Grounding is so important!

Photo by J. Jeffrey Minzey minzeyart.com

In this , my first blog, I would like to touch on an important and often overlooked aspect of magickal practice. The all-important concept of grounding. We often refer to “cakes and wine” or “cakes and ale”, after magick. This post-ritual meal serves more than one function. Raising energy for a ritual can make you hungry, but eating some food also serves to bring us back to the here and now, helping us switch back to normal consciousness. The energy we raise during magic can stay with us. Some of this can be good, of course, it makes us feel great. We may find, however, that when we do not take the time to ground the excess back to earth (literally, earthing the power) that we might experience “spaced-out” feelings, light-headedness, inability to concentrate or other symptoms. It can even drain you for days if great power is raised. I have felt nauseous in the past when I was a young witch still learning. The importance of grounding is not always emphasized.

Here are a few methods for grounding that you may like to try. Even if you have been doing this for decades, sometimes a new take on something can be helpful, as everyone is different, and also, everyone goes through changes. Shaking things up keeps it fun, too.

After ritual, as you are partaking of cakes and wine, or whatever food you choose, eat it with the intention of coming back to regular consciousness. Feel the kinetic presence of your body .Really Be Here Now. Energetic Intention will always increase the effectiveness.

If possible, Walk barefoot on the earth. If not, you can still do the following: Imagine you have roots coming out of the bottom of your feet and out of your root chakra (base of the spine). Visualize and feel them going deep into the earth. Let energy flow down and out. Into Mother Earth. Don’t worry, she can take it. She will transmute it into useful energy. Now let it flow from the top down from the crown chakra, through your whole body and out the root you are visualizing, almost like your excess mental energy is going into the earth. Synch up your breath in a way that feels appropriate.

When that feels “complete”clench yourself like you are going to stop going to the bathroom mid-stream. Keep it “locked” and let that energy keep flowing down from the crown and back up and out the top of your head. Do this a few times, remembering to synch up your breath. Now, unlock and let it flow back into the earth again.

Lastly, switch directions and draw energy up from the core of the earth. Draw it up your root, with the intention of partaking of the replenishing energy of the earth. Do it until you feel a little rush of vitality or until you know it is done. Thank her for the energy exchange. I recommend doing this whenever you need to balance your energy, in general.

Certain stones and crystals can also help with grounding. Again, intention is so important here as in all energy work. Holding a hematite may be grounding in and of itself, but doing it with intention increases the effect. You can even do the last exercise with grounding stones in hand.

In addition to hematite, I have had good results with obsidian, onyx, black tourmaline, even smoky quartz and bloodstone. I do believe that people vary in their energy so much, that is why you must feel into the energy for yourself. For example, a friend of mine could not use smoky quartz for this purpose. He said it gave him the opposite effect. Always trust your intuition.

Getting your hands in the dirt is great for grounding. Whether you love to garden or if you just keep a pot of soil to put your hands in after magic, the effect is very calming. Being out in nature can help to balance your energy, in general. Hugging a tree just might work, too!

If you feel like you may have been ungrounded for some time, take a bath with pink sea salt or any salt you have. Adding patchouli or vetivert will increase earth energies. Don’t be tempted to add floral smell-goods, though,they may have you right back up on the ceiling!

Another final tip. If you know or suspect that you are an empath, go ahead and assume that you will need extra grounding. The same goes for highly sensitive people. Just do a little bit more. If you are vegan or eat lightly or you like to fast before doing magic, you’ll need it. The assumption beforehand that you will need some extra grounding will save you a lot of trouble in the long run. Be diligent in your grounding techniques. Remember to connect and realign with the earth! Eat hearty, nutritious food! Mental clarity, physical vitality, and emotional stability will be some of the rewards.