Disclaimer

⚠️ There is no clinical or medical evidence to support the use of Energy and metaphysical activities for Physical, Psychological, or Emotional heailng. You should not ignore any health ailments or disengage from your treating health professionals. You should conduct yoru own research around topics. No information provided at Larinas Labyrinth should be taken as medical or other expert advice.

Centering and Grounding

The concepts of Centering and Grounding are underpinned by two distinct intentions - balance and stability. From a psychological perspective, there is some evidence to support the health benefits of regularly centering and grounding, especially for people who become easily overwhelmed, anxious, and stressed, or suffer from depressive and mood disorders as a means of emotional stabilisation. However, for spiritual development and growth, being centered and grounded is a vital component of fulfilling life purpose and activating the higher chakras for conscious connection to the higher realms.

About

Grounding and centring are key practices that help us recognise how our emotions and thoughts relate to our inner energy. Both in mental health and in metaphysical practice, centring techniques help us notice our comfort or discomfort, supporting our emotional and physical well-being. In mental health, 'ecological theory' compares people to trees, shaped by their environment—wind, sun, soil, etc. Similarly, distress in people is linked to physical health, but like trees, support and protection can help us regain strength. Centring increases our self-awareness, helping us understand our triggers and moods so we can make decisions that improve our wellbeing. Recognising what's happening within and around us through centring is an early intervention to address imbalances and their causes.

The image here reflects the idea that the human body is situated within the aura, and that when centred, the central point of your body (solar Plexus chakra) is at the centre of the aura. The Solar Plexus is also the chakra of personal empowerment - confident, capable, hopeful, able, trusting, and where our personal integrity sits - our ability to ‘walk the talk’. The cotton reel on the string within the aura represents how our first energy field (the body and its chakras) can rise or slide through the layers of the aura. Additionally, the image does not show that the placement of the first energy field can shift within the layers, much like the yolk of an egg, which is contained within fluid and can move to the back, front, right, or left. When we review our personal space through meditation or mindfulness, we can establish more fully the status of our connection, and alignment at any given time and maintain it, because as with the oclours of the aura, the

the personal space within it will be regularly shifting and changing as a response to what occurs for us each day, unless it is well anchored. As we heighten our awareness and perception, we start to recognise through our physical and intuitive senses when we are ‘off balance’, or, as some people say, ‘out of kilter’, or feeling spaced out. At these times especially, we need to create the space to centre and recalibrate. Recalibrating is the process of re-energising, and physically this could be a ‘power nap’ after a stressful period, or physical activity. When we centre, as with most things metaphysical, there is a three-prong or ‘layered approach’ to the activities:

When a person is centred, their body and chakra system are positioned within the aura, which can be visualised as an energy field surrounding the body in all directions. The aura typically extends about 1.5 meters around a person's body, including above and below the person. Through meditation and breathing exercises, one can start to sense one's physical placement within this energetic space. For example, if someone feels overwhelmed or unable to solve difficult problems, they might feel their 'back is up against the wall.', indicating that it is time to review personal boundaries, or that the past is imposing on the present restricting them from experiencing plesaures and joy in the 'here and now'. This sensation can be noticed when trying to expand the aura behind their back through breath, which may require extra effort. Similarly, the space above and below may feel misaligned or unbalanced. A centring activity can often identify compromised energy or personal boundaries. Centring Tips: You may, through the act of meditation on centring, feel pressure on a part of your body (for example, on your back), and when breathing light into the rear of your aura behind your back, you might find that you need to do additional breaths, into a specific part of your aura for it to ‘feel evenly aligned’. Sensations can include warmth, coldness, tingling, numbness, pins and needles. You can learn more about sacred breathing for centering and grounding here.

