Winter Grounding

It’s cold, snowy or cold and rainy, whatever the type of winter day, it’s yucky out. If we could, we would all take a break in January and go somewhere warm to re-connect with the ground, nature and all that goes with it. But, we can’t. So, how do we connect with and ground ourselves to mother earth when we are many feet off the ground, stuck inside?

The power of thought and visualization can compensate for surroundings that aren’t ideal. If you see yourself walking on the beach or in a forest in the spring, and keep that image in your mind, guess what? Your sub-conscious doesn’t know that it isn’t true. You are what you think is so accurate it’s scary, and it’s being proven over and over in non-scientific and scientific ways. That’s why people in prison can survive the most horrific of conditions and conversely, why people who are full of negative thoughts and anxiety always seem to manifest the worst in their life from illness to slips and falls.

Back to the cold and wintry conditions…Here’s what I do, and it may help you too:
Walking meditation is a big part of my life, as I just don’t have the time to sit and meditate. So I combine meditation and gratitude prayers as I walk, whether it’s outside or in (on my treadmill). The simple mantras I use are: With every step I take I feel energized and full of life. With every step I take any aches and pains I have are melting away and are replaced love and happiness.
With every step I take I inhale pure life and exhale negative energy and thoughts.

I know what you are thinking, the above seems too simple. To get to a good place and feeling in our life it has to be complicated or hurt in order for that ‘great’ outcome. Well, take it from me, simplicity is the best way. I can turn a bad day around, or a bad thought or a pain with my walking meditation. On a cold miserable day when I am bundled to the hilt tending my chickens, instead of thinking ‘ugh, this is miserable or cold’ or if I do find myself complaining in my mind, I turn it around: I take a deep breath and say “ I am so grateful to be able to take care of my chickens. Even though it’s cold and snowy out, it is beautiful”. I find it soothing to look around in the cold and snow and appreciate its beauty. And, of course I thank the chickens for their eggs and the whole way back into the building think of all the nourishment those eggs will give my family and customers.

Take a moment, close your eyes and visualize a place you love the most. See yourself sitting there, inhale the fragrance of the air, feel the wind, the textures under your feet. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Keep this vision in your mind for a few minutes at least once a day and you will be amazed how much better you feel.

Another trick I do is I have a picture of my meditation place (a beach in Nova Scotia) on my screen saver or desktop. I look at it often and take a deep breath to bring myself a piece of that into me.

Good luck and let’s all have a happy new year in spite of all that negative stuff around us!