Grounding Meditation

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Grounding Meditation: A Step One of Most All Energy Work

The more grounded you are, the more energy you can draw down for replenishment, healing, and manifestation. This near 25-minute guided meditation will assist you in opening your heart, reconnecting with your body and the Earth.

What does it mean to ground?

To feel grounded is to feel present, alive, safe, and supported. This isn’t the same kind of safety as control over our environment or what happens to us. It’s the kind of resilience and presence that says, “I am with myself, here, no matter what.”

To ground, then, is the intentional practice of coming back to the present moment, coming back into the body, and reconnecting with the Earth. In a way, it’s like landing or anchoring in and down. Energetically, we typically do this through the energy gates at the soles of the feet, Earth Star and Root chakras.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” size=”30″]It’s easy to get ungrounded when we are in pain or feeling afraid[/perfectpullquote]

How do we get ungrounded?

It’s easy to get ungrounded when we forget our resiliency and/or the beauty of life. When our fear or pain eclipses our ability to love, we can disconnect or pull away from our body. Interestingly, we also can get ungrounded when we feel over-excited or intoxicated.

What’s the risk of not grounding?

For energy workers, not grounding leaves them at a greater risk of moving out of their Center, and into resonance with their clients’ energy. This means it can be harder for them to hold a higher vibrational space for healing, both for themselves and their clients.

For ‘laypersons,’ the risk of not grounding is often seen in greater risk of physical injury. This could be quite minor, such as bumping an elbow on something you didn’t notice, to larger accidents such as not noticing oncoming traffic. They may also notice a tendency to pick up on other people’s emotions or physical ailments, especially if they’re empathic.

You might think of grounding as another way of looking at maintaining healthy or unhealthy boundaries. When we know where we stand, it’s easier to hold to our truth, and/or to say yes or no when we mean it. (Need more help with this? Come join us for a 7-week course in energy work and Reiki!)

It’s not just risk, but missed opportunity.

Not grounding also may mean you miss out on the richness and full beauty of the passing moment. The more present we are, the more we experience. The more we open to our experience, the more we notice. The more we notice, the more we appreciate. The more we appreciate, the more we *want* to be here. So you see, the more we ground, the easier it becomes to do so over time.

[perfectpullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” size=”30″]The more we appreciate, the more we *want* to be here.[/perfectpullquote]

But what about all the painful and scary stuff?

I can imagine you’re thinking – but if I open to experience, that means I have to open to all the painful and scary stuff I’ve been trying to avoid. You’re right, you would. But the only way to get beyond the fear and pain of it, is to open up to ever greater truths, and ever greater love. Love is not discriminatory. So, we open to all of it.

This process of opening doesn’t have to happen over night. It can take years. That’s alright! And you don’t have to do it alone; there is support available to you! This is, in fact, a huge part of my Reiki practice — helping people find and love their being and body. There are also many types of counseling available to you, from Somatic Experiencing to EMDR to DBT, etc. For me personally, practicing Buddhism and the Cultivation of Loving Kindness has been indispensable in learning how to open my heart to greater and greater experience. For others, it can look like spending more and more time in nature. *However* we get there, I can assure you I’ve witnessed it time and time again – we *do* get there! It *is* possible to grow beyond these perceived limitations and painful experiences.

Heartfelt Grounding Meditation

It’s for this reason, I decided to finally put together this almost 25-minute grounding meditation that starts with opening the heart. I’ve noticed the regular grounding exercises you find online can be too difficult otherwise for folks simply unwilling to be in the body. It’s my hope listeners will remember how amazing this vehicle of their body is; and how pleasant it can be to be alive.

Photo: Svyatoslav Romanov (Unsplash)

Let inspiration guide you

The amazing thing about this process is, you don’t have to control your environment or what happens to you to be able to use this faculty of your mind. You don’t need to control anyone or anything outside of yourself to remember the gift that is your being in this body. You, solely, have the power to *want* to be here, now.

What do you notice now?

Your memory and imagination are two of your most powerful healing tools. May you use them, and use them often! As you use this heartfelt grounding meditation – would you willing to tell me what you notice? Leave us a comment!

