Grounding—establishing an energetic connection with the Earth—is one of the first steps in many calming, contemplative spiritual practices. Grounding techniques focus the mind, relieve mental stress, strengthen the instincts, and recharge the body by drawing on the wellspring of vitality, stability, and nurturing that the Earth provides. During a recent meditation, I found myself grounding in areas beyond the Earth directly beneath me at the moment. As my awareness traveled deeper, I moved further and further into the past. I was grounding through time as well as through space. This happened while I was connecting with my ancestors to ask for healing support, and that intention was undoubtedly the catalyst for my experience. Although it was spontaneous, I have purposely practiced this timeline grounding several times and have put together guidelines for others who’d like to try it.
Choose your preferred method of grounding. People usually ground by “growing a root,” sending a cord of energy down into the Earth from the chakra at the base of the spine or from the soles of the feet. Use the method that you find most effective. (If I am sitting on the ground or floor, I send my root directly from the chakra. If I am sitting in a chair or standing, I first focus on my base chakra, and from it I send an energy cord down each leg and through the soles of my feet. The two lines merge into one at my Earth Star chakra and become my taproot, from which smaller energy lines emerge to stabilize my connection.)
Set your intention to ground through your personal timeline. Include your purpose in doing so—for example, to connect with ancestors, to discover information about your past, or to strengthen feelings of security during turbulent times.
Take a few deep breaths, relax, and close your eyes, Send your energy root downward, noting the feelings, messages, lessons, and impressions that arise as you move through the layers. Take your time. Sense the different textures and characteristics of each type of soil. Let your experience fill in the blank: “This is where I _______________.”
Follow the route deeper into the past by grounding into the Earth
- where you currently are
- where you live
- where you have been significantly influenced (place or places you have lived or visited)
- where you were born
- where your ancestors were significantly influenced (in ways relevant to your life and intention)
- where you originated, your ancestral homeland(s).
How many layers that you travel through, how many different places and times you ground into—that all depends on your current location, personal history, and purpose for doing this meditative practice. Here’s a brief account of my experience as an example: I was at my home in central New York, so where I was and where I live were the same. Knowing what the soil is like here made it easy to drop into my first layer and feel its distinctive energy. This is where I am empowered. I grew my root deeper and found it in the clay of Mississippi, the place where I spent the majority of my years in this lifetime. This is were I was of service. Next my root pierced the sandy soil of Florida, where I was born and spent much of my childhood and a few of my adult years. This is where I was loved. (I have also lived briefly in northern Alabama and Pennsylvania, but neither affected me enough to become part of my grounding journey.) From there, my root grew downward into the Earth on the Eastern Seaboard of the US—specifically, Georgia and the Carolinas, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Those were the places where my European ancestors arrived as immigrants and where my native Creek ancestors lived. This is where I find strength and courage. Finally, I grounded into the Earth in northern England, where I have family ties and from where 85% of my DNA comes. This is where I was sourced.
After you reach your point of origin and absorbed what it offered you, draw your awareness back up into your physical body, pausing at each level to appreciate its contributions to your life. Emphasis on pause. Savor each unique time and place that forms your personal base energy. Open your eyes when you are ready, knowing that you have established a stabilizing root through your timeline, to the point of your first emergence as a being on this Earth.
