Grounding as an every day practice

[Danustouch]

Good article by Starhawk. Found on Beliefnet

http://about.beliefnet.com/frameset.asp?pageLoc=/story/85/story_8543_1.html&boardID=21888

[Lavender]

Good article, Danustouch! :)

[Myst]

I really enjoyed this article. Grounding daily? How about grounding whenever you get upset, angry, frustrated, or have to deal with an unpleasant situation or person? A simple few moments of grounding can help you clear your mind and act carefully and clearly.

This article made me want to dig out my copy of the 12 wild swans by Starhawk and Valentine and read further :)

[Xander67]

thank you both...

I enjoyed reading those articles they will no doubt be very useful to me :)

[LadyAutumnCat]

Thanks for the article!! Grounding is such a simple way to allow ourselves to relax or to think clearly, yet sometimes I find it so difficult to do. It seems that lately I just want to react, or I bury my frustrations and anger so much that I don't even defend myself when I should be.

At work I have literally been belittled, and much against my Aries ways, I have stifled the anger and begun to hate myself. I have been lucky enough to make some good friends from work who tell me to let it out, or actually do it for me, but I wonder why I just don't have the energy to do it myself?

I am trying, and am currently reading the book "Women Who Run With the Wolves" by Clarissa Pinkola-Estes PhD a shaman. Very good reading, helps women get in tune with the wild woman and intuition within, as well as identifying triggers through dream interp and story telling!

[Lavender]

That's an excellent book!

Have you thought about yoga? I find yoga very helpful in relaxing me and helping me with my meditations. A great way to deal with stress. I find I do the yoga breathing during the day when I just need to "get away" from a stressful situation.

[Danustouch]

Hmmmmmmm..i find another really great way to relax and destress, is a bath with rosepetals and lavendar. The aromatherapy of it is wonderful, but beyond that, you can try to envision the water "leeching" the stress out of you. Visualization. When you are done with your bath, watch as the bath slowly drains, taking your cares, worries and concerns right down the drain. Simple, mundane, but effective.

Then...make sure to pamper yourself, and do some affirmations afterward. Especially in a situation where you feel belittled. At my parents house, and at my old apartments, I had a full length mirror in my bedroom. My vanity was right near the mirror. So, after a bath (boy..aint this getting personal)...I would stand in front of the mirror, and anoint my body with rose scented oil. As I anointed each body part, I would say things such as "My eyes are wise and all seeing". "My mouth carries the words of the Goddess", "My Forehead, the seat of my third eye, knowing".

Etc, etc. etc. I'd go through and affirm each of my body parts, Odd..I know. It's not that I was being conceited..it's that sometimes, we must deliver these messages to our subconcious, by speaking them out loud. So that our subconcious mind can believe them. So that we can love ourselves. Narcissistic? umm..maybe, perhaps. But it is important to have a positive view of yourself...especially when situations around you tend to belittle them daily.

Anyway, that's just my personal way of doing it.

[LadyAutumnCat]

WildChild,

I have been told to try Yoga and the deep breathing is a key to relaxing as well. I will try them, but sometimes find it so difficult to apply what I know when I am stressed. It's so irritating at times, grrr!!

Danustouch,

Nothing wrong with reaffirming ourselves, I think your method is wonderful and it's something I should definitely try. Nowadays I don't hear too many wonderful things about myself. I also love rosewater and rose scents, I will definitely try this.

THANKS!!

[seawitch]

great article
i practice grounding daily and sometimes several times a day.
baths are great when you have the time. but also just burning some incense and lighting a few candles while sitting alone and listening to the gods. i know more than once i was in a terrible state i had to pray over and over for peace and serenity. before a feeling of calm came on me. but it works beautifuly i think everyone should practice it.
it would cut down on the use of valium

[Flar's Freyja]

Anything by Starhawk is good. Definitely worth a bump.

[Witchy Cowgirl]

Freyja,
Thanks for bumping this.
The article was great.
Ya know I've got beliefnet saved to my favorites, but like most other stuff there I hardly ever take a look.

[Arzhela]

That's a really neat article:) I use a similar image, with a rope extending from the crown chakra to the base chakra and down into the Earth, way way down to the core. Sometimes, when I'm not into it, it doesn't work very well. But when I really am focused I can physically feel the energy pouring up into me and flowing out of the chakras back down into the ground, like a mini fountain. Don't do it daily, though...maybe I should start trying...

[Searcher]

No clue if anyone is still watching this thread...

This whole section on grounding is INCREDIBLY helpful! I had heard the term before, but wasn't sure of any technique or even of the need to do it...but wow!!

Putting Starhawk's article into practice (which I just did - ground and center, that is - for the first time ever) was the first real glimpse I've had into this...this amazing universe of energy!

I haven't felt this focused - this aware - this good! - in months!

Once again, I thank all of you for the knowledge you've chosen to share. Today, I have found a way to re-connect with the Universe, because of all of you.

Brightest Blessings, to all.