Grounding

In electricity, ground is the source and the terminus of the electron. The voltage is the pressure that gives reason for the electron to flow. Ground completes the circuit.

The Hindus describe a system of energy centers or chakras. What I like about chakras is that they present a language, of body location, color and sound to describe the multi faceted aspects of existence, from the physical base to the pure mystical. In chakra terms, when you feel grounded, you feel a connection to the earth. You are rooted in a stable base from which to make daily decisions.

A teacher I knew described a grounding technique that I still use. Tree Hugging. Tree hugging is an experience of grounding and it symbolizes the idea of being deeply rooted. Find the park or backyard with a tree, your legs spread shoulder width or a little wider and simply wrap your arms around the tree. Close your eyes, breathe and let the tree's strength and deep roots support you, fill you, ground you. As you breathe in feel the nourishment coming from the earth into the tree and into you. Breathing out, imagine your breath, your energy moving out of the tree, into the ground, out through the roots and back into the earth. Stay in this breathing pattern for a few minutes or longer. I don't do the tree exercise everytime I'm in the woods but there are times where a tree stands out and I approach, hug it, hold it and remember my groundedness.