How to be Present in Nature Part V: Earthing

When was the last time you felt the soil and grass beneath your feet? Or even the sand between your toes?

It’s way too easy for us to physically disconnect from nature these days. Unless you intentionally spend time in a park or the beach, most of us are missing out on connecting to the earth that supports us. We don’t really touch soil (unless you’ve got a garden), we don’t or hug the touch trees, and we rarely let our bare feet touch the grass beneath us.

I think that we sometimes feel frustrated in life because we get so caught up in the rat race of the world. We get very micro and overwhelm ourselves with anxieties and worries. We forget to take a step back from it all. We don’t connect to the healing energies of the earth. Indigenous people understand the importance of deeply connecting with the source, with nature. Many of them see nature as an extension of themselves and have a more holistic relationship with Mother Earth. They understand that nature affects them and they affect it; this complex relationship should be nurtured in order to maintain sustainability.

Science shows that when you ground yourself with the earth, free electrons are released into your body. These electrons are actually antioxidants that help clear free radicals from your body (free radicals tend to be associated with cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and others). Grounding is a process that impacts you on a cellular level. Connecting your bare feet to the earth is beneficial for your heart and also in reducing inflammation in the body.

Earthing is a great mindful activity to engage in when you feel a little out of sorts and need to clear your head. It has been shown to reduce anxiety, improve sleep disorders, and improve muscular healing. Go ahead and give it a few tries to see for yourself!

How to “earth” and get grounded:

• Take your shoes off and walk around in the grass/soil and/or sand. If in the sand, walk up to the water and let the water wash over your feet.
  
• Do any of the following: relax your mind/meditate, repeat affirmations, state the things you’re grateful for.

• To get a fair share of exposure to the earth’s magnetic field, you’ll want to do this for at least 40 minutes a day. 

Both images captured by me.

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