The Universe Told Me to Get Grounded

In which I relay a message I received from the universe, and I get a little woo-woo. Also, I recorded the article in case any of you want to listen instead. Let me know if I should keep doing it....

Back in November, I walked a labyrinth in southern Utah that I’ve done on occasion. It has a beautiful setting and I take advantage of it when I can. And while I don’t always get a message from the universe, this time I did.

The universe told me to “get grounded.”

Thanks for this meme Wasatch Forest Therapy!

Many of you know I have a thing for labyrinths. I like to stomp them in the snow during the winter. I look for them when we travel and walk one whenever I can. Walking meditation was my entry point into real meditation and I find a lot of solace and peace within their bounds. And this last month has given me a lot of solace and peace and I wanted to share what I found.

bridgette_meinhold

A post shared by @bridgette_meinhold

November was all about rest for me. After my show opened at Gallery MAR, we went to our place down south and I gave myself a block of time to do nothing, fart around, read, hike, what have you. I am trying to teach myself that I don’t have to hustle all the time, and that rest is good, more than good, in fact necessary. I thought perhaps I needed just a week or two, but turns out I needed most of the whole month to recover.

In previous years, I would have beaten myself up for taking off a whole month, but after getting burned out so many years in a row, I am slowly learning that I can either be forced into taking time off or I can choose to do it. But one way or another, my body will eventually take the time it needs, and if I don’t allow that, I get sick, or start having panic attacks, or I’ll end up in depression. And nobody wants that. Although I did get a quick glimpse of what it could be like when I got a cold in October after pushing a little too hard, and the cold took a while to go away.

So I let myself fall into rest this year, and turns out I really dug deep into it. We went for a lot of long, sandy, desert hikes. We went off trail, exploring new zones we had never been too. I think the desert really shines this time of year at the approach of winter, with the last color of the chaparral fading against the stark red, tan, and ochre sandstones. Put a distant mountain or mesa in the backdrop and you’ll be treated to incredible colors as the sun fades away.

I finally learned what it was like for my mind to be totally quiet, for all the fear and sadness and anxiety to drift away. I’m not saying my mind is like this all the time now. I have not reached enlightenment, nor do I want to, but I had many moments this last month where it all went still, just for a few minutes, where I could sit and watch the bugs and the birds, the sway of a bush in the breeze, the shadows shifting on desert cliffs, and be at ease. My To Do list was not calling me. My anxiety was not ruffled. My worries were gone. One time, we were so still, even the dogs lay quiet, and a road runner walked right by us. We watched as it bobbed its head in search of its next treat, never even knowing we were there.

And perhaps, Kai is also teaching me new ways of being. This dog can make any rock look comfortable and if you give him 2 minutes, he will make himself cozy and power down for a nap. He is the master of rest, and being cozy is his love language. As I type this, he is curled up next to me on the couch with his head on my knee. He knows the art of resting and is teaching us new skills, and at the same time, Boone is teaching him as well, what joy and play are, and watching Kai's personality bloom as he shows his happiness has been such a delight.

I have meditated now for 30 days in a row. I'm surprised as hell, especially after having railed against it for so long. Most days I write in my journal afterwards and have begun to crave this hour in the morning where anything is possible and the day has just begun. I do feel calmer, and more at ease, but I am still working against the tide - social media, the news, distractions, wallowing, not knowing how to take the next step forward. It is a process.

Which is why I like labyrinths so much. There is a clear path ahead and once you are in one, there is no more thinking “what do I do next?” which is honestly a question that often plagues me. I get in one, and I can simply walk and let go. Which brings us back to my message from the universe while walking a labyrinth.

This was just a couple weeks ago, I’m realizing, but it also feels like ages ago. How is it that as I get older time goes so fast, but also, I live lifetimes in just weeks? So I find myself at this labyrinth, one I’ve walked before, just right around sunset. The air is calm, the temperature mild, it's lovely, and my mind is pretty empty.