The chakras within the aura are essential for balance. When we feel out of sorts, the chakra system may be misaligned. Centring activities often focus on realigning and re-energising the chakras along the spine to restore balance. The Chakra system is also more likely to reflect physical health issues, especially the parts of the body that oversee the biology of balance (such as the skeleton, hips, legs and feet), and even parts of the brain, and neuropathy that send signals through the nerves that oversee the body and organ function. Chakra maintenance activities always include centring each chakra along the spinal column to help a person retain balance (emotional, psychological, and physical). Ways to align your chakras can include any of the aura energy activities, such as purification and alignment of the layers, incorporating sacred breath techniques into the activity, and focusing on aligning the chakras up the spinal column. For instance, breathing specific colours into the aura and chakras (white for purification), and energising and aligning them.

Connecting with the divine and finding a sense of communication are key parts of centring within your aura. This practice supports healthy choices and self-understanding, and helps manage emotions. When centred, you act with love and forgiveness. You also care for yourself and others, developing a caring attitude toward the world. For many, this means listening to your intuition and inner voice. You do not need to follow any particular belief. Centring within your aura builds discernment and inner knowing, which leads to a more positive life.

Metaphysically centring and grounding within the aura is essential for energy workers such as healers, mediums, and psychics. This practice is important because channelling energy raises the aura’s vibration. This allows greater access to ‘divine light’ that provides energy and messages. Accurate and pure messages require connection to both ‘Earth’ and ‘Heavenly’ energy. The cotton reel graphic shows how the worker raises their primary energy body within the aura during tasks. After completion, the practitioner needs to centre and ground. Raising vibration takes practice, self-mastery, a balanced chakra system, and a healthy aura. Novices may forget to recenter and ground themselves. This can lead to vague or impractical messages. They may seem emotionally disconnected or live in a ‘bliss bubble.’ This state is unstable because life’s challenges can disrupt it. Regular centring and anchoring are vital for workers' health, especially after spiritual activities.

Aura System Center

Chakra Centering

Divine Connection

Centring Activities

Centring with the Breath

In this activity the focus is purely on the breath and breath cycle. As with all activities, you start by creating the space or environment to do the breathing. It doesn't need to be a meditation room - it can be adapted for use anywhere, including at the park. The space is one where you will not be interrupted, and you might have limited time, in which case you would put a cap on the time and include that as part of your 'intention'. For example: The intention is to calm and centre yourself, to help you to relax and let go of any stress and worries for 'ten minutes', while focussing on the breath. (Note: You can adapt the intention as you like and for different purposes).

For a simple centering activity - you could start with three deep and cyclical breaths - a count of four or five is adequate, you then allow your breathing to self regulate but you pay specific intention to the Ins, holds, outs and holds. Its not necessary to visualise (although this can be part of an adaptation). Instead you focus on the breathing (in through the nose and out through the mouth):

Inhale, two, three,

Hold the inward breathe.. two, three,

Exhale.. two... three

Hold the empty space,...two.. three..

NOTE: Adaptations for breath meditations include for guidance, and where the intention is stated in advance "Meditating for connection and access to guidance to resolve x problem" combined with 'I am open to recieving divine guidance around solutions for my problem/, and I ask for conscious recollection of information and will act upon my hunches under grace in the divine way'. Then once the breathing starts you can add mantras to the breath cycle "Download the data, download the data'.

NOTE 2: You can follow the same approach when doing a 'conscious meditation', but the mantras would be "I am relaxed, my body is relaxed, my mind is alert".

Centring wtih the Rainbow

Once you have stated your inention, and created the space, its time to commence the activity as follows:

Take a few deeper breaths. Allow your breath to take its natural rhythm. Relax your mind and for now, let go of any thoughts and words.. allow yourself to BE in the moment, to BE in the rhythm of your breath.

Visualise a ball of light above your head. This ball represents your Soul or "Higher Self". In your minds eye see another ball of light above the "Higher self Ball" - it is larger and represents the Source of all living things.

Now in your minds eye, see a beam of rainbow coloured light entering into your Crown from the Source. As it enters into your crown - it passes through your Soul - the core of your BEing. As it enters your crown, feel and sense the crown chakra taking in the colour it needs to expand and release.

