Grounding, Centering, Shielding and Cord-Cutting

Grounding is a mechanism that connects us to the Earth’s electro-magnetic energy field. When coupled with other energetic techniques, it can assist in transmuting emotions and raising your vibration, and you can take this to an even higher level by creating a reciprocal energy exchange with the Earth using your breath and imagery.  For instance, drawing the nurturing, grounding, stabilizing, and restorative qualities of the Earth’s energy up through your feet as you breathe in,  potentially while imagining roots extending out through their bottoms and into the Earth, and then using the out breath to release any negative energy or limiting beliefs, unpleasant sensations and dense emotions, etc. to be transmuted and dispersed by the Earth, who has the capacity to enact this management of released energy without it causing further harm.

The practice of grounding is closely correlated to the practice of earthing, which is done by encountering the natural environment through bare feet or special shoes designed to maintain the integrity of the connection between the body’s electromagnetic field and the Earth’s (sometimes involving elements such as embedded copper).  Earthing is explored in-depth by Clinton Ober, who wrote a book entitled Earthing:  The Most Important Health Discovery Ever! This information is easily obtained by doing some research into the effects of earthing and grounding relative to reducing inflammation and treating/preventing disease.  

For our purposes within the context of generating individualized practices for energy management, we will focus on foundational, introductory mechanisms for grounding, as well as simple techniques for centering, shielding, and cord-cutting.  I categorize these mentally and verbally as energy management and/or energy hygiene skills.  

Grounding

A simple technique for grounding is to simply imagine yourself outside, and from seated or a standing position, or even lying down, imagine that there are roots growing out from the bottoms of your feet, going down, deep into the Earth, through the aqueducts and waterways, down into the core of the Earth where the nurturing, stabilizing, revitalizing energy of Our Earth Mother can be accessed. Imagine drawing these resources up through your root system using the marrow of your bones as a conduit for this nutrition, feeling the invigoration rise through your system like sap through a tree, this life-giving energy permeates your body, from your root to your Crown.  You can also imagine that there is a grounding cord dropping down from the base of your tailbone and going deep into the Earth, perhaps even wrapping around a specific type of crystal, like purple amethyst for divine protection and insight or red rubies for spiritual protection, wisdom and security.  Feel your connection to the Earth, to all of nature.  To All that Is.  Take a deep breath in and out, checking to ensure that you can feel your connection with the earth, and feel your feet firmly planted on the floor, with sensation in your lower legs.  

Another simple grounding technique involves planting your feet firmly on the ground allowing your weight to settle into your lower body.  Perhaps even placing a 10 to 15-degree bend in the knees, and actually dropping the weight of the hips and pelvis down a few times.  And in this motion, kind of shaking out a little bit of excess energy from this region, and allowing, once again, the weight to settle down through the lower half of the body, almost like sands through an hourglass, making your lower half feel heavy and more connected to the sensations of the feet on the floor with more sensation in your lower legs and even up through your hips, thighs, and buttocks.  From here, you can even try swaying gently front and back, side to side and see how that feels for the system, and if any other unfurling wants to naturally occur (such as some gentle side to side twisting or stretching/moving various parts of the body who might stir awake and ask for attention with the initial movements).  Some enjoy lifting the toes off the ground and then setting them back down, or perhaps rising up onto the balls of the feet and then allowing the heels to slap down, repeating this several times to release stored or stagnated energy.  

Yet another practice for grounding many people find effective is from a seated position to simply begin by pressing first one foot gently yet firmly into the ground experiencing the shift and engagement of the musculature in the quadriceps and buttocks and then gently backing off, slowly pressing down with the other foot.  Again, experiencing more sensation and engagement of the muscles in the legs and buttocks as this is done, and then backing off slowly, coming to a neutral position. Next, pressing gently down now with both feet this time feeling not only the engagement through the quads and buttocks but also any shifts in the spine and posture of the body as a whole, focusing on the connection of the feet on the floor, the sit bones or your seat on the chair or surface beneath*, and just noticing any effect in your mind, body and emotions.

