Rose Ariadne's Chitchcraft Blog

Dear Friends,

It seems that everywhere I go these days I see so much pent-up stress and frustration. With matters of the economy, our jobs, our families and just day-to-day life in general weighing so heavily on our minds and spirits, it doesn’t surprise me to see so many people in need of some serious grounding. Grounding your body, mind and spirit is important not only to our rituals and magick, but to our daily lives and general well-being as well. Cleansing yourself of negative and stressful energies through the practice of grounding will produce a more stable and peaceful life for both yourself and those around you.

The most common grounding practice is that of visualization. The powers of visualization have recently started making their way into mainstream culture, though witches have been using this practice for many, many years to stabilize their bodies, spritis and minds. The first step in successfully grounding yourself through visualization is to find a quiet, peaceful environment where you have little chance of being disturbed. You may choose to sit, lie down or stand and you may want close your eyes to quiet your mind and block out any external distractions. Concentrate on slowing your breathing and taking deep, full breaths. Focus on your muscles and visually see them relaxing with each draw of breath. Imagine yourself as a large powerful tree growing in an open field. Your head and limbs are your branches and your energy is seeping downward, becoming one with the earth below you as if you had deep roots. Relax your muscles as you inhale and visualize your stress and negative energy spilling out of the tips of your branches and seeping down into the earth through your roots. The earth will recycle and use this energy as needed. This type of visualization also works well if you are able to actually perform in nature, leaning against a strong tree or rock to help absorb your energy and relax your body, mind and spirit.

There are many physical methods that can be useful for grounding as well. The simple act of eating or drinking, especially after ritual, is a fantastic way to release stress and calm your mind and spirit. As you slowly eat and drink, pay close attention to the physical acts of chewing and swallowing. Savor the flavors of your food and drink and relish in the fact that you are sharing Earth’s bounty. Slowing your breathing and simply stretching can do wonders for eliminating stress and negativity from our daily lives. As you feel your muscles elongate with the stretch concentrate on the energy seeping from your limbs, fingers and toes back into the earth to be redistributed. Most of us shower or bathe daily, and this is an excellent time to ground ourselves through our daily routine. Visualize your stress and tension swirling down the drain with the excess water or even scrub negativity away while cleansing yourself. Even mundane household chores present an opportunity for us to ground ourselves. The repetitive, familiar tasks give us a chance to clear our minds of bad energy and our daily stresses and let them be whisked away with the dirt and dust. You can even imagine the vacuum sucking up the negative energy work or concentrate on the connection with the earth element as you wash dishes, being that most utensils, plates and cups come from some earthly element.

Whatever method you choose, grounding is a great way to calm and quiet your mind and spirit and relax your physical body. This is especially important when preparing for ritual or spellwork, as bringing negative energy and undue stress into the circle can have drastic consequences. Grounding is also important when we restore ourselves after an especially tiring ritual. Though we often overlook the simple things, implementing just one or two of these grounding techniques into your daily life can create wonderful improvements in your magick in general sense of well-being.

Brightest Blessings,

Rose Ariadne
Your Warm and Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”