Grounding

You know that moment? The one where you're having a fantastic day, feeling fabulous, and out of nowhere you get cornered by a friend who proceeds to dump all of the drama from their world onto your lap. It's like they verbally threw up all over you and once they've finished they turn to leave with a flippant "Oh I feel so much better now! Thanks for listening!" and waltz off whistling a merry tune while you're left feeling like a bag crap that was hit by a truck? Ya. That moment. How does that actually happen? How does listening to one person's problems make them feel better and you feel like someone just encased your feet in cement and pushed you into the Don Valley River? Suddenly your day went from being Viagra commercial happy to a scene from Walking Dead. 

It's an interesting thing that occurs at that moment and most often we are left unsure of what exactly happened and how we should deal with it. Within the energy working community we experience this phenomena frequently and it's important for us to recognize this energetical exchange quickly and to deal with it efficiently in order to carry on with the work we need to do. Whether you're working professionally with people's problems or you're the shoulder everyone cries on, these techniques will help you cope the next time you encounter an "energy vampire" (you know... the people who suck the life right out of you...even if you love them).The most important thing you can do for yourself is to learn proper grounding. There are a variety of ways one can ground. If you're an energy worker you've likely been taught some techniques that are specific to your training. What I'm presenting here are more broad, yet very effective, techniques that can be used everyday by masters and lay people alike.


 Visualization: 

One of the best techniques that I was taught involves visualization. The process begins by visualizing you are a tree that has roots that spread deep into the earth. These roots carry with them all of the excess or negative energy which has accumulated within your energetical body and not only do these roots spread deep into Mother Earth but they spread out, radiating from your core, creating a web of grounding. The branches can be thought to be calling your own energy back to you (in case you were the one who emotionally vomited on your friend...hey we all do it) clear and free from everything but your energy itself.  

This visualization is one of my favourite ways to ground. I use it often throughout the day as I feel it is needed. If I'm feeling overwhelmed or off kilter I simply, and quickly visualize this and immediately I am brought back to centre.  

Now just because I'm a tree person doesn't mean you are. Maybe you're an animal person and you want to visualize you have a tail growing out from...well.. your tail. (tailbone/tail.. potatoe/potato) In this case you visualize the energy flowing through your feet and your newly imagined tail and carrying it deep into the earth, just like in the tree visualization.  


Another very useful technique is to visualize a bubble of energy surrounding you, protecting you and keeping your energy yours. Whatever your choice of visualization just be sure that it works for you. Be creative. Have fun. Get a little freaky. 

So what if you're not only not a tree, nor an animal, but you aren't even a visualizer?  
Fear not!
I've got you covered!
There are other things you can use to help keep you grounded: 

Stones:

There are certain crystals and rocks that have energetical properties to help ground and protect you throughout the day. Typically the darker the stone the more grounding its properties but not all stones have to be dark to be grounding. Visit a rock and gem shop near you and ask the staff for suggestions. Better yet, choose a stone that you are drawn to and you can't go wrong. Once you have a stone, carry it with you throughout the day and cleanse it and recharge it at night, easily, by placing it in a bowl of sea salt or in the earth or by laying it in the moonlight. 

Some examples of grounding and protecting stones;
Obsidian
Hematite
Labradorite
Shiva Lingam 

Sage 
The history on the use of sage and the ritual of how to use it is something I'm going into in another post but for now just know that the burning of sage is extremely grounding and beneficial.  Be sure to burn it in a fireproof container and be prepared for it to smoke a lot. If you're smoke sensitive you can always buy essential oil of sage and use that instead.

So the next time you're on the receiving end of an energetical explosion or if you're feeling anxious or having difficulties concentrating, give some of these techniques a try. Each and every one of us has enough of our own things to deal with and if we can sort the issues that are ours from those that we have simply absorbed we'll be a lot better off. Besides, who really wants to be covered in energetical vomit anyway?

All my relations,

Mandy