When was the last time you walked barefoot in the grass? Or on the sand? Or on a woodland path?
If you’re like most of us, it was probably quite a while ago.
So, if you can remember back that far, how did the sensation of your feet against the earth make you feel? If you can’t remember, take off your shoes and socks right now and put your feet on the ground. Just give it a try. Maybe you’ll feel a slight tingling sensation or just a feeling of warmth. Maybe you are even experiencing a feeling of peace and calm.
Now if that sounds a little airy fairy to you, consider this:
There is solid scientific evidence that we are electrical beings and that our Mother Earth is a giant battery that generates energy for us. When we cut ourselves off from the energy of the earth, there are consequences. Our energy balances are disrupted, resulting in illnesses that can range from inflammatory diseases like heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer to immune system malfunctions leading to autoimmune disease to health-robbing insomnia and more.
In today’s world, our physical forms are constantly being bombarded by electromagnetic frequencies, poor dietary choices, environmental pollutants, GMOs, glyphosates, not to speak of chronic stress and who-knows-what-else.
In this world of concrete jungles, constant wireless connections, insulated, airtight, nearly-sterile houses and insulating rubber-soled shoes, we’ve lost our physiological connection with the earth from which we came and upon which we depend.
And we spend little or no time in the natural environment that nurtures us and re-charges our physical, emotional and spiritual batteries. We’re a mess!!
As my friend, noted cardiologist Dr. Stephen Sinatra, says in his book, Earthing, “…the incidences of soaring chronic disease during our lifetimes has occurred during a period in which more and more people have become increasingly disconnected from the earth.
In addition, we have a burgeoning addiction problem, not only in North America, but around the world. We are constantly trying to fill an internal void with alcohol, drugs, food, shopping or any of a wide range of addictions. One friend, a wise woman with deep experience in alcoholism recovery, theorizes that all addiction is the result of our separation from Earth energies. It makes perfect sense to me.
So disconnection and disease are the result of our modern lifestyle, working in skyscrapers with fluorescent lights, sleeping in beds elevated far from the earth, driving vehicles and wearing shoes – all of which prevent us from touching the earth.
What to do? Here are a few easy choices:
Shoes: Take them off. It’s that simple. Find a place where you can put your bare feet on the ground every day, even if it’s winter. Five minutes will rejuvenate you in ways you probably haven’t imagined.
If you can find them, buy leather-soled shoes that don’t insulate you from the earth energy. These are becoming somewhat more available, but just a couple of years ago, the only leather-soled shoes were high-end men’s dress shoes. For women, there’s an interesting new line of sandals by a company called Juil that have little copper pegs under each toe to conduct electrical energy. I don’t have a pair yet since they’re a bit pricey, but I like the idea.
An alternative: Sit on the ground. (No, you don’t have to be butt-naked! Most clothing does not act as an insulator.) Swimming in a natural body of water is another great way to immerse yourself in earth energies.
Turn off the lights: Artificial light disrupts circadian rhythms, which are also part of our earth connection. This is particularly true of electronic devices, which add the electromagnetic frequencies that disrupt sleep cycles and increase chronic stress levels. Blue light, the kind that comes from televisions and computer screens, is the worst. So what do we do? We eat a late dinner and veg out in front of the TV, perhaps checking e-mail or phone messages or a movie on our iPads before sleeping — or not sleeping, as the case might be. It’s healthy to limit your screen time, especially in the last couple of hours before bedtime. What ever happened to a good old-fashioned conversation with a spouse or family before bedtime?
Really turn off the lights: Our bodies need complete darkness to produce melatonin, the hormone that directs our circadian rhythms. If you’ve ever been jet lagged or worked overnight shifts, you know how disoriented you become when you try to sleep in broad daylight and how much more vulnerable you are to colds and flu and other diseases that indicate a weakened immune system. If you have nightlights in your bedroom, television running or even LED screens on your alarm clock, you’re interfering with your body’s ability to produce melatonin and to connect with natural energies. This also goes for sleeping with your cell phone near you, beeping and clicking and flashing lights all night long. Never use your phone as an alarm clock!
I’m sure you can come up with dozens of other ways to renew your earth connection. I’m eager to hear them!
