A Grounding Meditation for Peace and Relaxation

Every day we are beset upon by external stimuli that can affect our bodies and emotions in both positive an negative manners. Work, relationships, turmoil in the world at large, all these affect us. By practicing grounding of our energy, we can re-establish our connection with the earth, helping us feel more balanced and peaceful in our day to day activities. There are many different forms and disciplines of meditation; this is one that I learned over twenty years ago and have used off and on throughout the years.

This meditation can be done anywhere, but if you are unfamiliar with grounding or visualizations it would be easiest to start in a sitting position, in a place where you will not be interrupted. Doing this exercise outside, where you can feel the actual earth underneath you, is even better.

I have found that when I am tired, anxious or worried, doing this grounding meditation helps me connect with the earth, a source of great power and comfort. It is wonderful exercise to do when meditating in nature, but can also just as easily be done in your home or office.

Sit comfortably, either cross legged on the floor or ground, or on a chair if you are more comfortable. Close your eyes. Relax and breathe in deeply, then let the breath out slowly. Take three or more deep breaths, relaxing more with each inhalation and exhalation. Feel yourself relax into the floor or chair. Now imagine your root chakra, the base of your tailbone. Imagine that it is growing roots, and these are sinking down into the earth, down through the layers of soil to the harder rock layers, and finally connecting with the earth�â'¬™s core. Try to let go of any thoughts that come in, and just focus on sending your roots down. Feel yourself becoming one with the earth, the mother of us all. Just doing this part of the exercise can help you feel more stable, more calm. If you haven�â'¬™t done this sort of visualization before, it could take a little time. Don�â'¬™t worry about getting anything right or wrong, just breathe and imagine your roots. However you see or feel this will be right for you.

When you feel that your roots have gone as far as they can go, start to imagine a green energy flowing up through them, and up into your body, starting at your root chakra, and continuing up your spine. Don�â'¬™t rush this process, again it may take a while to get comfortable with this sort of visualization. This is the earth energy that grounds us, and gives us balance and nourishment. Let this energy permeate your whole being, until you feel that green glowing energy is reaching throughout your body.

This part of the grounding meditation connects you to the earth, but there is a part to connect you with the sky/air energy as well. Imagine your crown chakra, the very top of your head, is pulling in the sun�â'¬™s light, a golden light that is warming and comforting. Pull the golden light down and let it blend with the green light until they mix in your heart. Breathe evenly and deeply. Send that green/gold light to anywhere in your body that is still tense or hurting. Keep pulling the green light up and the golden light down for as long as you are comfortable.

Once you feel complete with the energy that you have called into your body, you can ground it into the earth. Let your breath return to its normal rhythm. Touch your hands to the floor or the earth, giving back some of what you have received. You can also send the peaceful energy in your heart out to other people, places or things for healing, if you feel called to do so.

This meditation has been very helpful to me as I find a lot of healing in nature, and the beauty of the earth. Many different spiritual traditions have in the past and still today look to the natural world for the answers to their life�â'¬™s questions, and to healing. May this meditation help you also find peace and oneness with the earth, and help you find your center in your day to day experiences.