Get grounded
For a teenager, being grounded sucks. It's the ultimate parental punishment.
For anyone about to fly, being grounded equals long delays, airport meal vouchers and an assortment of disappointment.
If you hear of someone going to ground, you know they're hiding and want to avoid detection.
So, when a few years ago I kept being told I needed to get ‘grounded’, I didn't know WTF was going on.
It didn't sound positive.
I didn't feel the urge to get interested in dirt.
Plus, I was happy with my knowledge of the power of the mind. I felt like I was in control.
Why was I needing to get ‘grounded’. And, what was it anyway?
It never popped up as something important when I'd studied post-graduate Psychology. In almost 20 years of working with people and in communities, I'd never heard of it.
And now I know why.
I was in my head and living in a patriarchal world.
Focused on my thoughts, knowledge and the future.
Valuing achievement, action and outcomes.
Largely ignoring my body, except for the necessary functioning and superficial things.
Not aware of the power of the feminine or the power lying dormant in my female body.
When I experienced BEING IN my body, I began to get it.
And seek it out.
My senses awakened. I discovered freedom of expression around my desire and pleasure.
I slowed down and connected with my soul voice.
And I craved connection with nature.
I longed to feel the ground beneath my feet.
To feel held by the stability and stillness of Mother Earth.
I now prioritise activities that ‘ground’ me!
Time outside surrounded by nature's sounds, smells and sights that delight my senses is a favourite. I always loved camping, sailing, swimming and now I know why. It plugged me in!
This week I filled my cup by joining my dear friend Lisa Iurada for a mid-week Soulful Hike in the Dandenong Ranges. She has just begun to offer moderate hikes for a small group of women (no more than 10) on the fringe of Melbourne.
It's a wonderful opportunity to venture into the plant kingdom, connect with the spirit of nature and balance your mind, body and soul with incredible women.
She has walks planned on Wednesday's - check out her website at lisaiurada.com to find out more information and to get on the waitlist for the next one.
If you're looking for practical tools to help you feel grounded when you are unable to get out into nature, another gorgeous friend, Emma Abbott, is offering a new online Mindful Living Course. It's starting this Sunday and will run for 45 mins from 7.30pm over 5-consecutive days. The sessions will be recorded so if you are unable to attend you can catch up later.
If you haven't already heard me rave about Emma, trust me, she's amazing. (You may have heard me talk about her when I released the podcast interview Shine Love & Light On Our Breath & Breathing last year).
If you're interested in finding out more about Meditation, mindfulness, breath or tapping (Emotional Freedom Techniques), this would be a perfect place to start.
If you're curious about diving in deeper, she's offering Veda Meditation training 1:1 and in groups too. Check out her new website - Omma.com.au to get all the details. She's got lots of fabulous resources, including some of her wonderful guided meditation recordings (my kids LOVE her Kids Sleep Meditation!).
As our world reels from all the disconnection, distress and devastation from the crisis and chaos near and far, this is the perfect time to connect with Mother Nature, be held by her and benefit from feeling grounded.
Sending waves of WILD love x
