Six Techniques to Ground Yourself
- Lavavoth
- Mar 11, 2021
- 7 min read
Grounding does not have to be lengthy or complicated process.
Many of us experience days when we feel emotionally off balance, mentally scattered, or disconnected from ourselves. Stress, overstimulation, and the demands of daily life can easily leave us feeling untethered and depleted. In many cases, feeling ungrounded may coincide with a variety of emotional, mental, or physical symptoms. Take a few moments to reflect on the following questions and consider whether you may need grounding and restoration:
Do you begin the day feeling energized, only to feel completely exhausted by the evening?
Do you find it difficult to focus or stay engaged with tasks long enough to complete them?
Have you been experiencing headaches or body tension without a clear explanation?
Have you noticed lapses in short-term memory or difficulty concentrating? [1]
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may benefit from incorporating grounding practices into your daily life. Grounding does not need to be a lengthy or complicated process. The exercises can be as simple or as elaborate as you prefer. What matters most is finding practices that feel supportive, accessible, and effective for you personally.
Some Visual Links for Differentiated Learning
If you are new to grounding practices, you have arrived at the right place. The techniques presented here are simple, accessible, and easy to incorporate into daily life. Because everyone learns differently, and because some readers may have ADHD, dyslexia, limited time, or simply prefer visual instruction, I have also included a variety of YouTube videos to help guide you through the process. Some highlighted words throughout the post will link directly to videos, while others will lead to additional written resources.
I will be discussing these grounding techniques through the lens of my own spiritual practice as a shamanic pagan, though my perspective is only one among many approaches to grounding and spiritual work. Ultimately, the most important thing is to adapt these practices in ways that feel meaningful and supportive to you. In many ways, the process is similar to cooking. You can adjust the recipe to suit your own needs and preferences. With that in mind, let’s begin.
What is Grounding?
Grounding can mean different things to different people, but for me it is a way of reconnecting with my body, returning to the present moment, gaining clarity of mind, and stepping away from distractions rooted in the past or future. It is also about reconnecting with the earth and with nature. As someone who regularly works with spirit communication and spiritual practices, grounding has become an essential part of maintaining balance and well-being.
If you are new to this path and are beginning to develop a spiritual or witchcraft practice, especially one that involves spirit work, my advice is to establish grounding techniques early and practice them consistently until they become second nature.
Practices such as spellcrafting, rituals, energy healing, or shamanic journeying can feel energetically demanding without proper grounding and restoration afterward. From my perspective, those of us engaging deeply with spiritual practices may benefit from grounding more frequently because of the amount of emotional, mental, and energetic focus these experiences can require, particularly when drawing different forms of energy into the auric field.
For me, grounding is also a way of releasing unwanted or overwhelming energy and returning to a more balanced state. In addition to the illustrated grounding method shown below, there are many other ways to ground yourself. You might immerse yourself in a sound bath (or take a calming bath), Smudging/cleansing ritual, chant, sing, receive a massage, or participate in activities that help reconnect you with your body and the physical world. Any practice that encourages presence, embodiment, and connection to the earth can become a grounding practice.
Using Grounding Crystals
By this, I mean crystals with dark or black hues such as hematite, obsidian, black tourmaline, onyx, lava stone, or smoky quartz, which is often associated with both grounding and psychic awareness. Before working with any crystal, it can be helpful to set clear intentions on how you want to work with the crystal(s) of choice. regarding how you would like to use its energy and presence within your practice.
Placing grounding crystals near the root (Muladhara) chakra or near the feet may help encourage a greater sense of stability, balance, and connection to the body. Creating a crystal grid can also be a meaningful way to bring grounding energy into a space. The process does not need to be complicated or elaborate. Trust your intuition and adapt the practice in ways that feel natural and supportive to you.
Move the Body
And by this, I mean moving your body in whatever way feels good and supportive to you. Introducing movement into the body, whether through yoga, Qigong, high-impact cardio, walking, or simple stretching, can help reestablish a sense of connection to both the body and the ground beneath you. Movement may also help release feelings of tension, heaviness, or stagnation while encouraging a renewed sense of energy and presence. Reenergizing yourself through movement can be a simple yet effective way to ground.
