I have always been intimately tied to Nature. She refreshes me and keeps me grounded in my own energy. By placing the palms of my hands on a tree, I am connecting it through meridians to my heart center and receiving equal grounding benefit in exchange.  I remember climbing the big willow tree in our backyard when I was a young girl and reading to my heart’s delight! I didn’t know of all the benefits then, but I believe I must have sensed it intuitively.

Some of the reasons we need to ground is that we have disconnected from direct contact with the earth by wearing rubber shoes and living inside buildings most of the time. Scientifically, the earth has a mild negative charge that neutralizes the positive charge that we have built up within our body by not physically connecting with Nature. Some theorize that this positive charge buildup can manifest into health problems. Dr. Briffa states that during the normal processes of metabolism the body generates what are called ‘reactive oxygen species’ which are commonly referred to as ‘free radicals’. – Katie Wells, Earthing Science 101. It is also hypothesized that electrons can prevent or eliminate “smoldering” or “silent” inflammation. Inflammation is necessary for healing; however, too much can lead to many chronic diseases. Heart disease and Diabetes 2 to name a few. Also sleep has often been improved by using an earthing sheet on your bed.

Psychologically, grounding exercises are great for anchoring yourself in the present moment. If you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or angered, bringing yourself back in the present moment and grounded alleviates the stressful repetitious recycling of stressful thoughts. I also offer meditations to help with this.  Spending time standing or walking barefoot on rock, grass, sand, or dirt for 10-15 minutes is also recommended. Slow focused breathing is very useful. Splashing water on your face and noticing the sensations you feel. Slowly sip a cold glass of water, noticing the wetness and coldness of the experience. Certain essential oils offer scents to help us focus or add clarity to our thoughts.

It’s hard to go wrong by being out in Nature more. Whether you choose to go barefoot or not, just consciously touching a plant or tree with the bare skin of your hands and using your senses in the experience has wonderful grounding benefits.