White Tara Mantra

oṃ tāre tuttāre ture mama āyuḥ-puṇya-jñāna-puṣṭiṃ kuru svāhā

For love, compassion, wisdom and protection

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This is a beautiful layered mantra calling on White Tara for her Divine Love, compassion, wisdom and protection. Running seven and a half minutes, this recording covers just over 27 recitations; for the greatest benefit, strive to listen to the piece four times in a row or throughout the day. There is no introduction at the beginning of the track which makes it easy to listen to on a ‘repeat one’ setting.

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Giving back

30% of all profits from the sale of this track will be donated to the Seattle Buddhist Center.

About the recording of this mantra

I felt a real burning to get this down ‘on paper.’ I had looked on YouTube for any other recording similar. But, a lot had musical backgrounds that didn’t speak to my taste. As I sat at my computer I kept hearing the layers of this piece build; and I just had to get it out. A day and a half later, this is what you get! 🙂

Ground after listening

After listening to it nonstop for hours, I can say I was feeling a bit high-as-a-kite yesterday. I encourage you to do quite a bit of grounding after listening if you find you experience the same effect.

Open your inner eye

The root note in this recording is “A,” which resonates with the third eye. You might gently invite your inner vision to open to greater wisdom as you let the waves of music gently guide you.

Headphones

Lastly, there are some panning effects that you might enjoy more if you are able to use headphones.

Thank you

If you find you benefit from this meditation, please consider purchasing the MP3, supporting Melissa to make more of these creations and supporting the Seattle Buddhist Center to continue offering gatherings, classes and retreats by donation.

 May you benefit greatly from your practice!

How to Stick to a Daily Meditation Practice

Reach the Goal of Daily Meditation (Reference Article)

The 3 Things That Helped Me Finally Stick With Meditation

Author’s Key Points

• Realize short meditations are worthwhile when considering daily meditation
• Relabel what you’re doing
• Discover your thoughts are not the enemy

Meditation is worth it

Remember my post on meditation’s positive effect on anxiety, depression and pain? There are many reasons to establish a daily meditation practice. Beyond the general research on the matter, most individuals report finding more resilience in their day-to-day life, and greater ability to respond rather react to a given situation. (Sounds worthwhile to me!) The only trouble is, for someone new to the habit, it can be a little tough to get the ball rolling. That’s why I really liked this article for the author’s simple suggestions. Here are my additional thoughts —

(1) Start small when establishing a daily meditation habit

I am reminded of an article I read once, which unfortunately I cannot find at the moment. The author was suggesting when making a new habit, it’s helpful to tag it onto something we already do as a habit – one small step at a time until we build up to our goal activity. For example, if you want to start running, the first step of creating the new habit would be to put your shoes on and lace them up right after brushing your teeth. Simply put them on, lace the shoes. Pause. Then take them off and go onto your other activities. You’re just establishing the habit in the brain: “After I brush my teeth, I put on my running shoes. That’s just what I do.” Eventually, you might then after a few days or week, get them laced and just go out the front door. Pause. Go back in and do whatever. Etcetera.

When it comes to getting started with meditation – when would you like to move it in? Right when you wake up? Take one minute for a week. Then build up. Remember, it’s the long-haul that matters here – you want to build into a habit that lasts. So there’s no rush – only stability in the practice.

(2) Relabel/Redefine “Meditation”

This one’s really been true for me personally, not just in what meditation looks like, but also what meditation means. Know that not all meditation is sitting – so if there are times when moving your body feels more helpful, go for it! Meditation may also look like a mindful reflection practice. For me, I struggled a bit with the idea that meditation was some sort of ‘concentration’ practice that I, as such, perceived as ‘effortful.’ I think I also fell into the misconception that meditation must also mean “no thought,” i.e. an ’emptying of the brain practice.’ After about 9 years now of meditation, the breakthrough moment for me (in addition to the sure and steady breakdown of misconceived ideas through study and group practice) was something I heard in passing – that the Sanskrit word for meditation could also be translated as “familiarization.” Oh! That sounds much easier — like having a good chat with a friend – listening not for an intended end, but just to get to know them and what’s going on in their world. How easy!

