Awareness ·
What Is Grounding and How Do You Practise It in Nature?
Grounding, in everyday speech, means spending some time in direct contact with soil, grass or a tree. Most people do it by walking barefoot, sitting on the ground, leaning on a tree or gardening. A few minutes are enough to begin. It is not a treatment and does not replace a doctor.
This article is for personal awareness and coaching purposes; it does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment. Please see a doctor for any health concerns.
In everyday speech, grounding means spending some time in direct contact with soil, grass or a tree. Most people do it by walking barefoot, sitting on the ground or working in a garden. This post looks at grounding as a personal habit: it describes how it is done and what to watch for.
What do people mean by grounding?
The meaning the word has in electrical wiring is a separate subject. What is meant here is a plain stretch of time that people set aside for contact with nature: taking off their shoes, stepping on soil, putting a hand on the earth. Some make it part of a walk, others stop for a few minutes before they meditate.
How it feels differs from person to person, and only the practice itself is described here.
How do you practise grounding?
There is no set method and no set length. These are the ways people most often choose:
- Walking barefoot: you walk slowly on soil, grass or sand and pay attention to how each foot meets the ground.
- Sitting on the ground: you sit on soil or grass, directly or on a thin cloth, with your hands resting on the ground.
- Leaning on a tree: you rest your back against the trunk or a palm on the bark and stay that way for a while.
- Gardening: you turn the soil, sow seeds, plant seedlings, pull weeds. Those who like to work without gloves feel the soil with their hands. If you have a cut or a wound on your hand, wear gloves.
- Standing: you stand barefoot where you are and follow your breath.
A few minutes are enough to begin. Putting the phone aside and not hurrying is what sets this time apart from the rest of the day.
How can you practise grounding if you live in a city?
There are options even without a garden:
- The neighbourhood park: choose a corner where walking on the grass is allowed.
- The balcony: work with potting soil, sow seeds or repot seedlings.
- A weekend walk by the shore: take your shoes off on open ground where you can see where you step.
- A community garden or a friend’s garden: lend a hand with the soil work.
Rules about walking on the grass in parks vary from place to place, so check the signs.
What should you watch for?
- The ground: look before you step. There may be glass, thorns, sharp stones or an ant nest.
- Heat and cold: stone and sand heat up in the summer sun, and soil can be very cold in winter. Keep it short accordingly.
- Wet ground: grass and mud are slippery after rain, so walk slowly.
- Plants and insects: rather than tall grass, choose open ground where you can see where you step.
- Feet: if you have a wound or sensitivity on your feet, keep your shoes on. You can practise sitting down or with your hands. If you have a health condition, ask your doctor first.
- Afterwards: wash and dry your feet.
Where does contact with the soil come into the work at Şifa Köyü?
In the New Moon and Full Moon workshops that Merve Tüfekçi holds at Şifa Köyü in Şile, the work involves soil, nature, living things and seeds. Participants do breath work and meditate, and the workshop closes by touching the earth.
The Meditation and Emotrance workshop also takes place in nature, with breath work, meditation and Emotrance exercises. Both workshops can be joined online and can be run in Turkish or in English. For dates you can write to us and our team will get back to you.
Grounding and these workshops are not a treatment and do not replace a doctor or a psychologist.
Grounding needs no special place or equipment: suitable ground, a few minutes and no hurry are enough. Checking the ground and the weather is the first step of the practice.
This post is for general information only; it is not medical or legal advice.
New Moon and Full Moon Meditation Workshops →
Meditation and Emotrance Workshop →
Frequently asked questions
What is grounding?
In everyday speech, grounding means spending some time in direct contact with soil, grass or a tree. Walking barefoot, sitting on the ground and gardening are the ways people most often choose.
How many minutes should grounding last?
There is no set length. A few minutes are enough to begin, and you adjust the time to the ground, the weather and your own comfort.
Do you have to walk barefoot to practise grounding?
No. Sitting on the ground, placing your hands on the soil, leaning on a tree or working with potting soil all go by the same name.
Can you practise grounding in winter?
You can, but the soil may be very cold and wet. Keeping it short, using your hands instead of your feet, or working with potting soil are among the options.
Is grounding a treatment?
No. This post describes grounding as a personal habit. It is not a treatment and does not replace a doctor. How it feels differs from person to person.