A couple of weeks ago my family & I packed the car with all our camping gear and headed north-west for a weeks camping at the Carnarvon Gorge National Park, in Queensland, Australia.
In the lead up to our adventure, work had been very busy… and to be perfectly honest I was on the wrong end of the stress scale, a little sleep deprived and experiencing a few uncomfortable back twinges. I was annoyed at myself for getting out of balance, but resolutely assured myself that a week away connecting with nature would tip the scales back into harmony.
On the day of our departure, I woke up in severe pain as my back (thoracic region) had locked and I was unable to lift my arms, let alone finish the last minute packing. Needless to say the 9 hour + drive was not a pleasant experience… but it did give me time to reflect. After shedding a few tears by falling into the trap of an old ‘woe is me story, this is going to ruin my holiday’… I resigned myself to all being perfect… and lets just see what the universe has in store!
Upon arrival at our camp ground the next day, back pain even worse after sitting so many hours in the the car, I sat in my camping chair and watching my family unpack, set up our tent and make lunch. To give you a little insight into this… I am a ‘doer’… so for me to sit still and doing NOTHING whilst everyone is busy in action is one of the HARDEST things for me ever! I think you can see so far the lessons are coming thick-n-fast at this point!
In my moment of frustration, furthered by my darling daughter mockingly fanning me with a palm leaf (all in good fun) and chanting loudly ‘hail thy master’, I was then mortified when our Campsite Hosts walked up to our site. What would they think of me, as from the outside it may have appeared that I was some dictatorial parent committing my family to hard labour. Mind you, they probably never thought any of this, but my mind was running rampant with visions and I found myself jumping into a long explanation of my situation (and yes, more lessons flooding my way).
Magically, the Camp Host was a ‘healer’ and experienced with Massage and a form of ‘Bowen Therapy’ and he offered his services complimentary should I require them. So yes, I felt blessed and would take up his offer tomorrow should I feel I require it.
After a sunset walk along the stream just metres away from where we were camping, we warmed ourselves with a bowl of soup and retired to our sleeping bags early for a good nights sleep. Well should I say, the kids slept just fine… but little old me was up all night !
It has been wayyyyy tooooo long since I have slept upon the Earth, whilst looking up at the stars. My body has been CRAVING this connection, but alas I have been so busy of late I hadn’t made time for my most favourite thing in the world… sleeping out in nature. So instead of SLEEP on my first night, instead my body was being charged ELECTRICALLY all night. I felt myself at times lifting off the ground, glowing from the inside-out and running energy up & down my hara line. It was intense, yet it felt primal & totally exhilarating.
When I awoke the next morning, by back pain had completely gone, the tension/anxiety from my body had dissipated and I felt a sense of peace, blissful comfort and centredness. Together we all headed out on a 15km hike through the Gorge, hopping on stones through the streams, climbing rocks & navigating through tight slot-canyons… and my body was able to navigate the day with ease.
By days end, whilst my body was weary from our hike, I felt so serene and as ease in my body that I didn’t require a healing session by our Camp Host… instead I enjoyed dinner with my family ahead of tomorrows hike… and YES, I finally had a good nights sleep.
EARTHING – for happiness, health & vitality
What I experienced during my time camping is the healing effects of our planet Earth – ‘Earthing’.
As Albert Einstein once said ‘Everything in Life is Vibration’. When our vibrations are in discordant resonance we experience dis-ease, but when our vibrations are in harmony and natural flow we experience states of well-being – physical, mental, emotional & spiritual.
Earthing, the practice of connecting to Earth – either walking barefoot, lying upon the Earth, swimming in oceans or streams, placing your hand on the Earth – allows the body to entrain with Earth’s frequency and ultimately heal itself & restore optimal function.
During Earthing, negatively-charged electrons on the surface of Earth are absorbed by the body electrons – supporting cellular function, neutralizing free radicals, reducing inflammation and discharging stored e-motional energy. Feeling anxious, stressed, or depressed, then the art of Earthing, taking a long barefoot walk on the Earth, maybe just what the doctor ordered!
Why is reducing inflammation so important ? Inflammation is the complex biological process of the body that supports wound healing, protects our body from pathogens and ultimately ensures our survival. However prolonged or chronic inflammation leads to the attack and oxidisation healthy tissue and hence the progression of degenerative dis-ease conditions such as Asthma, Allergies, ALS, Arthritis, Cardiovascular Disease, Chrohns Disease, Fibromyalgia, Lupus, MS, Psoriasis… to name just a few !
The Earth is one giant anti-inflammatory panacea and when we viewing EARTHING as an essential element of life, alongside daily deep breathing/fresh air, sunshine, clean water, adequate sleep, fresh seasonal food & exercise… then we are harnessing ALL of the elements for happy, healthy & vital lives.
You maybe thinking at this point ‘don’t we all live on the Earth, so aren’t we Earthing all the time?’.
However, unlike our ancient ancestors who slept, walked barefoot and had daily Earth-skin contact with the ground – in our modern day world through the advent of houses, apartments, cement, rubber soled shoes and our indoor lifestyles, we can go days, weeks, months or even years without ever physically touching the Earth.
When was the last time you experienced Earth-skin contact with the ground ?
EARTHING – Scientific Studies
In my Aetheric Healing™ Course, as well as my Lightrition your Life online courses, I share & facilitate experiential Earthing exercises and techniques for health of body, mind & soul. I share both the ancient wisdom & scientific knowledge of Earthing. And the importance of making Earthly a daily part of natural & vital living.
Earthing is not a new-age hipster thing to do, but rather Earthing has thousands of years of empirical evidence to support its benefits. But what does science say about Earthing ?
There are many studies over the last two decades that have been dedicated to Earthing research. In an article published in 2012 in the Journal of Environmental & Public Health entitled: Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons, the studied concluded that:
“Since the late 20th century, chronic degenerative diseases have overcome infectious disease as the major causes of death in the 21st century, so an increase in human longevity will depend on finding an intervention that inhibits the development of these diseases and slows their progress”
Could such an intervention be located right beneath our feet?
Earthing research, observations, and related theories raise an intriguing possibility about the Earth’s surface electrons as an untapped health resource—the Earth as a “global treatment table.”
Emerging evidence shows that contact with the Earth—whether being outside barefoot or indoors connected to grounded conductive systems—may be a simple, natural, and yet profoundly effective environmental strategy against chronic stress, ANS dysfunction, inflammation, pain, poor sleep, disturbed HRV, hypercoagulable blood, and many common health disorders, including cardiovascular disease.
The research done to date supports the concept that grounding or earthing the human body may be an essential element in the health equation along with sunshine, clean air and water, nutritious food, and physical activity.
EARTHING – try it !
You can intellectually KNOW about the health benefits of Earthing… but until you try it for yourself and actively put Earthing into your daily practice, then you will never be able to experience the magical beauty of this sacred ritual.
For myself, whilst I walk in nature on a daily basis – often a sunrise or sunset beach walk – there are times when our body craves more ‘Earth time’ as a recompense for our anti-nature environments. Such as long hours of inactivity behind a computer screen, EMRs, stressful jobs and foods that trigger inflammation within the body.
By learning to listen to your body and then surrender to its needs you can pro-actively guard against dis-ease, reduce stress and proactively reduce pain events like mine :). Interested in learning more? I highly recommend The Earthing Movie.
Update 2022— Watch the Full Grounding Movie below 👣
The Earthing Movie with Deepak Chopra, Amy Smart and Mariel Hemingway from Big Picture Ranch on Vimeo.