth's natural electric charge stabilizes the physiology at the deepest levels, reduces inflammation, pain, and stress, improves blood flow, energy, and sleep, and generates greater well-being.” Mother Nature nurturing and healing us??? We should tread carefully where scientific claims like this are made. But science aside, it just feels good, mentally and physically, to connect directly with the Earth. Especially after a long winter of disconnection.
EARTHING can help you to reconnect.
TRY THIS: Take your shoes and socks off and stand solidly on the bare Earth. Lift and spread your toes and then plant them down firmly. Press your feet into the ground. Through this direct contact, skin on earth, you will receive the subtle, healing electromagnetic energy that flows from the Earth. Simply bask in this (free) fountain of wellness! Notice all the sensations you experience through your sensitive feet, notice how it feels for you to receive the connection and to breath in harmony with nature. Feel the pulse of nature beneath your feet. Feel the Earth rising to support you, always.
AND MAYBE TRY THIS: If it’s warm enough to walk barefoot outside where you live, a walking meditation can be a lovely way to practice earthing. To do walking meditation, you focus on your breath, and walk very slowly, noticing each shift in weight, each muscle engaged to move your legs forward, bringing full attention to an act that we often take for granted. Notice…
YOU COULD ALSO TRY just laying down on the grass and allowing yourself to be held fully by the Earth, simply being. Or get your bare hands into the dirt, plant some bulbs or your first spring seedlings in your garden.
There’s nothing more grounding than the Earth itself! It’s nice to know that it’s always there to support us.
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