There has been so much focus in recent years about being grounded.  And although it might sound new-agey, it does produce beneficial and tangible outcomes.  In fact, I start every workshop, program, and session with grounding.  Why?  Because the safest place to be around horses is in our own bodies!  When we are grounded we are more aware – of our environment, our place in that environment, and our inner environment.  We are not distracted with mental chatter so we can think more clearly, respond more appropriately, and make better decisions.  Grounding relaxes us and promotes emotional stability.  Horses feel safe around us when we are grounded and reflect us energetically – when we become still, they become still.

This is not limited to horses, either.  If your work environment is hectic and stressful, ground and become still.  If your home environment is edgy, ground and become still.  If your pets are over-excited, ground and become still.

What is grounding?

There are so many interpretations of what it means to be grounded, so I’d like to go with this one: being grounded means being fully present: mentally, emotionally, physically and energetically.

When you are grounded, your mind is not wandering or pulling your energy elsewhere.  It is not re-living the past or leaping ahead into the future. To be present in the moment can be as easy as breathing, and it’s an act of power to be aware of it.

Physical grounding

Being grounded also means fully inhabiting the body:  you are aware of physical sensations; you feel energy moving through your body; and you are aware of your emotional state.

Our bodies are electrical – the heart, brain, muscles, cells and all body systems function electrically.  Even our emotions are literally “energy in motion.” Through our lifestyles and environments our bodies become electrically stressed and charged and can lead to a range of health issues (refer www.earthinginstitute.net).  Since grounding is “the process of removing charge on an object” – or in this case, our bodies, we can do this by creating a direct physical connection to the Earth to restore our body’s natural and stable electrical state.

To experience the profound effects that connecting to the Earth has in reducing stress and promoting physical health: go outdoors and place your bare feet directly on the earth and ground yourself for thirty minutes.  (If this is not possible, go for a walk in a park wearing shoes with leather soles – plastic, and rubber insulates, and does not allow the re-balancing of electrons.)

Being grounded makes a difference to every living being on our planet – and to the planet itself.  When we are not grounded, our minds wander off and create chaos.  On some level, everyone pays for our “ungroundedness.” The chaos that we can create by being ungrounded literally ripples out into the universe.

We all have the power to promote our physical, mental, and emotional well-being and those around us by choosing to stay grounded one moment at a time.