5 Ways to Simplify your Meditation and Grounding Practice

“I don’t know how to meditate” is like saying “I don’t know how to relax.”  There are many ways to achieve relaxation and its definition will vary with every person you ask, yet it is pretty simple at its core. Meditation is the same; there are many explanations on how to do it, yet it is a very simple process of limiting input so you can slow your thoughts.

Grounding is an extension of meditation where you feel present in your body and connected to the earth. Honestly, every moment of meditation can be a bit grounding.

We are all overstimulated with information from every direction and it’s hard to find the time to get that 5 -15 minutes of time to shut off the noise and find some peace. Yet, including this meditative time in your self-care can change many aspects of your health such as:

Reduce stress and anxiety and decreases blood pressure

Improve self-awareness which helps with emotional health such as depression, fighting addiction, and self-esteem

Improve your attention span and reduce age-related memory loss

Improve sleep and help control pain

You don’t have to become an instant yogi Guru to bring meditation into your life. You can bring this grounding and meditation into your life in 5 simple ways:

1. Don’t try to meditate. Just stop trying to think. With all electronics off, let your mind wander and unwind. You will have thoughts float in and out of your mind. You will remember things you wanted to do but resist the temptation to jump up to record them.   Trust that after your mind-clearing meditation, you will remember them again. Let the thoughts float in and out, don’t capture or process any ideas. If you release these thoughts, one thought will lead to another allowing your mind to unwind. It’s amazing how much time elapses when you relax into this. 

2. In your morning or evening routine, as you get ready for the day or get ready for bed take an extra 15 minutes to yourself. Sit on the edge of your bed, palms up, eyes staring at the wall across from you, and just breathe. Again, let your mind wander and shuffle through the events of the day to some of the days that just occurred. Allow it to flicker through like a movie without judgment or analyzing it in any way. 

3. Before a moment you know will be stressful, take 5 minutes to just breathe. Focus on your breath in and out. Count them up to 10 and back down to 1 until you forget to count and can only focus on your breath. This allows you to let go of your preconceived stress and be open to the words of everyone involved.

4. Rub your hands together and shuffle your feet on the ground to release pent-up energy and tension. This quick grounding will get you in your body and connected to the earth in moments of stress and trauma. It’s natural to close your eyes while doing this and allow yourself to sink within for a few moments.

5. Go for a solitary walk. Outside is best, but moving your body in rhythm without talking to anyone allows your mind to unwind and tension to leave your body. Walk with deliberate steps in a moving meditation, focusing on how your foot lands on the earth, your weight shifts, your arms swing, and your next step is taken. This clears the mind, gets you into your body, and grounded in a place of peace.

These 5 simple ways of mediation can be the beginning of a lovely addition to your magical practice and I highly recommend attempting at least one on a regular basis and watch how your energy shifts. 

Enjoy the journey into uncovering your magical self!