Grounding Meditation – Your Connection to the Physical World

Grounding refers to the connection between the energetic frequencies of the body and the physical earth. Practicing a grounding exercise prior to, and/or between meditation sessions allows you to focus your mind in the present moment.

Grounding will help you learn to feel a more balanced awareness in your body and mind. This is important because when your mind is unfocused, you will often feel uneasy, restless, and uncomfortable. Grounding can help you feel calm, peaceful and centered. This section covers exercises that are both grounding and meditative nature.

Staying connected with your physical body during meditation is a very important part of your practice. Many people put their meditation practice on a pedestal, making it more important than their physical life. It is not. The physical world, and your time spent in your everyday living is as important as time spent contemplating your spiritual development and meditation.

There is a strange misconception in our world that the physical world is not spiritual, and that it should be bypassed on the way to spiritual enlightenment. Many believe that the three dimensional reality is less valuable, something negative, and to be shunned. Many perceive it to be of lesser importance than the spiritual realm. The truth is that the physical and spiritual are inseparable, and they are each of equal importance.

As a Hatha yogi, I have been taught that ascension, and connection with Soul, Source, or God within, depends on a turning away from the physical world and senses. I understand the rationale behind this, and that in order to truly connect with your Soul and Divinity, you would have to disconnect from reactions to physical circumstances and the outer world for a time to do so. However, when you understand the Universal Laws of Attraction, Creation and Allowing, knowing that it is your mind that creates your circumstances, and that your emotions guide you along the way, you know are responsible for the creation of your own reality. Essentially, there really is nothing to turn away from except your own limiting beliefs about yourself, and the physical world around you.

The physical three dimensional world, and our bodies are extremely important components of our spiritual development and soul evolution. They provide the vehicle and grounds where our Soul can express its creativity. The physical world is the means through which we can experience a sensory life, and the desires that ignite the creative potential within us that lead us to our expansion. Regardless of how 'spiritual' you are, it is better to avoid making the mistake of disregarding your physical life, for it is relevant, and without it you would not, and could not grow in this world.

The Tarot illustrates a great example of this balance between the physical and spiritual realms, where the deck is divided into three sections. One section is called the major arcana. These cards represent the different stages of human emotional, psychological and spiritual evolution.

The second part is called the minor arcana. It illustrates the various different physical experiences that a soul can go through and experience in his life. These experiences are the Soul’s school room so to speak.

The third is the court cards which represent people. These are all the many different types of people, personalities and characteristics of the people, and of ourselves that we encounter throughout our life journey. None of the steps of evolution could be accomplished without the journey through the experiences, with the people in our lives. They are important. Do not forget the physical world, stay grounded in your life and your body. Without it you have no basis for spiritual growth, at least in this world anyway!

How to Ground Yourself for Meditation

Before you start your meditation session, connect with the physical environment and energy of your surroundings. By grounding yourself and connecting with Earth’s energy, you will become more aware of the rhythms of your own breath and body.

If you choose to meditate outdoors, as I frequently do, it is nice to walk on the on the ground if it is nice weather. You can try walking on grass, soil, or sand. It doesn’t matter, as long as you are always focusing on the connection between your body and the earth beneath you.

Connecting with nature is always helpful for grounding. Go out for a walk, or sit in your garden under a tree, or by plants and flowers. You will naturally feel balanced, calm, centred and at ease.

If you are unable to get outdoors to meditate, or if you live in the city away from nature, then you can imagine yourself being outdoors using visualization. In your imagination, see yourself in a natural scenario that is pleasing to you, perhaps a garden or at a beach or woodland area. Use your mind to conjure up all the sensory experiences of really being there. Imagine the smell, the sensation of the air on your skin, and hear all the sounds in your mind. Really create the sensory reality in your imagination as if it were real, and you were actually there. This is a very effective way of grounding yourself at any time, and anywhere.

The Grounding Tree Meditation

1. Prepare

Turn off all electronics and find a quiet place where you can be alone for about 20 minutes. If possible, find a place where you can be outside to make contact with the earth, with your bare feet in grass or soil.

If you are inside, you can sit on a chair, or on a towel, blanket or yoga mat on the floor.

Close your eyes and place your hands in your lap with palms facing upward. Feel your connection with the earth, by focusing on the part of your body that is in contact with the floor. Take a moment here to make sure your body is relaxed and comfortable.

2. Connect

Close your eyes and focus on your breath.

Breathe in through your nose slowly and deeply. As you exhale, feel your stomach relax.

Focus on breathing this way for a couple of minutes until it becomes rhythmic and effortless.

Notice any distractions, then turn your awareness back to your breath.

3. Visualize

Visualize yourself under a tree, leaning on the trunk. My favorite is a palm tree. Imagine that the tree has become an extension of your body, with roots extending through your feet.

Focus all the energy in your body moving downward into the earth. Continue to imagine the tree roots carrying your energy through the earth, until it reaches its core.

As you breathe, allow any negative thoughts or emotions to leave your body. Imagine them pouring out into the earth's centre, to be replenished and renewed. Now draw that new energy back upward through the tree roots, flowing up into your body. You feel centred, grounded with a sense of renewal.

4. Return

Before returning back to your conscious awareness, let yourself rest in the feelings of centeredness and inner peace for a few moments. When you feel ready, bring your mind back to your body and your surroundings by tuning into any sounds, or scents, and the feeling of the air on your skin. Invite gentle movement into your body by wiggling your fingers and toes, have a gentle stretch then open your eyes.

You can return to this grounded state of being at anytime, or anywhere when you feel unfocused, overwhelmed, or just too much in your head. All you have to do is just close your eyes and visualize the connection that you have shared with the Earth.

With consistent practice of the grounding meditation, the easier and more automatic it becomes. By taking a few minutes each day to practice it, you’ll not only feel more energetic in your daily life, but you’ll also be able to re-focus yourself so you can find inner calmness and peace wherever you are.

This article is an excerpt from my upcoming programme 'The School of Meditation - The Journey Within'.