Grounding and centering yourself
Grounding and centering is considered an important technique to know, not just in witchcraft but also as a healthy coping skill. It combines breath work, energy work and visualization techniques to help regulate the nervous system, allowing one to be calm, collected and clear-headed.
Steps:
Find a Quiet Space: Stand or sit comfortably. You can choose to be outside, barefoot and touching the Earth if you wish.
Box Breathing: Begin with deep breaths, inhaling through your nose for a count of four, holding for four, exhaling through your mouth for four and holding for four before repeating. Take a few moments of just focusing on your breathing until you feel calm.
Grow Roots: Shift your breathing into a more relaxed, natural deep breathing flow. If you haven’t already, close your eyes and visualize strong roots growing from your feet or the base of your spine deep into the earth, reaching towards its core. If needed, tie in the growth and expansion with your breathing. Once you reach the core, imagine anchoring yourself to it..
Feel the Earth’s Energy: Focusing back on your breath, with each inhale imagine the energy of the earth flowing up through your roots. With each exhale, imagine releasing and letting go of any stress, concerns and worry back down into the Earth to be recycled and purified. Breathing in the Energy, Exhaling the Stress.
Centering: Once you feel grounded, draw your focus inward and draw the energy up towards your solar plexus. With each breath in, feeling the energy gather and exhale releasing any tension, anxiousness or stress. You can imagine that you are creating a glowing ball of light that expands with every breath, helping you feel centered and aligned.
Seal the Energy: After feeling grounded and centered, mentally or verbally affirm your stability and presence: “I am grounded. I am centered. I am connected.”
Release the Visualization: Gradually let go of the visualization, allowing the roots to retract, but remain aware of the connection you’ve built. Open your eyes and take a moment to settle back into your surroundings.
This ritual can be done daily or whenever you need to recenter yourself.