On the subject of misconceptions, I will add there are many aspects of this “familiarization” and concentration is certainly a part of it – along with many, many other aspects. But the take home point for me here is, what do you need to believe about meditation to make the idea of it seem easy and appealing to you?

(3) Your thoughts are simply thoughts; and thoughts can change.

Thank the heavens for Louise Hay and her stating clearly for everyone in the world to hear, “Thoughts can change!” We can buy into them, or not. They are simply the product of a number of conditions coming together – our biology, genetics, lifestyle, experiences, life path, etc. When establishing a daily meditation habit, it can be helpful to both familiarize one’s self with their thoughts, but also to practice letting them pass, like clouds in the sky. This is seeing clearly and learning not to react, not to get caught up in them, to let go of rumination– even if it’s only for one minute of the day.

It becomes easier and easier to let your thoughts be your thoughts when you know you are changing, and you don’t have to believe what your thoughts are saying to you. In some ways, we might let them simply be the litmus test for where we are emotionally, what we are needing, and a testament to where we have been in this life. How lovely that we can always come back to the breath – there in the midst of whatever the brain is saying. The breath is always there to bring you home to the body.

How about you?

What’s helped you establish a daily meditation practice? Share your comments below!

Daily ‘Baby Aspirin’: FDA now says risks may outweigh benefits

FDA’s New Position on Daily ‘Baby Aspirin’

Growing up I heard repeatedly the importance of taking a low-dose daily aspirin (i.e. baby aspirin) to prevent heart attack. If you grew up with the same story, the FDA’s 2014 change of position might come as a surprise, if you haven’t already heard it. In their Consumer Update, they wrote:

“…, [A]fter carefully examining scientific data from major studies, FDA has concluded that the data do not support the use of aspirin as a preventive medication by people who have not had a heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular problems, a use that is called ‘primary prevention.’ In such people, the benefit has not been established but risks—such as dangerous bleeding into the brain or stomach—are still present.”

Special concern applies to anyone already taking other blood thinners, such as warfarin, dabigatran (Pradaxa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto) and apixiban (Eliquis).

Should everyone avoid taking baby aspirin?

In short, no. Dr. Robert Temple, deputy director for clinical science at the FDA at the time emphasizes, “Since the 1990s, clinical data have shown that in people who have experienced a heart attack, stroke or who have a disease of the blood vessels in the heart, a daily low dose of aspirin can help prevent a reoccurrence.” How do you know which is appropriate for you? Talk to your primary care physician.

What are my alternatives?

The common denominators are always proper diet and establishing healthy eating habits, exercise, maintain a healthy blood pressure, quit smoking if you haven’t already, and stress reduction. Did you know acupuncture can help with almost all these efforts? To learn more, consider reading, “Give Your Cardiovascular Health a Boost with Acupuncture.” Additionally, establishing a daily meditation routine can do wonders. Not convinced? Consider a 2012 study, that found “African Americans with heart disease who practiced Transcendental Meditation regularly [twice daily for 20 minutes] were 48 percent less likely to have a heart attack, stroke or die from all causes compared with African Americans who attended a health education class over more than five years.” I’d say that sounds worth it. Would you?

 

What Are Energy Work Practices?

Author and inventor Dr. Lin Yutang wrote in his 1937 bestseller, The Importance of Living, “…[A]ll human happiness is sensuous happiness”(125).  He goes on to explain our capacity for enjoying the “positive joys of life” is inextricably tied to increased sensibility of our senses, and our full use of them.

To illustrate his point, Dr. Lin lists Chin’s Thirty-Three Happy Moments, suggesting that “the truly happy moments of human life [are those] moments in which the spirit is inextricably tied up with the senses”(130). You’re probably not surprised that I agree! (Why else would I start my post with this?)

Energy Work is Mundane Work

People often confuse energy work with something ‘beyond’ the ordinary, human experience. Or people think it’s something to ‘attain,’ or something mystical. Most often people think energy is separate from the body; and therefore consider the physical simply crude, unnecessary material they’re just waiting to shed to get back to the ‘good stuff.’