Now in your minds eye feel this rainbow coloured light entering your Third Eye. Release anything that is no longer serving your Highest Good, into the Source for transmutation. Feel the the rainbow light entering into your Third Eye, and feel the colour that it is drawing on to expand and release.

Now in your minds eye feel this rainbow coloured light entering your Third Eye. Release anything that is no longer serving your Highest Good, into the Source for transmutation. Feel the the rainbow light entering into your Third Eye, and feel the colour that it is drawing on to expand and release.

Now in your minds eye, see the rainbow light entering your throat. As it does so - it releases that which it no longer needs back into the source - and at the same time fills it with the perfect colour it needs for your Highest Good.

The rainbow light shifts down, into the Heart, the Solar Plexus, The Sacral area and ends by filing the Base with the perfect light that it needs. Throughout this exercise - each chakra is releasing that which it no longer needs and expands by drawing on the colours needed to support the highest good and best function of each chakra.

When you have completed the chakras, send the rainbow light down into your legs, and out into the world where it can be used as needed. When you have finished.. visualise a smile in each chakra.

NOTE: Some people find it easier to visualise the chakras as coloured balls of light, where other find it easier to visualise a funnel, or a lotus flower. Go with whatever method you feel comfortable with. Also this meditation is a demonstration that when we allow things to occur naturally - and don't force it, then the universe will show us what wee need. We don't call for the specific colour of the chakra - there are only so many primary shades, for example - orange is a mix of yellow and red. By drawing on the rainbow, the chakras have intelligence of their own, and will absorb the colour that they need for YOUR perfect balance and function right NOW.

Grounding, Earthing and Anchoring

Grounding

Grounding helps us stay stable and practical so we can make good decisions. It means finding mental and emotional equilibrium, allowing us to handle daily life better. Our aura shifts with our environment and actions, reflecting our current state. Grounding activities restore steadiness when we’re stressed or disconnected. To maintain balance, make time for work, relationships, self-care, and spiritual practices. For example, office workers can take short grounding breaks to refocus. These methods help us stay present and ready for what’s next and can be used several times a day, even when busy.

Grounding may include energetic practices, like staying centred after meditation, but its main purpose is to bring us back to the present. Some notice sharper senses after meditation or mindfulness, leading to increased sensitivity to sounds. When we ground ourselves, we remain present rather than feeling overly sensitive or disconnected. Spiritual or energetic activities, such as healing or creative visualisations, can leave us feeling spaced out. Grounding helps us handle problems calmly and interact with others from a balanced place.

Crystals such as Black Tourmaline, Black Obsidian, or Smoky Quartz are often used as grounding talismans. These stones are usually black or brown.

Go outside and focus your attention on a plant. To connect more deeply, gently touch a plant or tree.

Walk barefoot outside in the grass and pay attention to how the earth or grass feels under your feet.

Stamp your feet on the ground a few times, shake your fingers and hands, and stretch side to side to get your blood flowing. You can also clap your hands while stamping your feet. These are helpful after meditation or a healing session.

Lean against a tree and place both hands on its trunk. Take three slow, deep breaths, and imagine the tree’s energy grounding and balancing you, filling your body and aura with earth energy.

The traditional ideas of 'grounding' described above offer helpful short-term support, but they may not address persistent challenges. Many people find themselves saying, 'But I grounded myself over and over.' To address this, it's helpful to consider the concept of 'earthing,' which moves beyond individual actions and invites us to see ourselves as truly connected with the Earth. By embracing earthing, we align more deeply with our true nature.

Earthing

While grounding brings us back to the present moment, earthing goes deeper and aims to give you long-term stability. Building on the foundation of grounding, earthing helps us stay connected to the earth and handle challenges as they come. Like water moving around obstacles, earthing teaches us flexibility rather than resistance. This practice helps us stay rooted, just as trees balance strength and adaptability to survive storms. Trees show us that trunks with deep roots can bend and recover, while rigid ones break. Spending time outside and making direct contact with nature is often the best way to feel this connection. If earthing feels hard, try being outside or touching a tree, and focus on your breath as you imagine the tree’s energy supporting you. Earthing connects us to Earth’s steady energy, providing lasting stability. This connection anchors us, helping us stay steady and adapt to changing situations. If earthing feels difficult sometimes, there are other ways to connect. For example, you can sit outside in nature while doing breathing or mindfulness activities specifically designed to calm your inner self and help you remain present, such as the sensory activity here.

