GROUNDING AND CENTERING By Frances Donovan (a.k.a. Okelle) Pagan ritual, as ecstatic and unstructured as it can sometimes be, carries with it certain safety precautions. One such precaution is the casting of a circle -- creating a protected, sacred space, guarded by the elements, which concentrates energy raised within the circle and keeps out any random, unwanted influences. Another such precaution is grounding and centering. Together, these precautions serve to contain psychic energy raised within circle, and to channel it appropriately. It's difficult to describe psychic energy in writing; you really have to experience it yourself. It first takes a change in mindset, a willingness to believe that there is more to experience than what's evident through the five senses recognized by modern Western society. Nor is it the sixth sense so often glamorized in stories about people who can predict the future, or "see dead people." Psychic energy is more like a form of energy, endlessly abundant and difficult to harness. You may think of it as the life force, -- or even "the Force" from the Star Wars movies. All living things produce psychic energy. You can see it in other people as an aura, or a "vibe." You can feel it in the purring of a cat, the scampering of a mouse, or the smooth undulation of a fish. You can feel its slow, steady flow through the trunk of a tree. You can feel it in the wind, hear it in the sound of the waves on the beach, or in the trickle of a stream. You can feel its press upon you when you stand in the middle of a crowded city street. Grounding to Earth The earth itself also has an energy, a life force, and this is the energy we call upon when we ground before ritual. It's easiest to ground with your feet or butt in firm contact with the floor, or better yet the earth itself. If you can, take off your shoes. Imagine the earth's energy rising up through the soles of your feet (or the base of your spine if you are sitting). Send your mind all the way down, past the floorboards, past the basement, past the sewers and electrical lines, past the earth's crust and layers of rock and fossils, into the heart of the earth Herself, her molten core. Bring that boundless, grounded energy into you, breathing it up slowly from the soles of your feet to the crown of your head. Grounding is something to do both before and after ritual ñ before ritual to shore up your own internal energies, and after ritual, to return any energy to the earth. Once the circle is cast, pagans enter a place between the worlds, outside the realm of the mundane. We often raise psychic energy as part of our rituals -- through dancing, drumming, chanting, or singing. As we become closer to Goddess and God, we may feel transcendent, lighter than air. Once we are done raising and directing energy, it's important to ground any remaining energy, and to return to a more mundane state of mind. Paganism is not the only religion with this notion of grounding. Many gurus from India, for instance, teach that when you experience shaktipat -- a spiritual awakening manifested by a serpent of fire uncoiling from the base of your spine -- you must work off the energy or it will sour inside you. Rather than working off the energy, pagans simply return it to the earth, usually by touching the grounding and letting it drain from their fingertips, back into the earth from whence it came. Getting Back in the Body Eating and drinking are also quick, easy ways to remind yourself of your basic, earthy needs. That's one of the reasons why many pagan covens include "cakes and ale" in their rituals. In addition to creating a bond through the ancient custom of sharing food and drink, it also allows participants to come down from the intense trance-like state that raising power creates. The conversation and joking that accompany cakes and ale can also lead to more grounded, mundane frame of mind. If you're all alone and in a pinch, answering the call of nature is another effective way to ground. A friend of mine who practiced Dianic Wicca in Minnesota passed on a piece of wisdom passed down by one of the elders in her group. I've tried it myself and can vouch for its effectiveness. If you're in the woods, however, be sure to clean up after yourself, and to steer clear of patches of shiny, three-leaved foliage. Emotional Upset Grounding and centering also come in handy when you are experiencing intense emotion. Simply calling upon the energy of the earth can help you come out of an intense and reactive frame of mind, where you may say or do things you'll regret later, into a more conscious and responsible state. If you experience intense emotion often, however, I strongly suggest seeking out the help of a trained psychologist as well. Centering Grounding is what puts you in touch with the earth's energy, with the center of the earth. Centering is what puts you in touch with your own energy, with your sense of who you are and where you come from. Often, grounding is enough to get you centered as well. But it's important to know the distinction between the two. In ritual -- especially with other people -- it's easy to lose yourself in something bigger. Part of coming back down is remembering who you are, as an individual that functions on a daily basis. Whenever I think of centering, I think of the beginning of the yoga sun salutes. Standing with feet hip width apart, with our hands in prayer position over our hearts, our yoga teacher always says, "rock back and forth between the balls of your feet and your heels. Find your center." She means the balancing spot of the feet, the center of balance around the hips, and because our hands are over our hearts, our being center as well. Like the concept of psychic energy, the concept of centering is best understood through experience. It's not merely an intellectual concept of who you are -- we Americans rely far too often only on our intellect -- but a deep knowing of who we are. Developing a routine, even a simple one, can help you center. Take, for example, my bedtime routine. I brush my teeth (and floss them too if I'm feeling especially conscientious!), wash my face, put on pajamas, turn off all the lights, read a couple of chapters, and then turn off the light. If, for some reason, I'm having an especially hectic week, I may break from my nighttime routine. One of the ways I re-center myself is by returning to it. Here are a few other suggestions for keeping yourself centered: Keep a journal and reread it from time to time. Develop a routine of prayer and meditation. Develop and maintain a support network of friends who can mirror back to you how you are doing. Get at least six (and preferably eight!) hours of sleep each night. Eat healthy, nutritious food in moderate proportions. Exercise regularly. If these suggestions sound like common sense, that's because they are. Grounding and centering is all about common sense. It's about coming out of the clouds and back down to earth.