Earth Touching Practice

Earth Touching Practice

The intention of this lesson is…

The intention of this lesson is…

to nurture or deepen your relationship to the Earth, allowing yourself to feel the ground under you and explore what the Earth has to offer you. The energy of the Earth is stabilizing and reliable. This practice is an invitation to intentionally allow the Earth to hold you, your breath, your energy, and your gratitude. This practice can be useful in moments when you want to feel more rooted. 

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How to prepare

How to prepare

Before you begin…

Gather your materials:

– Natural elements in your home (wood, plant, rocks, sand, dirt, flowers or water); these are all optional.

– Something to write in and something to write with 

– Use your phone or device to record your voice/audio (optional)

Choose a physical environment that you feel comfortable in.

– This activity can be done anywhere. It doesn’t require you to be in any particular position or space, so feel free to try it sitting, laying down or standing. You can be in your backyard, at your favorite park, or in a comfortable place in your home.

Manage your distractions, as you are able to:

– Consider what tends to distract you and minimize those distractions during this time.

– Consider turning off reminders and notifications on your devices; inform people of the time you need for this practice, close your door. etc.

Choose a physical environment that you are grateful for and find a relaxing, physical posture (this could be standing or sitting).

Activity

Activity

When you feel ready to begin…

Get present:

– Take a few deep breaths in and out. 

– Remind yourself that whatever unfolds during this time is honorable.

If you do this practice indoors, consider sitting on the floor or incorporating a natural element in your home.

Take 3 cleansing breaths – in through your nose and out through your mouth, exhaling audibly. As you breathe deeply, start to shift your awareness to the ground below you through the sensations that you feel in your body. Notice the weight of your body and what is under you. Return to your normal pace of breathing.

If you are lying down or sitting on the floor, feel for the sensation of your body touching the ground. If you are seated in a chair or cushion, notice the sensation of your cushion or chair on top of the ground. If you are standing, bring your attention to your feet making contact with the ground. Just spend a few moments noticing – without stories or judgements of what sensations you’re feeling. If you notice yourself getting distracted, use each breath as a reminder to bring your awareness back to the ground. 

Taking your time, begin to slow your breathing down – making each inhale and exhale just a little longer. Imagine that your deep inhales move through your whole body, from the crown of your head down to your seat or the soles of your feet, as if they are touching the Earth. Practice this a few times and explore how it feels for you. 

Keep practicing these deep breaths, and when you are ready, add in this additional element. Imagine that your breath touches the earth when you inhale and that you pull the energy up from the earth into your body as you exhale.

Repeat this visualization with your breath as long as you’d like, and explore how it feels for you.

When you are ready, return to your natural pace of breathing and, gently bring your awareness back to what else is around you. Notice what you hear, smell, see, or taste. 

Regrounding Moment

Regrounding Moment

You are invited to take a moment and reflect on how the Earth is expressing love for you as it is holding you. Generate some gratitude towards the Earth for its unique expression of love and imagine that energy of gratitude gathering warmly in your heart space (in your chest). When you have generated as much energy as you’re able to in this moment, visualize that energy raining down through your body, through your seat or feet, and out of your body into the Earth. Allow all of the energy of gratitude that you have gathered to honor the Earth in this way.

An Invitation to Integrate

Consider how you might include this practice in your daily life, in big or small ways. An example of how you might choose to incorporate this is when you notice yourself making contact with the Earth or ground, notice the point of connection and offer gratitude.

On your inhale, bring attention to the Earth’s energy under you – directly or through what is connecting you to the ground (your seat, the bed, the floor). Notice if you can let your weight rest a bit more into the Earth, and let its energy hold you. Name the energy of the earth that you are feeling (bumpy, firm, solid, etc.). Exhale. With your next inhale, connect with the energy that resonates with you in that moment, and imagine that energy rising up with your breath. With a final exhale, offer gratitude silently or out loud to the Earth for holding you and sharing its energy with you.

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