Grounding and Centering Techniques: A Foundation of Magical and Spiritual Practice
Why Grounding and Centering are Important
The process of relaxing and making yourself receptive and effective for any ritual, magical or devotional activity is called grounding and centering. This isn't just a religious practice but can be used as a general spiritual and non-religious meditation technique.
Grounding literally means visualizing yourself connected to the earth. Once you are grounded, you then visualize yourself centered in the present instead of constantly thinking of the past or the future. This is called being in the here and now.
The reasoning behind this is that you do not want to enter into ritual in your everyday state of mind with all of your stresses. It is best to let your daily disturbances fall by the wayside even if it is only for the short period of your intended ritual. With a clear mind you will be better able to perform the ritual or magical working and also reap the most benefit.
Grounding and Centering Exercise
One way to ground and center is through a physical discipline such as yoga or a martial art. Another common way is to do a mental visualization exercise as described above.
This exercise can include images such as a tree being rooted to the earth; a popular Wiccan and Druid practice. Below is a simple yet effective grounding and centering technique using light.
Variations of Technique
This technique can be used before any ritual or magical working or on its own as a form of relaxation and stress release. If light or the colors I chose do not work for you, then use your imagination and find something that does.
Some people may feel that light is too airy fairy and need to visualize something more solid. The tree visualization mentioned above, imagining water washing over you, or simply sitting or standing on the bare earth can all be just as effective. You will then be able to begin your ritual in a clear frame of mind.
*This piece was originally published by me on the Pagan site at BellaOnline in January 2008.
© Trish Deneen
The process of relaxing and making yourself receptive and effective for any ritual, magical or devotional activity is called grounding and centering. This isn't just a religious practice but can be used as a general spiritual and non-religious meditation technique.
Grounding literally means visualizing yourself connected to the earth. Once you are grounded, you then visualize yourself centered in the present instead of constantly thinking of the past or the future. This is called being in the here and now.
The reasoning behind this is that you do not want to enter into ritual in your everyday state of mind with all of your stresses. It is best to let your daily disturbances fall by the wayside even if it is only for the short period of your intended ritual. With a clear mind you will be better able to perform the ritual or magical working and also reap the most benefit.
Grounding and Centering Exercise
One way to ground and center is through a physical discipline such as yoga or a martial art. Another common way is to do a mental visualization exercise as described above.
This exercise can include images such as a tree being rooted to the earth; a popular Wiccan and Druid practice. Below is a simple yet effective grounding and centering technique using light.
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| Oak Tree, Image by RegalShave on Pixabay |
- Sit or stand comfortably in a place you will not be disturbed. Take several deep breaths imagining the tension leaving your body. If you are not used to relaxing, gently tense each set of muscles separately and release them as you inhale and exhale. You will start to feel your body relax.
- Once you feel the beginning of physical relaxation, imagine a ball of brilliant gold light in the middle of your abdomen.
- Draw this light down your hips, your legs, feet and into the earth. Imagine it moving quickly and decisively into the earth blending into the ground, roots, and rock there.
- Feel your feet rooted to the floor, almost as if an invisible glue is keeping you there. Bring your attention back to your abdomen.
- Draw the gold light up through your torso, arms, neck, and head. You are now surrounded in an oval of brilliant gold light tethering you to the earth.
- Now imagine another ball of light above your head. This time it is a sparkling silver color.
- Again, this light is drawn quickly and with purpose around the golden oval about you. Once the silver light is completely surrounding this gold light, the two begin to mingle together. They both now become one brilliant, iridescent light surrounding you. You are now grounded in the earth and centered in the present moment.
Variations of Technique
This technique can be used before any ritual or magical working or on its own as a form of relaxation and stress release. If light or the colors I chose do not work for you, then use your imagination and find something that does.
Some people may feel that light is too airy fairy and need to visualize something more solid. The tree visualization mentioned above, imagining water washing over you, or simply sitting or standing on the bare earth can all be just as effective. You will then be able to begin your ritual in a clear frame of mind.
*This piece was originally published by me on the Pagan site at BellaOnline in January 2008.
© Trish Deneen
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Trish would you please give me permission to share this post on facebook on my page Southern Fried Pagan? I am a minister for the Temple of the Sacred Gift-ATC Memphis www.templeofthesacredgift.org and I just want to share your article in a positive way
ReplyDeleteHi Sonya,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and commenting. Instead of posting the entire thing, I prefer that people take a paragraph or two and post along with a link to the original piece. I have no problem if you want to do this and thanks for honoring me with the request.
Blessings.