Start a Hobby
Hobbies can be an excellent way to refocus and redirect your energy. Engaging in activities that bring pleasure, fulfillment, or satisfaction can help reconnect you with your body and the present moment, both of which are important aspects of grounding. New hobbies can be especially grounding because they often require concentration, practice, and patience as you become more comfortable with the activity.
Choose something that you genuinely enjoy and that feels meaningful to you. Activities that challenge the body, mind, or spirit may offer additional benefits by encouraging growth, engagement, and deeper presence. As an artist, I can personally attest to the healing potential of creative practices, particularly in their ability to provide an outlet for emotions, shadow work, and unconscious material.
Meditation and Breathwork
This section could easily deserve an entire blog post of its own. Research on meditation and breathwork continues to grow, with many peer-reviewed studies exploring their potential benefits for stress reduction, emotional regulation, relaxation, and overall well-being. There are also many helpful apps and online resources available that can guide you through these practices in accessible ways.
Because there are many different approaches to both meditation and breathwork, it can be helpful to explore a variety of short guided practices and discover which ones resonate most with you and your personal needs.
Creating a dedicated altar or sacred space within your home can also help cultivate a sense of grounding, calm, and spiritual connection. Over time, this space may begin to feel associated with the intentions, rituals, and emotional states you repeatedly bring into it. Even something as simple as sitting quietly in that space and focusing on your breath can become a meaningful grounding practice.
Create a Routine
I cannot say enough about the importance of this practice, and honestly, it deserves a blog post of its own. When I first established a consistent morning routine years ago, I was surprised by how much more grounded, energized, optimistic, and emotionally balanced I felt throughout the day. Those feelings did not disappear after the morning ended. Instead, they carried over into the rest of my day and noticeably influenced my mood, focus, and productivity. Now, whenever I skip my routine for whatever reason, I immediately notice the difference. I feel scattered, distracted, and far less centered.
Routines have a way of reconnecting us to our intentions for the moment, the day, and even our larger goals. Those of us who identify as creative, intuitive, empathic, or highly sensitive often understand how easy it can be to become overwhelmed or swept away by surrounding energies, distractions, or emotional currents. While some interruptions are unavoidable, it is important to recognize when distraction becomes a form of avoidance rather than a genuine necessity.
Simple habits can also have a surprisingly grounding effect. Making your bed first thing in the morning, for example, can create a sense of order and accomplishment that positively shapes the tone of the day. If you work from home, try getting dressed in a way that helps you mentally transition into a productive mindset. This does not mean dressing formally unless that genuinely reflects your style, but remaining in pajamas all day can sometimes unconsciously reinforce feelings of stagnation or disengagement. Small rituals such as putting on jewelry, styling your hair, or applying makeup, if those practices resonate with you, can also help reinforce a sense of presence, intention, and self-worth.
To help support a healthy circadian rhythm, try waking up at roughly the same time each day, including weekends whenever possible. Consistency can have a significant impact on energy levels, mood, focus, and overall well-being. Most importantly, create a routine that genuinely works for you and your lifestyle.
A small word of caution from someone who genuinely loves routines: try not to overload yourself with too many tasks, expectations, or checklists all at once. Overcomplicating a routine can quickly become overwhelming and may cause you to lose motivation altogether. Start slowly, keep your goals realistic, and gradually build upon your habits over time. Sustainable routines are often far more effective than overly ambitious ones that become difficult to maintain.
Commune with Nature
Even five minutes of "green therapy" can positively affect your energy and overall sense of well-being. Walking barefoot on the grass or lying directly on the ground can encourage a feeling of connection with the earth through the process often referred to as earthing. Spending time in nature may also help restore a sense of balance by both calming and reenergizing the body.
Much like exercise, being outdoors can support emotional well-being and help elevate mood. Nature has a way of drawing our attention back into the present moment while offering a temporary pause from overstimulation, stress, and mental fatigue.
Note
[1] The questions above may also reflect underlying physical or psychological concerns that deserve proper evaluation. If these symptoms persist or interfere with daily functioning, it is important to consult a qualified healthcare provider.
From my perspective as a shamanic pagan, I view physical well-being as interconnected with emotional, energetic, and spiritual dimensions of the self. At the same time, when difficulties begin affecting the physical body or mental health in significant ways, seeking appropriate care from medical, psychological, allopathic, and/or naturopathic practitioners can be an important part of the healing process.
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