grounding

Wicca 101

Faith October, 2010

Grounding and Centering

Grounding and Centering is a very basic concept, that isn’t just a Wiccan thing. It’s something you can find outside of witchcraft, and well established and and widley practiced…..they just might not call it the same thing.

Grounding and Centering in something practiced in Yoga, to help align your Chakras. It’s practiced in meditation, in the Catholic Church through saying “Hail Mary’s,” and so on and so forth.

Grounding:

There are many different ways to ground out your energy. Some people use a candle, others use breathing techniques. I use a beach.

Imagine standing on a sandy white beach, ankles in 3 or four inches of crystalline blue water. Close your eyes on the beach and feel the waves breaking gently against you. Imagine moving all the energy in your body down to your feet, and as the waves go out, they are taking it with them, even as the energy of the sun soaks into your body, replacing the old energy with clean, new energy.

Centering:

Centering is basically finding the center of who you are. Some people refer to it as the quiet part of their mind, others use a Chakra as a representation, and I use a ball of light.

Stand or sit as you feel comfortable, close your eyes and start tuning out all the excess “Noise” (itches, sounds, etc) and take the energy in your body and focus it to the center of you, into a ball of light. Focus on that ball of light until you feel yourself start to balance out, and relax.

Grounding and Centering is a great way to take a few moments and rebalance you internally. Also, it’s something I strongy recommend prior to meditation (which it smoothly transitions into) or ritual/spellwork of any kind.

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Hally’s Hints

Hally Rhiannon Nammu September, 2010

Grounding Your Energy

When we consider that we are made up of predominantly water and energy it is no surprise how sensitive we really are; sensitive to our external forces whether it is planetary alignment, the moon stages or even projections from other people.

The amount of times we can go home from a party feeling drained and put it down to having a late night never considering we may have assisted someone unload onto us. The downside of this is that if we are unaware of this, we believe it is our own energy reflection and a whole internal process begins to deal with it. The thoughts that follow can be in line of “what’s wrong with me” or “why I am so emotional” all the while not recognising that we have kindly taken something home.

It is important to include grounding in your day to day life, particularly for those that work with energies. With this said, a good practice of grounding is recommended irrelevant because it will assist with decreasing stress from work, removing energies that may have been consumed through food or gained through touch.

Before I go into the basic fundamentals, one thing to understand is that energy is a beautiful and powerful thing. We each have the ability to use it to our advantage providing us with greater awareness, directed energy to assist with focusing and healing.

Like with many elemental attributes it is important to respect the boundaries including your own. I will never advise to use energy to harm another or for greater gain through injuring someone. When I speak of taking advantage it is in line with maximising the potential of your own skill to assist you in furthering your spiritual journey.

Using our attributes to manipulate another will only result in this coming back by three, if you are lucky, not to mention that chain reaction this can cause throughout the planes. Worst of all, this will take you to a dark place which can create a spiralling hole that you find yourself drawn to more and more. Then, eventually you find yourself consumed with nothing else and to get out of this is near impossible. Naturally something I advise to avoid at all costs particularly when we have everything we need within us to provide us with light, love and happiness. Sometimes the dark can seem very tempting, rest assured it is a farce and will cost more than you could ever imagine.

We often consider that easy is better because we tell ourselves it’s all too hard and so seek some form of reprieve. The funny thing about easy is that is a matter of perspective. We believe the unknown to be fearful and hard because we have no control over it, yet will look for an easy out when it does not provide anymore of a guarantee. Using your energy is along the same lines. Because it is part of who you are allow it to naturally guide you and assist you, which in turn will be very easy. When it is forced it will be hard and we tell ourselves that it can’t be done – simply it is a matter of working with the energy rather than against.

In terms of grounding daily there are multitudes of ways this can be done and it really comes down to your own personal practices.

  • Initially I would smudge myself and my home before I left for the day and when I came home.
  • Now I have a salt lamp burning in every room and cleanse my home regularly.
  • I also do the traditional Reiki grounding of placing the palm of the hands on the balls of the feet (same hand to same leg, never cross over) and allow the calm to fill me.
  • There is burning white sage regularly.
  • Also, eating grounding, rustic foods will also assist with grounding. Ensure it is cleansed from external energies and this can provide a harmonious way of grounding.

