As a child I was always barefoot, and about a quarter of the time dirty from head to foot. As I grew into adulthood the amount of time lessened, as did the amount of time I spent barefoot. Studies are showing Earthing to be beneficial in many ways, from reducing inflammation to aiding in cardiovascular health. While those are great reasons to get outside barefoot, let's talk about the connection to Mother Earth, and how this small act can help you along the crooked path of Paganism.
We have all probably heard of grounding, but many may not know what it means or how to do this. By simply standing on the Earth with nothing between you and Her you are forging a connection. Your energy is intertwined with Her energy effortlessly, but to make a bigger impact try focusing on a give and take happening. I like to use colors for this. What comes out of me can be any color I am feeling at the time, usually blues or reds, if I am unsure of why I need to ground I use brown. What color comes back to me is the usually the color I feel I am lacking and when unsure it is green. These colors are JUST colors I use to help me visualize and really have no bearing on what energies are actually coming or going. The Earth knows from your energy and vibrations what you need to have more or less of visualization just helps with you releasing that energy, as many of us are taught to bottle the or guard our energies.
How does this Earthing stuff have anything to do with homesteading you may be wondering right about now. Consider this, the more time we spend with our feet on the ground the more grounded we should be right? As homesteaders we our hands are literally IN the Earth, holding mounds of dirt letting it sift through our fingers, exchanging energies. As Pagan homesteaders we are adding our energies and intentions into the Earth we are working. At times it can be willing a cucumber to grow, at other times it can be working out a hard situation with our hands and sweat. We always leave our marks on our little plots of land so try hard to make it a good one.
* Gifts for Gia-- after each session of leaving negative energy for the Earth to transform into positive energy leave a gift. This can be as small as adding eggshells to your garden for the calcium or working your compost area. Any act that gives something back to the Earth counts. In my own practice I leave areas of my land untouched completely. No matter the size of land I am living on I do not cut, trim, or plant, on that section leaving it completely wild and untouched by human hands. I also give offerings often but by not willing the Earth to be what I want it to be in that section I am honoring Her.
~ Moon~