But, while energy permeates and animates physical matter, the physical experiences Spirit’s sublime nature. The physical interprets energy, and affects the world with energy. That’s potent stuff! Without the ability to sense, energy could not know itself. For this reason, while we are in the world, knowing we are not of it affords us a unique opportunity to care for and appreciate our vessel (the physical body), while experiencing Spirit in action.

Can Energywork Be Bodywork? (And Vice Versa?)

When we talk about types of energy work, some practices might fit under the category of bodywork, while others might be considered emotional release techniques, mental concentration practices, or in some cases spiritual or religious practice. At first glance someone with no background in energy work might think, “Hold on a minute, this can’t be right! Isn’t energy work stuff just ‘woo woo,’ waving hands in the air?” (I’m reminded of Christopher Walken’s trivial psychic skit….) No, it’s not. Remember, I defined energy work as any practice that works with our body’s energy; and if you understand that our spirit is inextricably tied to our body sense-experience, you’ll understand energy work in practice may involve the body, mind, and/or emotions.

A Short List of Energy Work Practices

There are countless practices that involve energy work I could name in this post today. Nonetheless, I’d like to introduce you to a short list so you can start to see that you’ve likely already been introduced to energy work, and perhaps have even been practicing it already. What makes the energy work a stronger aspect to physical, emotional or mental practice? Intention.

You’ll notice I slipped intention work and affirmations under perceiving energy. (Pretty much all the things on this mind map can be swapped from one side to the other.) I did this intentionally (ha!) as a reminder that sometimes we can learn things about what we really think or feel deep down when we try on a new, positive affirmation or intention. Resistance can crop up saying, “Yea, right! I don’t deserve that!” etc.

My today’s short list includes:

• Acupuncture
• Bowenwork
• Dream work (including interpretation and lucid dreaming)
• Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
• ESP (including clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairgustance, clairsentience, claircognizance, and “medical intuition”)
• Feng Shui
• Homeopathy (including flower, gem and environmental essences)
• Intention work (including affirmations)
• Journeying (including to the Akashic records, Lower World, Middle World, Upper World)
• Meditation
• Pranic healing
• Psychic awareness (including psychometry)
• Qigong
• Reiki
• Rosen Method
• Shamanism (including soul retrieval)
• Yoga

Your practice this week:

Reflect on a time in your life when you felt most alive, connected and ‘in the flow.’ How did you feel in your body? How was the state of your mind; and what were the circumstances under which you had this experience?

Has an energy work practice greatly impacted your life or growth? I’d love to hear your story in the comments!

Meditation has ‘some benefit against anxiety, depression and pain’ (Systematic Review)

Medical News Today reports on JAMA’s systematic review of 47 randomized clinical trials involving 3515 participants, finding: Meditation has ‘some benefit against anxiety, depression and pain.’ Interestingly enough, they cite, “The positive response to depression was similar to that achieved by antidepressants, the researchers say, with the size of the effect through meditation being up to 52% greater compared with controls.”

There is a lot one could say on the subject of meditation; but I’ll start with simply saying there are a lot of varying approaches! Over the years in my own practice, I’ve encountered plenty of people (including myself) who thought meditation was the practice of emptying the mind. They would feel frustrated or defeated when a thought came up, their mind drifted, or they felt sleepy during the practice. However, in my opinion, this is not really the case.

If I could offer a suggestion, it would be not to see meditation as the practice of pushing away an experience, but to become aware of what is arising in your sense experience. This can be particularly important when working with depression, which may be arising due to suppressed grief, fear, anger or shame. Learning to stay with what’s happening can even help those during panic attacks, in understanding what’s occurring, listening to what’s needed, and acting accordingly.

Additionally, Chinese medicine has a number of great aids for treating anxiety, depression and pain–including acupuncture, estim, and Chinese herbal medicine (to read more on herbs and pain, see my earlier post: Chinese Poppy Plant, Corydalis, Works For Chronic Pain). Equally important is working with a good nutritionist and therapist you can trust and whose work you find helpful (there are so many different types!). Need guidance or care? Drop me an email!