As I enter, I try to let go even more, and as I walk around the path, I try to simply focus on my steps. I get to the center, and I say (to myself, my guides, the universe, all in my head), "Ok, well, I'm ready for whatever is next. I trust that if I keep doing my thing, you'll let me know what to do next. I'll be ready." I’ve asked for what is next, because I feel ready for whatever that is, but also, I am in a good place doing work that is meaningful to me. But as I start walking out and I add, "But you know, could it be something cool, or important, or something that would make a good impact?"

And they say clear as day in my head, "Would it not be good enough just to live a nice life, make some art, and help out where you're needed?"

I agree and nod along. Yes, yes of course.¹

And they say, "That was your ego talking. Everything is important."

And it is. All work is important. All living is important. I nod and agree again.

"But, what we actually really need you to do now is ground into the earth. Root down, tap into the source of nature."

This next part was more of a feeling and less clear on the words, but it felt like they were telling me by tapping into the earth, by grounding in, I could then get power to be a brighter light. The vision I was getting was that I was this lightbulb set in dirt and glowing. And then a really powerful feeling of love came over me and I cried.

The message being: Get grounded and you will become stronger and better able to do the work you want to do.

an attempt to illustrate the vision I got about being a light in the dirt

I’m trying to take that message to heart. I don’t know if it is a message for anyone else other than myself, but I’ve been trying to incorporate it more into my day and life. I mean, who doesn’t want to shine brighter? Who doesn’t want to be more powerful and stronger? I shared this story already with a few close friends and confidants who I thought would have some insight, and based on their words and my own experience, I offer to you in case you are interested, a few thoughts on grounding.

What is Grounding?

In electrical terms, grounding is when you connect a wire, a conductor, or an electrical device into the earth to provide a safe path for excess electricity to escape. Large buildings are “grounded” usually with big wires from the tips all the way into the earth so when they get struck by lighting, the energy safely travels down the wire rather than electrocuting people in the building or catching the whole place on fire.²

You know how when you’ve shuffled on carpet and then you touch metal or another person and get a shock? That’s excess electrical charge trying to find a way out. Think about how we all probably have A LOT of excess energy coursing through us in this day and age. We’re shuffling around here on earth, working, trying things out, experimenting, getting things right and wrong, and energy builds up in us sometimes without a safe outlet. Have you ever just been so fired up that you had to go for a run to just make the buzzing in your body stop? But like that’s going on all the time, and sometimes we don’t even notice the buildup.

What if one of the ways we can dissipate that energy is by sending a “wire” down into the earth and releasing that energy? This is the concept of metaphysical grounding - tapping into the earth to release OR gain energy, because energy can flow in either direction. Grounding is the ability to sit with the present, connect with yourself and with earth, nature, the spirits, your guides, the universe, and the oneness of life. Grounding is often achieved by getting out of your brain, your mental space, the shoulds, all the thinking, and instead getting into your body and feeling, using your senses and listening.8

Grounding Exercises

This is by no means a full guide to grounding, I’m sure there are a ton more ways of doing it, and you can even create your own, or look at this list of grounding exercises for ideas. It can be as simple as sitting on the earth, walking around barefoot, touching rocks or trees, dipping your hands into water, cold plunges or showers³, or really paying attention while eating. But with winter here, walking around barefoot is OUT and cold showers suck. So here are some exercises I’ve tried out and like.

Use Your Five Senses

This exercise is meant to help you connect into your own body and be present. This one is really good for when anxiety strikes and you need to calm down quickly. To do this, come to stillness, take a couple deep breaths and then answer the following:

• What are Five things I can See?

• What are Four things I can Feel/Touch?

• What are Three things I can Hear?

• What are Two things I can Smell?

• What is One thing I can Taste?

The point of this one is to connect with your body and get out of your head. This should at least help ease any intense mind spiraling, and hopefully help you redirect.

Grow Roots Into the Ground

This is a visualization meditation of sorts. Get comfy, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, inhaling through your nose, perhaps pausing and holding your breath before slowly exhaling, taking longer on the exhale than the inhale. Do this a couple times.

