The Sacred Serpent Tribe’s Top 10 techniques
We would like to offer that grounding is like to coming home to oneself – calming the sea within. When our “inner sea” of energy becomes turbulent and chaotic from taking part in the day-to-day flux of our lives, we tend to find ourselves rushing, making poor decisions, lashing out at others, and engaging in a lot of negative self-talk. Often, we tend to notice a rising state of anxiety, agitation and irritability that comes as a result of our own imbalanced state, as we respond to our life circumstances.
Did you know:
- Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year.
- Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet only 36.9% of those suffering receive treatment.
So, what do we do when our energy has become scattered, chaotic and we feel caught up in a state of “overwhelm”?
Regular “self-care” is a preventative approach that keeps the overwhelm state and related feelings at low tide. Regardless, we may find ourselves getting caught up and “spinning out”. It happens.. a lot actually. The stats above show what has unfortunately become a common occurrence in present day worldly life. It sure can be challenging to find a convenient moment to check in with ourselves! When we feel anxious or that our energy is scattered, we can remedy this by pulling our awareness inward and slowing down. In short, relaxation. However, telling someone to relax is unlikely to spur them toward that same end..
… So how do we do it?
Here are The Sacred Serpent Council’s poll results of top 10 Grounding Activities. Have some of your own? We’d love to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram and share your favorite grounding techniques with The Sacred Serpent Tribe!
- Sit on the Earth or Floor. The muladhara chakra (energy wheel) at the base of the spine/perineum (associated with Ganesh) is a direct connect with the Earth’s energy field.
- Walk Slowly in a Natural Environment. There is a technique to this.. Getting your awareness into your body sensation and senses is where this really becomes effective. Walking with diffused (peripheral) vision and going barefoot will put you in an Alpha brainwave state in 5-10 minutes.
- Smells: The sense of smell is directly related to the earth element. Remember Ganesh has that looong snout! 😉 “Smudging” herbs, essential oils and incenses are excellent ways to ground using your sense of smell. Be sure to keep good ventilation if burning incense indoors. *Scent tip- Frankincense is a great anti-depressant and can be found in stick and resin form as well as essential oils. (we use Doterra) Essential oils can be applied to the body (specific points also) and taken with you for all-day use.
- Abhyanga. – One of the most common treatments in the healing science of Ayurveda is bathing or covering the entire skin / body surface with warm oil. This calms windiness (Vata) and is great for grounding. Want to know why? *See your ayurvedic practitioner to choose which oil is best for you. Don’t have one? check back soon for links!
- Yoga. – While most posture / flow exercises are how people think of yoga these days, the origin of yoga comes from a more inward approach. Before you can get there, you must have a stable body vessel to work with. There are many postures that can aide in grounding your energy. We recommend you check with a properly trained teacher for your individual needs, since everyone is different. Yoga postures accompanied with Ayurvedic treatments can multiply your results.
- Pranayama – Deep breathing is usually the first thing we might be told to focus on, but often those who are truly in an anxious place, it is not the most fruitful technique to begin with. Descending from the ledge of tension gradually with some gross motor movements . A most basic pranayama exercise is simply to make the inhalation and exhalation the same length , without any holding in-between. The simplest way to measure duration is by counting or using a mantra. Deep abdominal breathing will get you more relaxation and energy sensation than upper chest / clavicle breathing.
- Take Time to Play. -You know the saying, “All work and no play”…..well, it sucks. We recommend taking time to play regularly. Climb, Sing, dance, juggle; whatever you like doing, do it! It releases stress and pent up energy – be creative and loosen up.
- Eat Heavy, Warm Foods. -Yes thats right, eating is very grounding. It keeps us connected to our bodies. Especially eating warm, tasty foods that stay in your tummy for a while. Think stews, soups and roasted dishes. Eat well and your energy will move to your stomach to digest, nourishing and replenishing your reserves. Chew well and enjoy.
- Take a Nap – Napping may be the most obvious recharge and reboot tool but since it requires total shut-down, it is down the list a bit. If you’re not sure what napping does for you, it’s been too long since you took one! Grab your blanket, a pillow and silence all devices.
- If you have read down the list so far, you may notice a common thread.. Our bodies are a way to process the energy that flows through us. When we get into our heads too much, whether it be too much thinking, worry, working on screens etc. energy gets trapped up high and puts stress on the mind. In the beginning “It is through the vehicle of the body that we work on the mind”. When we move our energy around we can learn to cycle and balance it, which has a similar effect on our mind. Stress contracts, so we must counter-balance with the opposite and appropriate action.
If you’re interested in exploring similar practices and much more, be sure to read Dharana: 7 Steps to Improve concentration and then visit the International Nath Order website.
