Do you ever feel like trying to be healthy is complicated, expensive, and overwhelming? I know I do! That is one of the main reasons I started this blog- to invite you along as I learn to make my way back to the basics; such as eating real food, getting sunlight, slowing down, resting well, reducing toxins, and seeing God in it all!
Grounding is an example of a fundamental that many of us in our modern culture have almost completely left behind. Grounding occurs when there is direct contact between the skin on your body and the earth’s surface (grass, dirt, sand, ocean, etc). This connection allows electrons from the earth to flow into your body and help bring it into electrical balance. Because whether you realize it or not, we humans are electrical beings. We don’t see it but sometimes we feel it. You know that sensation of getting shocked? That would not happen if you didn’t have electricity pumping through you! When someone’s heart goes into an arrhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation, it is because the electrical signals that tell the heart to beat are not working properly. Sometimes the heart even needs an electric shock to help it reset itself back into a normal rhythm. Any electrician will tell you that everything that carries an electrical current needs to be grounded to the earth for safety and proper function, so why would we be any different?
The earth has a never-ending supply of electrons with a negative electrical charge. Much of the electricity we carry in and on our bodies is positively charged. This is due to various factors involving our modern lifestyles, like our exposure to man-made electromagnetic fields (EMFs), staying indoors, wearing synthetic shoes, never taking space from our devices, etc. We insulate ourselves and because of this, we get imbalanced electrically. Not only are healthy electrons depleted, but the positively charged free radicals are left to accumulate because they have nowhere else to go. This build-up causes oxidative stress and inflammation, which lead to all manner of health issues! When you connect to the earth via walking outside barefoot or using an indoor grounding mat or sheet, you absorb electrons from the earth and allow them to do one of the many things they were created by God to do, which is to neutralize free radicals, recharge and rebalance you!
The above information came with my grounding sheet from Grounding Well. Click here to go to their website. You can also go to Pub Med to read any of the thousands of published articles on this topic.
The easiest and cheapest way to start experiencing the benefits of connecting to the earth is to walk right out your door without shoes on and stand, sit, or lay on any natural surface (including concrete and brick!) Although I consider myself pretty outdoorsy, I confess that I am not a huge fan of walking barefoot outside. There are just too many variables… dog waste, lawn chemicals, bugs, pokey things, etc. Once in a while, I will stand on my front porch barefoot to prune my flowers. That is why I opted for an indoor option that I knew I would be more compliant with. I chose a grounding sheet because it is easy to just put on your bed and not have to remember to use it! You get several hours of grounding while you sleep. I have been using it for months now and I have truly noticed a difference in my body! Overall I feel calmer, I have fewer aches and pains and I am sleeping more deeply. Who knows what other restorative things may be happening inside of me that I don’t even know about yet?
Below is a picture of my grounding sheet on our bed. I used to lay it on top of the fitted sheet, but it would get all bunched and wrinkled and drive us crazy. So now I put it under the fitted sheet and it is so much more comfortable! I tested it to make sure it is still effective under the sheet, and surprisingly, the results were about the same as they were with direct contact to the skin!
Another option is a grounding mat, which is easy to move around and use in a variety of ways. I’ve seen people use it as a desk mat under their computer or placed on the floor below their desk to put their feet on while they work. It can be used on top of a yoga mat or with other types of exercise. You can also put it under your legs on a recliner while you relax or watch t.v., like I often do!
I’ve been chomping at the bit to get this post written in order to share this valuable information with you all, since I believe everyone can benefit from it! Here are a couple of tips as you get started:
- The positive effects start happening immediately, even if you are only grounded for a couple of minutes, but at least 20-30 minutes daily is ideal.
- A tingling sensation is normal at first, as your body is rebalancing electrically.
- Grounding can have a blood thinning effect, so you should check with your doctor before you begin if you are already on a blood thinner.
- Unplug and do not use during thunderstorms where there might be lightning.
Below is a video I recorded showing you how you can test your grounding product to make sure it is doing what it is supposed to!
If this grounding thing seems a little New Age or mystical to you, I get it. I have been thinking a lot lately about how so much that was created by God has been twisted or distorted. We have the right to be skeptical, because many things we encounter in this world are counterfeit versions of what God designed. We must always be alert and on guard that we are not being deceived, but I do not personally have any conviction from The Holy Spirit regarding grounding. Not being continuously grounded is a fairly new thing in the history of humanity. Our ancestors were naturally grounded most of the time because they did not have all the things blocking the electron transfer that we have today. I believe grounding is one of many ways God created the earth to care for and intentionally meet the needs of us, its inhabitants, whom He loves! I do not see it as a way to connect with ‘Mother Nature,’ but as a gift from the One True God, my Creator and Sustainer. So in my humble opinion, is not the grounding process itself that is the issue, it is who you give the glory and credit for its power to! The same goes for the sun, the moon, the stars, and anything in our natural world.
Earlier this week, I was blessed to celebrate my 40th birthday! As I look forward to this next decade, one thing I am certain I want is to be more grounded, not only physically… but spiritually, emotionally and mentally as well! The Apostle Paul prayed this prayer for the Ephesian Church, and I am praying it for myself and for everyone who reads this!
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:14-21
My husband and I will be visiting Ephesus and several places in Greece on a cruise in a couple of months, and I cannot wait! It is going to be an epic 40th birthday trip. There will no doubt be stories to tell and pictures to show… so stay tuned!
Although I am a nurse by trade, I am not a doctor or an expert, and the information I provide on this blog is for educational purposes only. Each person is unique and their needs and circumstances vary, so I always recommend that you consult your medical provider before making any changes.
Once again a well thought out and written article. I love how you always give glory to God in everything you share whether it be here on this blog or in person with me and others. I ❤️ U.
Thanks, Dad, that means a lot! You’ve been a great example to me of someone who does the same! I love you, too.