Earthing activities include visualisation and breath methods for ‘anchoring’, but instead of visualising cords, you visualise roots, as depicted in this image, with a strong tap root firmly embedded. If you can sustain the visual imagery, you can imagine the tap root descending into the core of the earth. Whenever you find yourself feeling ‘out of balance’, overthinking, or emotionally unstable, you can do a quick earthing activity by visualising, or by going outdoors and leaning up against (or touching) a tree with your palms, and visualising the energy of the earth from the tree filling your body. The trees outside draw energy from the earth and the skies, offering purification, detoxification, and strength.

NOTE: Centring and grounding meditations are visualisations with similar goals but different specific intentions. You can also adapt these activities to include aura cleansing, boundary protection, centring, and grounding with strong roots.

Anchoring

As circumstances shift, our grounding, earthing, and anchoring methods can be adapted. People suffering from anxiety or trauma often become overwhelmed by thoughts and emotions - either revisiting and ruminating on the past, or fretting about the future and what may or may not occur. These behaviours compromise the stability of the aura (and the chakra system), and anchoring helps them to remain present by promoting balance. Simple grounding methods offer the equivalent of a short-term or ‘first aid’ solution for rebalancing, ‘earthing’ helps to maintain the stability, and anchoring supports equilibrium across the aura and chakra systems. Energy and spiritual workers also benefit from using the ‘anchoring’ strategy, as it helps discern fact from fiction and ensures practical guidance and intuition. Anyone can benefit from Anchoring, and you do not need to suffer from a mental health condition or be a metaphysician. Initially, with any activity, it may take ten or fifteen minutes, but after practice, it can be done very quickly (in about five minutes). Anchoring involves visualising roots or cords extending from the feet to Earth’s core, creating enduring stability and supporting spiritual work and manifestation. A secure energy anchor is one that holds and sustains the alignment of the chakras through to the celestial connection. A quick Activity for anchoring:

1. State the intention or purpose of the activity (Grounding, stabilising and aligning the aura - and in fact you can include ‘purification’ of the aura as well).

2. Stand (or visualise yourself standing) with your feet firmly on the ground (this activity is best conducted outside or while visualising yourself outdoors).

3. Start by taking three breaths (square breaths to the count of three). If you are able to - do sacred breaths.

4. In your mind's eye, see a silver thread running from the top of your skull through to the ‘infinite’ above.

5. In your mind's eye, see cords the colour of molten metal, running from the soles of your feet to the interior of the earth, well beneath the layers and into the molten earth core.

6. Reach your hands up above your head, and as you inhale, feel the energy of the infinite above enter your crown and fingertips, flowing downward into your body and your aura. As you inhale, allow your body and arms to extend downwards directing the celestial energy through your finger tips and feet to the core of the earth. Hold the empty space on the exhale.

7. While still bent downwards, inhale the energy of the earth through your feet and finger tips from the earth core, visualising it coming up through your body and as you inhale gently return your body to the standing position. At the solar plexus chakra start the exhale - until you are standing with arms and hands reaching up above your head, while imagining or visualise the energy of the earth streaming from your corwn and finger tips to the 'heavens' and 'infinite' above. Hold the exhale.

8. Repeat the breath exercise for 3 - 5 deep inhales and exhales. (if you feel drawn to do more repetitions - follow your guidance).

NOTE: The physical activity is basically a mindful ‘touching of toes and standing upright’, putting your mind, your body, and your breath into the action. While you don't have to do the activity physically - it is very helpful and recommended.

TIP: By doing the activity, including physical movement, you reinforce in your mind the intention and grounding purpose.

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