Then imagine your fingers and toes growing roots, start small, with little tiny roots. Then give them life and energy, make them bigger and stronger. Extend those roots out and watch them grow out, watch them as they extend out from your body and creep and grow across the floor. Watch them as they find the nearest exit of whatever building you’re in, finding cracks in the door or prying open windows. Imagine these roots breaking free of the building and growing outside across the deck or the sidewalk, until they can burrow down into the earth and dig deep, tapping into the mycorrhizal fungal network and sources of water.

Pretend you are now connected to all that is growing outside, as if you too were a living plant. What kind of plant are you? A tree? A flower? A spiny cactus? Or are you a root vegetable or your favorite juicy heirloom tomato? What happens if you were to watch yourself bloom, taking in the energy of the sun, feeling the warmth on your face. Then send that energy down into the roots and have a conversation with the soil. What do you need to be whole and well and hale? Finally pretend that you have bloomed and now you are producing seeds. What seeds do you give freely today? What can you give of yourself back to the earth?

Yoga Nidra / Non Sleep Deep Rest

I really like this exercise, especially if I’m tired, or didn’t get a good nights sleep. This is a meditation that I think really works. Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation that places you somewhere between sleep and consciousness, and is meant to give your body clear signals to turn on deep relaxation. Some call it Non Sleep Deep Rest. Google either term in Youtube and you’ll get loads of guided meditations. Pick the one you have time for. 10 minutes will do it. 20 is great.

I have used the ones put out by Andrew Hubberman and I also use the ones found in my Insight Timer meditation app. If you have trouble sleeping, these are good to fall asleep to.

Deep Listening

Another good way to get back into your body is to listen. There are so many ways to do this, but the overall principle is to just sit and listen to something, and every time you get distracted, find the noise again. You can sit and listen to your air handler or your refrigerator (ours runs a lot if you listen closely). If you have birds at your house, pay attention to their song and chittering. Find a live cam from Explore.org and listen to what’s going on. The Insight Timer meditation app has a whole catalog of music/sounds that you can play during a meditation. Listen to street noise and play different games in your head - what’s the farthest away sound, what’s the closest, how fast was that car going, etc. Or simply turn on some favorite music, whatever floats your boat, and just listen.

Going for a Mental Hike

Do you have a hike you love, or a hike you do on a regular basis that you know well? Then take a hike. Do a meditation where you imagine yourself on the trail and walking. Put in as much detail as you remember. Bring your dogs along. Bring friends. Add in some birds while you’re at it. Touch your favorite trees or rocks. What does it smell like? What is the temperature like? Pretend it’s ideal conditions for this hike at the best time of year. Imagine how much Vitamin D you’re getting by soaking up some sun. Get out to the end, the destination, the waterfall, the lake, the beach cove, the top of the mountain. Have a pretend snack while you’re at it. And if you’re still connected and have the time, walk back and see how the views differ on your return.

I often do this, but with labyrinths. I have a couple favorite places I’ve walked or made labyrinths and I know the pattern well enough that I can walk it in the right order. It’s both a walk and a mental puzzle to do it in the right order, so I really have to concentrate. Although, the pattern I’ve been doing lately though has gotten easy, so I may need to start learning a new one.

Walk a Real Labyrinth

You can also walk a real labyrinth. Find one near you with this handy website. Or stomp one out in the snow like I do. Or if you have land or the space in your yard, make one. And if you can’t do any of those, draw a labyrinth, or print one out and follow along with your finger. There are many ways to labyrinth - use it as a meditation, a way to converse with your guides, a release, a moment of peace or quiet, or as a way to ground.

---

That’s it for this week. I hope you have a really good holiday and enjoy this dark and lovely time of the year. It’s a good chance to slow down if you can.

1. PS. Go watch EEAAO. This is on my list of favorite all time movies now.

2. The Empire State Building is struck by lightning on average 25 times a year!

3. The only time I’ve ever done a cold shower was because of a panic attack. Otherwise I hate them. But it did stop the panic attack.