When you ground yourself consider the senses that you have and use this as a basis for grounding:

  • Taste – eat grounding food.
  • Smell – smudging, burning incense or essential oil.
  • Feel – smudging, holding the salt lamp and taking a breath in, hugging a tree, sitting on the earth (or embracing plants in your home or garden).
  • Hear – lie on your couch, bed or somewhere comfortable and listen to the universe; the birds, the wind, the rain.
  • See – Look beyond the material world; see animals, the universe live and breathe by sitting in a garden or looking out of your window.

As energetic beings we are very powerful and very blessed to experience life in such a myriad of ways where each day provides something fresh for our senses.

The more our awareness grows the more we are able to connect to our ethereal selves and the universe in its true and natural state. It is this power that is so beautiful and in this, we want nothing other than to be.

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New to the Craft

Twilight Raptor March, 2010

Grounding and Centering: A Basic and Essential Concept

I bid welcome to all of you who have returned (or are just finding me) to read my second column posting on the topic of “Grounding and Centering.”  It is a gift to have the opportunity to share some of my knowledge and even a greater pleasure to have made the acquaintance of those who have sent me e-mails.  In this posting we are going to discuss a topic that I view as essential to spiritual development whether within the guise of the craft or not.  The practice of grounding and centering is employed by not only those of us who consider ourselves Pagans by origin, but by those who practice the ancient arts of Shamanism, Reiki, and many other Eastern religions.  In order to best address this topic we are going to first start out with the concept of centering and follow that with grounding.

The process of centering is actually quite simple and is a key component (in my opinion) of the grounding process; something that is necessary before any magickal workings or rituals.  Most people generally center themselves by visualizing a large light coming from within and seeing this light surround themselves.  Often, many people think of a “Happy” thought such as family, friends, or even an event in their lives that was important.  This will lead to a harmony with spirit, which exists within you.  The Chakras are also an additional component of this process and we will be discussing them in greater detail in the next month of this column as that in itself is a lengthy discussion!  However, I would recommend doing some research on the Chakras and their colors to help out with their locations in the visualization process.  If you do have questions on this and don’t wish to wait till I cover this in greater detail next month, please e-mail me (twilightraptor@myspace.com) and I will be happy to explain this in greater detail prior to the column posting.  With no further adieu we shall move onto the concept of grounding and a simple exercise to make it all come together.

Within the scope of the Craft, grounding is considered an exercise that helps to firmly plant a witch into a more relaxed state of mind.  In going above and beyond this simple statement, the concept of grounding will also help in regaining energies, letting go of the fears and anxieties of the day, boosting confidence in oneself, and establishing a more balanced approach to ritual and meditation.  This is achieved by being completely aware of your body as well as being present in the moment both mentally and physically.  In general, the best way I can describe being aware of your body comes when the relaxation starts to hit you mentally.  For example, let’s say that you are sitting in your chair and breathing in and out, in and out.  If you take a moment, you will notice how you body sits in the chair and most importantly where your weight is being transferred to.  This begins the process of grounding; the process where you become aware of your body and begin to transfer your weight to the object that your weight is being placed upon.  Soon you will begin to relax and forget about sitting in the chair, moving into your own mind and deeply relaxing.  A feeling of peace will come over you and all the tensions of the day will begin to float away, like water into a stream.  It is at this moment that you will begin to feel much lighter and in complete control of your environment and what is going on.  Once this stage is reached, many of us lil’ witches like to visualize a bit and imagine things (negativity, thoughts, emotions, etc…) leaving our body, mind, and spirit.  Since this is the case and we are all here to learn, I have selected an exercise that is brief and simple to help with grounding.

It is most logical to assume that many people know this or perhaps do this particular exercise as it was taught to me many moons ago.  Please remember that this is not the “end all be all” of exercises as there are so many ways to accomplish the task of grounding!  Anyhow, to begin the process of grounding, find a comfortable position and start to relax through breathing.  I prefer to breathe in deeply for a few breaths, and follow that by holding to the count of three and releasing on the count of three.  The wondrous thing about this is that soon your mind will take over and you will not have to worry about it!   Once you begin to feel relaxed and at ease, imagine a white light above your head that begins to flow down into you.  Feel the tensions, anxieties, stresses, and negativity of the day begin to be collected by the white light and think about it flowing out of you.  As it flows from your body (generally your feet) imagine particles of black (negativity and the aforementioned) leaving your body and flowing back to mother earth.  Upon completion of this process be sure to stop the flow of white light into your body as this could lead to excessive energy buildup.  For a more advanced approach to this, consider a root coming from your base chakra and going into the earth, transferring energies as it goes through the layers or even imagine yourself sinking down through the layers of the earth.  This works quite well and when completed, please be sure to release any energies you may have retained.

