Getting Grounded: Finding anchor during times of change and uncertainty

We’re a little more than a week into the new year, a time that much of the world celebrates the turning point of an old year into the new. Death to Rebirth. The time between ‘what was, to what will be’. In the current global climate, as a society and community we continue to hope for change, and grapple with a new world order. And this can cause a lot of stress and overwhelm and a desire to return to normal. However this turning of one year to the next while symbolic, will not automatically bring about the change. In his latest podcast #261, Michael Meade says this:

"The breaking of the current cycle involves breaking the spell of normalcy itself. For an important realization at this point in the history of the world is that there cannot be a return to normal; that everything has already changed and that uncertainty may have to be accepted as a conscious element of reality"

This is a hard pill to swallow for pretty much all of us. But if we're to be truly without ego, and in a similar contemplative way look back on how society was, there's a lot that wasn't working, and is up for review and reimagination. Do we really want to go back to THAT normal? The next phase of making conscious soul-based choices for our future world will take time, and so living with some uncertainty is necessary part of that. Unfortunately change, whether individual or collective is rarely initiated without friction.

I believe that while many of us are experiencing anxiety, depression and overwhelm in relation to our individual concerns, with so much happening in the world (Covid, the environment crisis, system racism, systemic inequality, war, hyperconsumerism … ) and so much collective trauma, there is no doubt that this trauma of the world’s soul - the anima mundi - is also part of our individually felt experience. It too is causing friction.

So, how do we do stay in this inbetween space, be comfortable with uncertainty and take care of our body, mind and soul? I wonder in this desire to return to "normal" what we are really asking for (in part) is a return to stability and ground.

In the midst of uncertainty, knowing how to ground and anchor in the shifting sea of change, is and will be essential, and ultimately empowering. Whether the tumult comes from a personal crisis, or a collective one, or both, when we take care of ourselves, we can take better care of the world too. When we are grounded, we know where we stand and stand well. This is necessary now more than ever. I know from current personal experience that stepping into a new experience can trigger fear, doubt and possibly debilitating overwhelm. Yesterday, I was in the midst of this extreme tumult myself. Worry, catastrophic thinking, and full body anxiety close to shut down. Old fearful thinking hijacking my steps into a new phase of life that not only meant something for me as a individual but also as a person wanting to (re)connect to community.

So I’d like to offer my recent direct experience of how I worked through my own overwhelm through doing some simple things to ground and get steady again. While they are simple, it does take conscious effort to initiate and do, a willingness to let go of mind for the moment, and to not have the answers to your problem straight away. Please experiment with these. Notice how many of these are immediately available to you in your environment and as an inner resource.

1) Stop focussing on and doing the thing that is linked to overwhelm. Step away from it physically and mentally. Give yourself permission to stop the task, or stop paying attention to the thing that was triggering anxiety, or to stop trying to solve the problem your mind is throwing out to you. The mind will resist, but it’s important to give yourself a time out. This is because your rational mind is not working well when you're in a hyperaroused state. It’s less likely you’ll come up with creative solutions to your problem. I decided to completely step away from my computer for the whole day. I certainly had pressing work to do and a deadline, but I was in overwhelm. Everytime you mind goes back there - and it will!, redirect it -- over and over. Redirection, while looking like distraction, when done consciously is a reorientation to the present and so grounding.

2) Literally go to grounded and get physical. One of the simplest things you can do is redirect towards is something tangible and physical. Related to earth and body. I’m not talking a full blow work out, but it can be. I went for a short walk, and repeatedly guided my mind back from the mental whir to just feeling the muscles in my legs, my feet on the ground, the feeling of my arms swinging, which I exaggerated. Letting my eyes land and name what I could see. Whatever physical thing you choose to do (run,yoga, swim,dance, stand …) do it with awareness of your body and body in space.

I also spent an hour barefoot in my backyard, and helped my husband weed and trim plants in the garden. I consciously ate food that was comforting and nourishing (crepes with lemon and sugar and a homemade turmeric latte ☺️).

3) Feel your feet, legs and hips. Like I’ve just mentioned, being barefoot and feeling the sensation of the earth, walking consciously are ways to bring presence into your physical and lower body. Other ideas are squats, balancing on 1 leg, a foot massage. Esoteric traditions describe Muladhara - the Root Chakra - as being located at the base of the spine, and connected to other chakras in the legs and feet. The energy of this centre is associated with the body, home, earth and survival, so safety and presence can be achieved by symbolically and actually grounding and rooting to the earth. Even in the wildest of times, the Earth is ready to receive us. A favourite visualisation of mine is to use my imagination to “see” the energy at my physical base literally taking root into the earth. Whether sitting or standing, bring awareness to your tailbone and sit bones and feel or see the energy here draw downwards. Imagine it, like the roots of a tree, moving into the soft earth through your legs and soles of your feet.

4) Breathe. At first, I practiced full yogic breath, consciously breathing into all parts of my lungs - lower, middle and upper. Keeping my breath rate slow and even. Stretching my lungs to a comfortable edge. Feeling it physically in my belly, ribs, chest and back. Letting my mind rest on the breath, and feeling it physically, also helped redirect my mind away from rumination. For the rest of the day, and whenever I could be aware of my breath I would do this for several rounds no matter what I was doing. For more grounding I concentrated on just lower lung / abdominal breathing. Abdominal breathing that engages the diaphragm activates the vagus nerve and so the relaxation, rest and digest response. Just lovely.

5) Engage in simple or menial tasks. I chose to hang out the washing and fold several waiting loads. Mindfully. Moving slowly, arranging the clothes consciously and carefully, smelling the clothes, feeling the dampness or texture. Sensing the warmth and sun on my skin. Chores done mindfully is a wonderful go-to here for grounding and bringing presence. You could also do simple creative work like sewing on buttons, colouring in, puzzles, painting, baking or repotting plants.

6) Spend time in connection with others. Be sure the people you choose are not demanding or activating. This might not even be people you know; instead choosing just to be around others anonymously in a crowd, or even pets and animals. I spent a couple of hours with those closest to me; my husband, daughter, son, daughter in law and new grandbaby. Peaceful, calm, simple connection. I was also honest to say I was feeling sensitive and set some limits about what I was capable of for the moment. My mind would occasionally go to my problem, but by using a couple of the breath / body awareness practices above, I was able to remain present in the connection.

In the end, I was significantly more grounded, calm and happy. I was able to make a plan for how to approach the task and problem the following day. My problem didn’t go way, but I was certainly more clear headed about it. When we know how to drop anchor and ground in the midst of turmoil, fear and uncertainty, this puts us in the powerful position for making choices based on clarity and deep self trust. We might initially use this for our own purposes and individual goals, but this quality of grounded calm will be essential in navigating the collective upheaval that has been and will continue to happen.