By MJ Ryan

Covid, climate chaos, political unrest….I think we can all agree that we are living in unprecedented times, full of uncertainty and upheaval. That’s why I am always on the lookout for practices to ground ourselves, so that we are steady enough to take wise action. Here is a meditation that draws on the Earth’s energy to stabilize ourselves adapted from mindbodygreen. It’s a great thing to do barefoot outside, but inside your home is just fine too:

1. Stand in a comfortable position with your hands at your sides, bare feet on the ground, and eyes closed or open, whichever is more comfortable for you.
2. Take 3 deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth.
3. Visualize yourself strongly anchored to the ground, as if your body is a dense tree trunk growing down through your feet.
4. Feel your energy going down into the Earth.
5. See, feel, experience yourself tapping into the energy at the center of the Earth. 
6. On the inhale, draw that energy upward into your body. If it helps you to visualize it as a color, do so, whatever color feels right to you. Start with your feet and send this energy to the top of your head.
7. On the exhale, send this energy back down your body and into the Earth.
8. Repeat this cycle 3 times. Breathe in, pull up. Breath own, send back.