There are many signs and symptoms of energy retention, so please be sure to drain all energies when completed so you don’t experience any of the following:

  • Dizziness or Lightheadedness
  • Feeling of being off balance
  • Disorientation
  • Feeling of hyperactivity (can manifest as restlessness, mind going crazy, and inability to stay still)

It is important to realize that even if these symptoms are not present, always be sure to ground regardless and release all energies until you are sure they are gone.

I realize that this is an entry level description of this process but going into great detail would take pages upon pages which I am sure you do not want to read!  This is not to say that I am lazy, but I do believe that a person should always seek answers on their own as well.  As mentioned above, if you do have questions about this or would like to seek friendship I am always open to such things.  I choose to utilize my Myspace for this purpose as it also allows those of you reading to see who I am.  I can be reached there at: http://myspace.com/twilightraptor

I look forward to any questions, messages, or friend requests that you may have!  Until next month where we will delve into the Chakras, Brightest Blessings to you all and thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to write as well as continue my own education.

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Meditation

Charlynn Walls January, 2010

Grounding into the Elements

The holidays can be a hectic and trying time.  There is always someplace to go or something that needs to be done.  So, as the new year comes and things start to settle down we often start to feel melancholy because we deal with the loss of friends and family as we gravitate back to our own lives.

It can be difficult to readjust and find the balance.  When that happens it’s often good to get back to basics.  I can’t think of anything more fundamental and more basic to most pagans than the elements.  In almost every path they are honored. So, in that respect we will be grounding into the elements and reconnecting with the earth to bring balance back into our lives.

This meditation and grounding is written to be done indoors, but is easily adapted to outdoor and group use.  You’ll want to gather items that represent each element.  Some suggestions are: Earth – Use a rock, a crystal or a dish of salt.  Air – You can use a feather, burning incense, or a fan turned on low.  Fire – Place a lit candle, a statue of a dragon, or a red flower on your altar. Water – Use a container filled with water, a shell, or a picture of mermaid or water deity.  Remember these are just suggestions; use the items with which you have a connection.

Arrange the items you’ve chosen on your altar or in front of you where you can see them.  Take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  Repeat this several times feeling more at peace and centered with each exhalation.  Allow the day to melt away from you as you focus on balance and tuning yourself to the elements.

We’ll start with the element of earth to provide us a good foundation.  Touch the item you have that represents earth.  Feel the weight of it and the texture.  What does this item represent and mean to you?  Contemplate the subtle strength and stability of earth and what it brings into your life.

Place your hands on or through (incense) item that represents air.  Though this element is not always tangible it is always present down to our very breath.  What does the item you’ve chosen represent and mean to you?  Consider the creativity and inspirational nature of this element.

How is the element of fire represented on your altar?  Take the item and observe it, if it’s a flame, or consider what other way you may have chosen to recognize fire.  What does the item you’ve chosen represent and mean to you?  Fire can both destroy and provide rebirth.  Ponder what the element of fire and the passion and rebirth it can bring into your life.

Finally, take the item that represents water from your altar.  What does this item represent to you? The element of water is often representative of emotions and intuition.  Reflect on how water manifests in your life and the tranquility you seek.

You have taken each element in turn.  You’ve contemplate what each item means to you.  Now, considered what you want to bring into your life from each that would bring you personal balance.

Finish your grounding by reciting the following:

    Through the elements I find strength, inspiration, passion, and peace.
    Each has its place and through them I find my balance and poise.
    The strength of the standing stones sustains me.
    The inspiration of the breeze carries me.
    The passion of the flame lights my path.
    The tranquil waters bring me comfort and peace.
    These are the aspects of the elements that I draw to me.

As I will it so shall it be!

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