And Now for Something a Little Different By Judith Wise-Rhoads Grounding is one of the most basic metaphysical practices. The energies we work with can take us to ethereal realms. When we are not careful to ground those energies when we are finished, the energies can leave us feeling spacy. Since we are physical beings, that leaves us vulnerable to physical problems. If we are not grounded, we may fail to attend properly to crossing the street or balancing our checkbook. Even these simple physical tasks can become challenges, just as simple spiritual concerns become challenges to those who are too grounded. When we are grounded, we bring our energy and attention back to the physical so that we can attend to its requirements. But in grounding we also want to retain what we gained in the higher vibrations, which should help us deal more effectively with the lower vibrations, too. This is balancing. This is such a key exercise that you have probably already read about or tried many times imagining roots growing out of your feet down into the earth. This is a great way to release stress, negative energy and illness into Mother Earth to let Her handle it. It is also good for confusion, feelings of being disconnected and possibly light-headedness. Of course for all you Air people out there, it is especially good when you feel the need to balance. It is also good to eat or drink after a meditation. Meat is especially grounding if you are waaayyyy out there, but I recommend a banana and a glass of milk. This replaces the potassium used in a meditative state. Here is a new version of the tree grounding meditation. It includes a subtle variation. Often small changes can bring surprisingly powerful results, so try this one with a fresh outlook. And be sure to try your own variations of this and other meditations. The list of possibilities is endless, so let your creativity roam free and let Spirit guide you. Sit on Mother Earth with your legs straight out in front of you or in a half lotus (yoga) position. You can also just sit in a chair. The ground may be wet or cold; and some of us are just too ungraceful getting up and down off the ground. This meditation is best done outdoors, with actual physical contact with Mother Earth; but when circumstances don't permit, just visualize yourself in the perfect conditions. Go into your meditative state. I find that three deep and slow breaths are a big help. This kind of breathing builds up a psychic charge to work with, and it relaxes you. Another good adjunct to the breathing is to count from 3 to 1 as a trigger; but count each number three times slowly 3,3,3 2,2,21,1,1. Know that your consciousness will alter by the time you get to the last 1. This more unusual sequence makes it less likely that you will be influenced when you don't want it to be a trigger. You don't want to zone out at the end of the count down when you're watching the ball come down in Times Square on New Year's Eve or watching a Shuttle launch! If you do the breaths and the counting before each time you meditate, it will become a safe and powerful trigger to help you get deeper quicker. Your Little Self loves rituals and will cooperate more completely and quickly when it gets a regular signal to begin and end a meditation or a ritual. Now that you are in the meditative state, extend the root of your spinal column down into the earth as a tree-root. Compared with the usual roots-from-the-feet, you may feel a much more powerful pull or clamping effect and feel yourself going much deeper. Feel the living tendrils of your body reaching lower, ever lower, growing down through cracks and soil into the heart of Mother Earth. Continue down until you feel warmth from the earth's core. Pleasant warmth which you want to wrap around, perhaps entirely circling the core. In the mean time you are also extending your spinal column up into the sky. Your body's trunk is becoming like a tree's trunk, a Redwood perhaps, thousands of feet into the air with huge spreading branches. Liken yourself to the World Tree. There are no clouds, all you can see and feel is the sun: the bright, warm, life giving, healing sun. The warmth from both ends circulates the sap quickly through you, filling you with love, healing, balance, peace, confidence, composure, and whatever else you need. Ask for it at this point. You'll feel truly anchored, in harmony and strong. Continue as long as you feel comfortable. Then see yourself gradually becoming your normal human self, refreshed and still strong. Then ease out of your meditative state, perhaps with a count up from 1 to 5. Just be consistent with your opening and closing in any meditation or ritual, for your Little Self's sake. It's like hello and goodbye in any conversation in the physical. Like a child, your Little Self needs direction and clear signals and is happiest when it is sure of what you want it to do. Never get upset with your Little One, be patient and loving and repeat as many times as it takes to get your meaning across. Your Little Self wants to please you. Remember it's your Little Self that provides the energy and the connection to your High Self. Try both variations: standing with roots coming out your feet, and this one, with roots directly out your spinal column and see which suits you best. Then experiment with your favorite meditations, and with some that just haven't quite done it for you in the past. You may be surprised at what a difference a little change can make. Blessed Be! 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