*Some find it helpful to imagine tiny weights suspended from each sit bone, weighing or pulling them down as an assist for this technique.  I visualize tiny little anvils as seen in the classic Looney Toons cartoons!

Centering

Centering is going to involve the upper chakras from the heart to the crown.  To center, you will be bringing all your mental processes into line as well as your energy centers (chakras) or as Hugh Milne refers to them in *The Heart of Listening*, your “Soul Centers” into line–we will practice this utilizing visualization techniques together.

The easiest way to practice centering is to set a gentle intention to bring your energy centers (large nerve bundles constituting our neuroendocrine system) into balance with your head and your heart.  Bring your hands to Heart Center, palms together in “prayer position at the center of your chest, and allow for gentle pressure to be felt between your hands and arms.  This mudra (hand position) automatically sends a signal to the brain to simultaneously lengthen the spine, while opening the diaphragm, providing more room for the diaphragm to widen and descend during our in-breaths, and more air to be taken in.  The oxygen we breathe in fuels our cells and enables them to produce cellular energy, so when we breathe in this way, we are creating happy, vibrant cells.  Some individuals find it helpful to visualize this as they are doing this exercise.  Spend a few minutes here, feeling the channel or flow of energy through your torso and trunk before closing the exercise.

One centering technique that works well for many people is to spread your arms wide apart and imagine all the thoughts of the day, and stresses of life–duties, responsibilities, tasks, roles, obligations or situations of any kind requiring use of your resources. Imagine that any distractions, chaos and even physical tension or pain are located between your hands and to  breathe deeply  as you slowly move your hands closer together. As you do this, you may feel some resistance–just  keep moving them slowly together, and eventually your hands will touch together in a “prayer” or “hands together  at heart center” position in front of your chest again.  At this point, your mind should feel clear and calm, free of distracting thoughts and you should feel and be centered and more alert or aware.  You may find it challenging or that you are yet unable to close the hands together entirely, which will improve with time and practice.  Some feel more comfortable bringing their hands together in their lap, others bring them together in front of their forehead; this is a personalized practice that should become unique to you. If your thoughts or emotions begin to become frenetic or scattered as you are working through the exercise, you can center again by taking a few deep breaths to regain Focus and redirect by focusing again on the act of bringing your hands together again.  Some find it helpful to focus on the energy between the two middle fingers as a gentle centering guide. 

Lastly, using your peripheral vision to expand your horizon is a technique that will immediately center you by sending a signal to the brain to elongate the spine and widen the diaphragm.  “Sully”–the air pilot who landed the plane on the Hudson River is said to have done this exercise directly prior to executing that life-saving maneuver!  Try it:

• To start, take a quick inventory of your mind, body and emotions.
• Begin by sticking up the first two fingers on each hand and holding these up straight in front of your body.
• Slowly begin to pull both arms back until you can see one set of fingers on each side within your peripheral view.
• Spend a few moments in this position, and continue breathing deeply, focusing your eyes on your fingers in your side and rear view.
• Notice the effects (a deeper breath and straighter spine)
• Take another inventory of mind, body and emotions

Another way to use the field of vision to center is to squint the eyes onto an object, then expand the view into the horizon of the peripheral vision field, then back to narrow focus, then back to wider view, a few times, ending with expanding the horizon. Based on “Soft Eyes, Open Diaphraghm” by Donna Farhi in The Breathing Book:  Good Health and Vitality through Essential Breathwork

Yet another way to harness the power of the visual field to reduce stress and tension in the mind and body is to use a soft gaze.  In this exercise, rather than focus the eyes, you choose any object to look at and soften the gaze.  Next, close the eyes to give them a rest, pause and breathe deeply for a few cycles.  Slowly open the eyes again, this time maintaining a soft gaze, not focusing on anything at all.   Continue to deepen the awareness of the breath as you soften your gaze.  Continue until you feel a shift or a settling in the body–this can be a sense of relaxation, ease or letting go.  

