Energy
plays an important role in everything we do. It is the power that
animates the physical world, causing the sun to shine, our bodies
to move, making trees and plants grow and flourish; and it is the
force that flows within us, the primary source of our emotions, thoughts
and spiritual life. When stress, injury, and negative feelings disrupt
our flow of energy, our quality of life is diminished - even if we
are not aware of it!
With
careful practice and meditation, we can learn to sense the energies
within ourselves, and bring them into balance so that we may embrace
our highest good.
One
of the easiest and most effective ways to balance physical and spiritual
energies is a technique known as “grounding and centering.”
Grounding links you to the healing energy of the Earth, bringing stability,
calm, and awareness of the physical body and the world around you.
Centering puts you in touch with your personal power, connecting your
mental and spiritual bodies.
To
begin, stand in a quiet place with minimal distractions. Your feet
should be shoulder width apart and your knees slightly bent. Or, if
you prefer, you can be seated with your feet planted firmly on the
ground and your back straight.
Start
by closing your eyes, and taking long, slow breaths. Inhale deeply,
breathing through the nose, filling the stomach and the chest with
air. Then, exhale through the nose, slowly releasing and contracting
the stomach. Feel your body relax with each breath you take.
Next,
bring your consciousness down to the soles of your feet, feeling their
strength and firmness. Visualize tree-like roots extending from the
soles of your feet. With each breath you take, these roots grow far
and wide, sinking deep into the Earth, through the bedrock, and into
the healing soils below. Imagine the negativity, illness and/or stress
you feel seeping out of your body, draining from your head down to
your toes, through your roots and into the Earth where it is harmlessly
absorbed and dispersed. Take your time.
Now
that the negativity is drained out, let the energies of the Earth
replenish you. When you are ready, envision the Earth’s healing
energy flowing up your roots and filling your body with light. Feel
the loving warmth as the energy sinks into you, allow it to move and
flow throughout your body.
Slowly
raise your arms to the sky, and visualize the golden energy of the
Universe flowing through your fingers, down your arms, and into your
body. Feel the energies within you meld together as the healing energy
of the Earth, the warmth of universal energy and your own energies
mingle and become one. Take a nice, deep breath, allowing yourself
to accept these energies into your heart.
When
you are ready, lower your arms and feel the roots recede back into
your feet. Take a few extra deep breaths, and open your eyes.
Grounding
and centering heightens your sensitivity to dis-balanced energies
within yourself and the world around you. Performing this meditation
on a daily basis is a wonderfully simple way to commune with the Earth,
while healing yourself with attentiveness and love.
