What is Earthing & can it improve your health?
Kick off your shoes and go Grounding amongst a dose of natural medicine from Mother Nature
Text: Jo Upcraft
There are numerous things we’ve had to put on the backburner this year. A social life. Hugging our loved ones. Wearing clothes (just me?). But while the pandemic may have put a stop to several favourite activities, one thing it has allowed us to do is to go outside (mostly solo and wearing a mask) and to become at one with nature and the earth.
You call it going to the park: those in the know call it Earthing (or Grounding). “I refer to Earthing as a connection to the ground in nature and having an energetic interaction with the earth’s elements — the soil beneath you, the atmosphere around you, the light upon you,” says Dani Van de Velde, a meditation teacher and reiki master based in Singapore. “Earthing is the practice of bringing back balance, harmony and wellbeing to our body and mind. It’s innate to us as human beings, as we ourselves are part of the wilderness.”
While there’s a distinct new-agey vibe to connecting with Mother Earth, Earthing — along with the likes of Forest Bathing — is especially popular right now. “Covid-19 has meant that many of us have had our access to the great outdoors minimised,” says Dani. “This has really highlighted our connection to the wilderness and how we cannot operate without it. Earthing is an energetic, spiritual, dynamic dialogue that must be maintained for the sake of our wellbeing.”
What’s the science behind Earthing?
Still a bit woo-woo? Gaétan Chevalier, Ph.D. Director, Earthing Institute in California (an institute that opened in 2009 to serve as the information hub for everything Earthing or Grounding), has conducted some 20 studies on humans and the benefits of Earthing, and he has results to demonstrate its magic. “With every new research project, we get to understand more and more deeply how Earthing enhances healing. Our findings yield an intriguing picture of what happens when we connect to the Earth and suggest a distinct, positive and rapid shift in physiology.”
So how does it actually work? Earth itself is naturally equipped with extraordinary healing powers in the form of negative electrons. Says Dani, “When a person stands barefoot within nature, these ions naturally flow between the land and the body, starting at the chakras (energy centres) located on the souls of your feet and moving up to the Muladhara (also known as the Root Chakra at the base of your spine) which in turn makes us feel balanced, energised and in control.”
This connection between the energies of nature and our own energy bodies through the chakras and nadis (energy channels) in turn translate to physiological responses. Published research papers show that Earthing greatly reduces inflammation (thanks to resetting cortisol hormone secretions in the blood); lowers stress and fatigue (immersion in wilderness is used within psychology for depression and anxiety); slows down ageing (being outside boosts telomeres — the cells that control ageing); and creates stronger bones (due to all that lovely Vitamin D).
Where did Earthing originate from?
Where Earthing began is hard to pinpoint as it’s always been there. “Throughout time humans have sat, stood, strolled and slept on the ground,” says Gaétan. “It was ordinary for people to walk barefoot or use animal hides (leather) for footwear or bedding, and these practices allowed transference of the Earth’s energy into the body.”
Here in the East, Chinese history makes reference to Qi: the energy or natural force that fills the universe. “Earth Qi is absorbed without us realising it when we walk barefoot,” Gaétan continues. “This might also explain why exercises geared toward strengthening the body and relaxing the mind such as tai chi, qigong and yoga are often practiced without footwear.”
With increases in technology, we now wear shoes with rubber or plastic soles, we live in houses built from wood with rugs and carpets, we travel in cars with rubber tires — habits that did not exist a century ago. Is it any wonder that we feel disconnected from nature?
Do I have to go outside?
Luckily for us, getting to a green space is relatively easy. We have pocket parks, nature hikes *LINK TO HIKE FEATURE, coastline and quarries in abundance. However, if you’re less mobile (or want to avoid the sun), grounding can also take place indoors.
When Gaétan goes out he walks barefoot on the grass or beach, or swims in the ocean. When he’s unable to leave the house, he stays grounded by sleeping on a grounding sleeping mat. “To keep my energy up during the day I have a universal mat under my desk for my feet, and I use universal grounding mats for my mouse pad and keyboard,” he says. (Mats available from amazon.sg)
Dani enjoys Earthing outdoors as much as possible. “If you’re grounding yourself on a routine basis, you are — in a sense — topping up your tank with nature’s super-juice,” she says. Here are her personal tips on how to practice, Singapore-style:
Start a Sky Practice
A beautiful way to connect with the Earth and its elements is through the sky. In Singapore the sky is unprecedented. The tropical atmosphere is so charged: the moons are bigger, the dawns and sunsets are more awe-inspiring, the storms are energetic. I like to do a ‘Sky Practice’ which involves soaking up the skies above us. Working with air, water, electricity and the magnetism of the moon is very powerful and nourishing.
Dance in the rain
Connect with water. Get out in the rain and feel the energy from storms that have been formed over oceans. The water that cleanses us is the same water that cleansed our ancestors, and there is a connectivity there, whether it’s the sea or the rain.
Eat up
Increase the foods in your diet that are grown in or on the earth like root vegetables, plant-based produce *LINK TO FRESH SOCIETY, swedes, pumpkins and potatoes. They naturally hold a strong signature of the earth, so consciously including them in your diet will ground your system.
Plant life
Bringing plants into your home *LINK TO HOME PLANTS FEATURE cleans the air and removes toxins and chemicals. Likewise, grow your own herbs. If you have children, it’s a great activity for kids. Sinking hands into dirt and tending plants is a beautiful connection to the wild field.
Rise early
I go to MacRitchie Reservoir and East Coast park before the sun comes up. The moment daylight hits the trees the botanical realm releases a huge collective sigh of oxygen. You can plug into this to draw into presence and stabilise your energy centre. Participating in a new dawn will give you a better chance of experiencing positivity throughout the day ahead.
About Dani
Dani Van de Velde helps others understand and master the art of meditation, transformative inner practice and healing through private coaching, energy sessions, courses and tailored programmes for individuals, schools and organisations. Contact her at info@daniellevandevelde.com
About Gaétan
Gaétan Chevalier thrives to keep the Earthing Institute up to date with new information regarding Earthing from around the world. Click here for FAQs, videos on Earthing and the latest global research. You can also follow their Facebook pages, Earthing Insiders and Earthing & Grounding HEALS.
