Just like the guy who insists he can assemble one of those Home Depot entertainment centers without reading the instructions, I ignored this seemingly stupid and boring step in my quest for the Most Ultimate Whatever-It-Is during my first years of practicing meditation. I mean... grounding?? Establishing a solid connection with the earth?? Why would I ever wanna do that when I'm trying desperately to gather up all my power and concentration and find something far better??! Please. Next!

In hindsight I can tell you that just being of the mentality that this earth isn't good enough or isn't the REAL answer makes a powerful condition statement which cannot help but be outwardly demonstrated in day to day life. Meditating in order to move past this planet of imbeciles and morons is actually making the statement, "Where I am in my progression isn't good enough." Or, "I'm not where I'm supposed to be." The vibrational energy that surrounds us picks up this vibe loud and clear and cannot help but vibrate accordingly. We therefore wind up in all sorts of situations that are far less fulfilling than we would have hoped or we inevitably make choices that lead exactly where we would NOT have chosen to go.

Even if our hearts are filled to overflowing with loving appreciation for this world and all who reside here, a failure to ground ourselves effectively can lead us off onto all sorts of crazy tangents. Earnestly and sincerely opening up our minds to what appears to me to be a fairly infinite universe means that we're open to receiving ideas which can be waaaaay beyond our ability to comprehend. Without being connected securely to our foundation -- the ground of this earth at this writing -- it can be EXTREMELY easy to become perfectly convinced of an idea and therefore convinced it MUST be the basis of our decisions from this point. With that, we're off and running. Only a bone-chilling splash of disillusionment somewhere along the way can ever open our eyes to certain overlooked truths. Hey, I've been there. Majorly. Just sayin'.

Getting grounded is actually so simple, it can be simple to overlook

Quieting our minds and racing pulses and frazzled nerve-endings means getting comfortable and coming into the moment. Although it is very possible to connect with the life-enhancing energy and information we're after by lying on the bed or kickin' back in a La-Z-Boy, the chances of falling into a coma in these situations is quite high. Not only is being awake up there on the list of "must-haves" but beds and chairs are not the greatest for getting grounded.

The best possible grounding situation is, quite simply, the butt planted right on the ground. If you have a way of being outside and literally on the ground and free from distraction then nothing could be better. Most of our butts, though, will likely be on the floor of wherever we live. Even if physical conditions prevent you from assuming the "aummmm" position, planting your feet firmly on the ground is fine. Either way, you're connected with the vibration of the earth and anchored to the structure that's supported you since you were born.

The photo above and below show two variations of butt-to-ground positioning. My legs have all the circulation of a Susan B. Anthony silver dollar so I switch back and forth between these positions AND EVEN STAND UP LOTS OF TIMES... yes... during the course of meditation! Lest any old-schoolers out there get all bent, lemme say now that I'm all about freestyle meditation. Just like I'm living on the earth, I'm living in this body and I believe it's as important to listen to what it's saying AS WELL AS any forms of infinite wisdom I might be downloading at the time.

Considering the picture above, I think I should interject right now that your brain is NOT going to become a light bulb NOR are you being trained to tap into the powers of the long-misunderstood lightning bolt. Remember we're tapping into a very refined and subtle energy. When we tune into that energy, though, we become more sensitive to the energy moving around us and through us. The more time goes on, the more experience we gain, the more we NEED excessive and even erratic energy to have a ground. Yep, just like that third prong on an electrical plug.

Fun and imagination is allowed

To establish a CONSCIOUSLY AWARE connection to the earth's vibration (as opposed to just being on the planet for the ride), it is necessary to bring our attention to the surface of the ground or floor we feel beneath us. Whereas I used to just envision my butt either being rooted to the actual carpeted floor or anchored to the foundation of the building, I soon began to see myself in various settings. As long as the idea is the CONTACT you are making to the GROUND, there is no limit at all to where you might imagine you are sitting...

Just for the record, we're not trying to actually "feel" the earth vibrating. We're merely bringing our mind to awareness of our groundedness. Just the mental exercise of imagining yourself in a relaxing and pleasing environment can help propel you to the state of mind we ultimately need to achieve -- being "in the moment" -- which I discuss right here. (Oh, and seeing yourself in ideal settings can also be very helpful in making it a reality in the future!)

Being consciously grounded 'just cuz'

The whole idea of grounding is all about making sure we're on a firm foundation before getting too far "out there". Likewise, I've found it's a good idea to do nothing more than CONSIDER a particular goal for a while before jumping in. Matter of fact, it wouldn't hurt a bit to spend some time getting familiar with just the idea of being well grounded.

Before I incorporated getting grounded into my life, even though I worked out at the gym religiously, I HATED working out my legs. Gee, I wonder why... because all my energy was up in my chest and head and maybe not even in my body at all, perhaps?? Very soon, after consciously connecting myself to the earth and making an effort to get in sync with it, I began to WANT to work out my legs and glutes. As I welcomed the earth's energy, it entered... through my feet and legs, of course, and at last some decent energy was flowing down there. Think "connecting to the earth" is some freaky-ass woo-woo thing you'd never be caught dead doing? Nuh-ugh.

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