Grounding in the seasons of Autumn and Winter helps balance the airy nature of cool winds, especially in dry climates. Eating more heavier root veggies and fatty foods might work – with subsequent added body weight. Another way to ground is through energy of the chakras.
There are many different chakra systems… yet it is common in cultures that acknowledge our energetic bodies that chakras are accepted. Whatever system you are used to, most seem to be focused on moving upward. The “up is good” and “down is bad” paradigm is part of the negativity towards such various parts of life such as sex and dirt. Moving the energy upward definitely doesn’t help ground.
The more animist form of chakra system is about an interchange between Earth and Sky, Mother and Father, with us in the middle of them. See more here. Our energy is naturally related to both the Upper World and Lower World and thereby to the Sky and to the Earth. This formation lends to more grounding AND more relationship with the Upper World.
In this system the lowest chakra on our body is the Foot chakra. By putting awareness into the lower chakras it helps ground – without putting on the calories. Walking is one way of emphasizing the lower chakras. Another way is to do some breathing with a visualization.
This visualization is in tune with the in breath and out breath. Sitting or standing, tune into the Crown chakra. With inbreath visualize a flower blooming open, with outbreath see it turn into a flame that purifies that chakra. Many pictures of the chakras show them as discs on the front of the body. Rather than this visual, “see” the flowers horizontally oriented, and centered on the spine.
Move down the chakras, following the base chakra with the Foot chakra. See all the chakras blooming and purifying with each inbreath/outbreath. (see picture here- thanks to www.therapeutic-shamanism.uk) Continue for 5-10 minutes.
Play around with this – try moving up from the feet to crown or focus on particular chakras where you might notice less flexibility.
May you experience this holiday season as a grounded, nourishing time.
Smiles,
Terra Rafael