Dear Friends,
Last week I mentioned wanting more stability in my life, and yet change seems to be the new norm. It’s pertinent that we find ways to stay grounded.
Being grounded means that you’re present in your body and connected with the Earth, allowing you to feel centered and balanced no matter what’s going on around you.
It’s easy to get thrown off-base, become obsessed with the news or other worrisome thoughts, and spiral downward into negativity. How do we pull ourselves out of that quagmire?
For me it’s meditation, being in nature, and creating art. Just watching the birds outside my kitchen window brings me back to Earth. Petting my cat Luci is also calming and centering. And when I paint, my fears and worries dissipate.
Here are some other ideas to help you feel grounded:
- Routine. Have a regular morning or evening routine.
- Mundane tasks. I find cleaning the house, doing the dishes, and folding laundry to be grounding.
- Repetition. Controlled breathing exercises and repeating mantras are ways to feel centered and calm.
- Root vegetables that grow underground. Eat grounding foods such as Earthy beets, carrots and potatoes.
- Drink and bath in pure, clean water.
- Dirt is grounding. Work in the garden, walk barefoot in the grass, or lie on the Earth.
- Rocks are grounding. Wear a rock necklace or carry a favorite rock in your pocket.
- Natural fiber clothing. Compare how you feel when wearing synthetics to cotton, linen, wool and other natural fibers. Take it one step further by wearing clothes that are colored with natural instead of synthetic dyes.
- Wear Earthy colors. Burnt sienna brown, sage green, ochre yellow, slate gray, dusty purple, bone black.
- Hug a tree.
Art can also be grounding. In addition to my expansive paintings, I create grounding paintings that help us to stay rooted and centered.
My grounding paintings begin with rusty pieces of metal placed on wet canvas to create interesting iron oxide marks. Iron is a grounding element, and the very core of our planet is composed of molten iron.
The strong centric designs of these paintings have a grounding influence and evoke a sense of safety, security, stability and well-being. Below are two new grounding pieces that I created recently to share with you.
This first painting is titled “Upcycle,” inspired by the phases of the moon, and appropriate for today’s “super blue blood moon” lunar eclipse. Click on the image below and zoom in on this painting to see the beautiful rust patina of this piece.
“Upcycle,” 20″ x 60″, iron oxide and repurposed acrylic latex paint on canvas
The painting below is titled “Rings of Life,” inspired by tree rings. Trees are rooted in the Earth, and they’re well grounded. When we’re grounded like a tree, things that happen around us don’t influence us so much, and we’re able to feel more peaceful and balanced in our daily lives.
“Rings of Life,” 36″ x 36″, iron oxide and repurposed acrylic latex paint on canvas
What helps you to feel centered and grounded? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.
Come down from the cosmos, my friends, and ground yourself! You are needed here, on the Earth plane, now. You are strong and resilient, and you are adored.
With love and appreciation,
Cassandra
Bonus for those who have read to the end of this message — Lee Harris’ beautiful song, “They Called Us Down.”
What grounds me is riding my bike along the Alto-Adige River in Roveteto, Italy. It’s peaceful, quiet, and the flow of the river is soothing. Being out of doors, breathing fresh air, listening to whatever sounds appear to my awareness, and smelling the seasons. Just talking about it grounds me:-) Thank you for sharing your thoughts too, Cassandra♡
Ciao, Susan
That sounds fabulous, Susan! I wish I could be there with you now. Enjoy!