-Based on “Soft Vision” by Manuela Mischke-Reeds from *Somatic Psychotherapy Toolbox*

Shielding

Shielding is a technique that is effective for many people.  Personally, I like to raise my arms up above my head and shield my entire auric field, setting a clear intention to protect my entire Aura body psychic field and in association my entire Realm when I’m looking to add various layers of protection to my field, and imagining an array of associated colors, one for each layer.  I begin with a layer of personal power, followed by a layer for unconditional and self-love, then Divine protection, and finally an anti-surveillance/cloaking mechanism to provide protection from others observation and judgement, as well as from Psychic attack, known or unknown, intentional or unconscious. 

I find shielding most effective when combined with grounding and centering techniques as well as release techniques and calling my Power, Personal Authority, and Energy back to my Sovereign vessel.   Whichever aspects you choose to use or apply, make this practice your own and use it every single morning every single day, and preceding and following encounters with others to assist with maintaining your boundaries.  

Quick Shield

Shielding is necessary to protect us from negative energy that we may encounter while going about our day.  This process will help you to define your personal space in such a way that any energy that is not in alignment with your highest good and Divine Purpose cannot enter or be reflected within you or come in contact with your auric field. 

To engage a rapidly enacted shield, place your palms together above your head and slowly move your hands upward until you feel a bit of resistance. This should be about 8 to 10 in above your head at the soul star chakra. Here, turn your palms outward and use your intention and your arms to push your energy down around you, creating a protective field around your entire Being and Body.  You will soon find it possible to do this anytime, anywhere when entering spaces or encountering others as a way to differentiate and demarcate your energy, thoughts, emotions and personal experience from that of others, and to prevent absorption and syphoning of energies in all their forms, reciprocally.  Intention is Key!

Shielding and Clearing Physical Spaces

Setting an intention to clear your space, followed by lighting sage or palo santo and burning this throughout the space (usually clockwise starting with the open front door, being sure to also leave open at least one window or door per floor).  Lighting incense can assist in “returning sweetness to the space” and various herbs and roots have healing properties worth acknowledging.  For instance, burning a clove of garlic is said to remove impurities from the air, cleanse unpleasant odors and also clear energies.   Recently, I discovered that boiling simple items I happened to have on hand that day–lemon slices, rosemary (fresh), cinnamon (I chose sticks) and cloves, clears the air and also provides a refreshing and invigorating aroma that can purge odors.  Crystals may be utilized as a booster to repel unwanted negative energy, such as by placing Black Tourmaline or obsidian outside of your doors, in corners, and in closets.  Selenite can be used on the interiors of doors to further protect the interior space, and to protect and insulate the positive energy within.  Intentionality is key to clearing and protecting your space.  Always be clear about your intention, and feel free to play with language that supports positive outcomes, such as “and so it Is.” or “it already Is” or any other language you find to be affirming and appropriate.

Cord-Cutting

Cord cutting is a practice that can help to sever energetic ties that may be knowingly or unknowingly created between you and another individual.  We develop “psychic cords” or attachments with other individuals in various ways, and it is believed that these can function almost like an invisible umbilical cord between yourself and the other party, keeping an energetic transmission “live” wire open.  Even if nothing is actively being transmitted or received, imagine the permeability of your field if you were to consider all of these many connections being “open,” kind of like tabs on your computer desktop or apps on your phone.  It isn’t good for the system, right?

Cord cutting can be effective in eliminating elements of psychic attack and unknown sources of energetic depletion.  I find the most effective mechanism for cutting cords is to set a strong intention and then using my fingers or a tool, such as an obsidian dagger or selenite wand, making an intentional “cutting” motion at the wrists and also at the navel with the real or imagined tool while simultaneously making a declaration, such as what follows below:

“I now cut all ties and sever all cords with this individual or with any individuals that seek to bring harm or disturbance knowingly or unknowingly to my Realm”

Again, make this practice personal for you and feel free to research various techniques in order to develop a system that feels just right for you.  I often use selenite wands to perform the cutting action, a nugget of Wisdom I received as a Gift from one of my own providers several years ago.  

Contact me with any questions or concerns. Currently, I may best be reached by phone/text at (585)732-9087 and email at jen@thesovereignkey.com