wanderingwoodsmith
Kava Enthusiast
Spring is almost among us, bringing warmer temperatures, rain, and green green grass. Getting through a long winter can be quite the challenge for many of us. We stay inside trying to keep warm, or maybe it's just so gloomy outside that we have no motivation to get out and move around. We lose our summer tans and get a little fatter. Now, hiking weather is near. I have always loved being outside, sucking up the sun, hiking through the woods, camping and playing in the river. Some of you may not have these options. Maybe you live in a city, or work through the daytime hours. But I encourage everyone to get outside, kick off your shoes, and do a little earthing. What is earthing, or grounding as some call it? Instead of trying to describe what earthing is, I will give you this quote from The Earthing Institute:
"Throughout time, we humans have sat, stood, strolled, and slept on the ground – the skin of our bodies touching the skin of the Earth.
And throughout time, such ordinary contact served as a conduit for transferring the Earth’s natural, gentle negative charge underfoot into the body. You see, we are bioelectrical beings living on an electrical planet.
Modern lifestyle has disconnected us from this primordial charge.
Earthing is the landmark discovery that the disconnect may make us more vulnerable to stress and illness. Contact with the Earth appears to uphold the electrical stability of our bodies and serve as a foundation for vitality and health. In an age of rampant chronic inflammation and disease, “grounding” ourselves by reconnecting with the Earth beneath our very feet provides a way back to better health."
Reconnecting with nature, planting our bare feet on the ground, even for just a few moments a day can relieve so much built up tension and anxiety. Much like Kava, being grounded in daily life can bring such bliss and relaxation to a fast paced, stressful world.
Something that I am planning on turning into a daily routine is an Earth Walk. This is a name I just made up for taking a kava walk through a natural setting, with no shoes on. Earthing is something that I have been aware of for years, but I have never really put it into much practice other than running around without shoes, taking no notice of the energetic connection. Personally, I have access to wooded areas, sandy river beaches, and walking trails, but even if you don't have access to such natural settings, you can still do this around your home. If you are in a city and don't feel comfortable being barefoot on the dirty sidewalk, find some very thin house shoes or slippers and wear them. The thinner the better, for a strong connection with the ground is what we are aiming for. Maybe even drive or walk to a clean park with plenty of grass, and kick off your shoes for a quick walk.
As a part of the routine, I plan to prepare a full batch of some heady, euphoric kava to bring in a bottle. I will start the Earth Walk by planting my bare feet on the bare earth, being mindful of the feelings I am experiencing through my skin. Once fully planted, the journey begins. A big part of this walk will be about being fully present and mindful of the ground, my surroundings, and my observations of the experience. The goal is to be fully immersed in the environment, to feel the sun on my face, taste the air, hear the sounds of nature all around. It can be compared to mindfulness meditation. At some point during the outing, I will find somewhere to sit and have some grog, and just be an observer for a few moments before starting the journey back. This doesn't have to be something super spiritual, or ritualistic. The point is to connect with nature, in the most natural way possible: Just be.
This may not be for everyone. Maybe health conditions or time restraints prevent having an Earth Walk. But for those who can, I encourage to get out and give it a try. It could be very beneficial, and a wonderful compliment to using kava for anxiety control. Be aware, there is a new-age movement that is based on grounding/earthing in which you buy special mats and sleeping pads, that are to be plugged into an electrical outlet, and grounded through your homes electrical wiring. I suggest avoiding these new-age concepts, as there is no substitute for the raw energy of the Earth. I am looking forward to a year full of Earth Walks, and hopefully this will encourage you to give it a try as well. Bula, folks!
"Throughout time, we humans have sat, stood, strolled, and slept on the ground – the skin of our bodies touching the skin of the Earth.
And throughout time, such ordinary contact served as a conduit for transferring the Earth’s natural, gentle negative charge underfoot into the body. You see, we are bioelectrical beings living on an electrical planet.
Modern lifestyle has disconnected us from this primordial charge.
Earthing is the landmark discovery that the disconnect may make us more vulnerable to stress and illness. Contact with the Earth appears to uphold the electrical stability of our bodies and serve as a foundation for vitality and health. In an age of rampant chronic inflammation and disease, “grounding” ourselves by reconnecting with the Earth beneath our very feet provides a way back to better health."
Something that I am planning on turning into a daily routine is an Earth Walk. This is a name I just made up for taking a kava walk through a natural setting, with no shoes on. Earthing is something that I have been aware of for years, but I have never really put it into much practice other than running around without shoes, taking no notice of the energetic connection. Personally, I have access to wooded areas, sandy river beaches, and walking trails, but even if you don't have access to such natural settings, you can still do this around your home. If you are in a city and don't feel comfortable being barefoot on the dirty sidewalk, find some very thin house shoes or slippers and wear them. The thinner the better, for a strong connection with the ground is what we are aiming for. Maybe even drive or walk to a clean park with plenty of grass, and kick off your shoes for a quick walk.
As a part of the routine, I plan to prepare a full batch of some heady, euphoric kava to bring in a bottle. I will start the Earth Walk by planting my bare feet on the bare earth, being mindful of the feelings I am experiencing through my skin. Once fully planted, the journey begins. A big part of this walk will be about being fully present and mindful of the ground, my surroundings, and my observations of the experience. The goal is to be fully immersed in the environment, to feel the sun on my face, taste the air, hear the sounds of nature all around. It can be compared to mindfulness meditation. At some point during the outing, I will find somewhere to sit and have some grog, and just be an observer for a few moments before starting the journey back. This doesn't have to be something super spiritual, or ritualistic. The point is to connect with nature, in the most natural way possible: Just be.
This may not be for everyone. Maybe health conditions or time restraints prevent having an Earth Walk. But for those who can, I encourage to get out and give it a try. It could be very beneficial, and a wonderful compliment to using kava for anxiety control. Be aware, there is a new-age movement that is based on grounding/earthing in which you buy special mats and sleeping pads, that are to be plugged into an electrical outlet, and grounded through your homes electrical wiring. I suggest avoiding these new-age concepts, as there is no substitute for the raw energy of the Earth. I am looking forward to a year full of Earth Walks, and hopefully this will encourage you to give it a try as well. Bula, folks!
