LOL! If you grew up Black, then you have heard the phrase Suited & Booted! If you don’t know what that means, it means you are SHARP! If you don’t know what that means…

No forreal, it means you are Dressed to Impress! So my spiritual take on the latter is that if you are grounded and have been working on your Manifestation techniques, then you Looted & Rooted… (insert eye roll or laughter here).

Being grounded is the ability to be completely aware and conscious during the present moment. If you’re grounded, you practice a deep sense of mindfulness and rarely think about “what ifs.” According to author Michael Daniels in his book, Shadow, Self, Spirit (2005), groundedness refers to “a sense of being fully embodied, whole, centered and balanced in ourselves and our relationships.” It’s also a deeper connection to the authentic self. If you are looking to truly take a look inside yourself in order to be Whole and true to who you are, then I suggest you invest in the Ojiji Shadow Workbook. It will help you to realize some deeply rooted energies that make you who you are. The book can be purchased as a digital version or print copy (pre-order), and is meant to be used with the Shadow Tarot Deck (pre-order). Both were made by our Founder, The Herban Myth (Toyia A Mays) and illustrated by Toyia & Joi Mays. See the deck options HERE.

When you’re grounded, you’re in complete control of your mental and emotional self, and not easily influenced by other ideas or individuals. Those who are grounded allow life’s small mishaps to roll off their shoulders. For example, if someone cuts them off in a traffic circle, they may give a shoulder shrug, and think, "Oh, well, they must be in a hurry." Chances are, they won’t become overwhelmed by, or reactive to, the incident.

Even if people see you as a grounded person, there may be times when you feel “out of sorts,” or stressed. However, there are different types of exercises you can do to help ground you, including:

1. Breathing exercises. There are many types of breathing exercises. Here are two examples—try the one that works best for you. To the count of ten, take a deep inhalation through your nose. Hold your breath for the count of ten. Now exhale through your nose for the count of ten. Repeat as often as needed. Another breathing exercise involves taking ten slow breaths, one at a time, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. Then to the count of ten, exhale through your nose.

2. Walking meditation. This exercise is about using walking as your focus. Try walking slowly, being mindful of each step you take. Feel the ground beneath you. This is best done outside in nature, but you can really do it anywhere.

3. Play music. Play vibrational music and give it all your attention, noticing each tone. Members have access to playlists in the Haus of Music on your online account.

4. Stop and listen carefully. If you’re talking to others, listen carefully to every word they’re saying. Focus. If you feel inclined, write down the dialogue in your journal.

5. Sip a hot drink from a mug. Cup the mug in both hands, feeling its warmth. Drink your tea slowly. Take small sips and notice how it feels in your mouth and how it goes down. Try Basic Bi+ch Chakra Tea, it's formulated for grounding.

6. Tune into your senses. Stop and notice two things that you see, smell, hear, and taste. You might choose to write down your impressions in your journal.

7. Appreciate your pets. If you have pets, stop and pay full attention to them. Look into their eyes, and tell them what you love about them.

Below, you will find a few of the Root Chakra Correspondences. There is an abundance of information on the subject inside The Freedom Haus, as well as a playlist that is dedicated to the Root Chakra.

Anatomical Location: Base of the Spine/coccyx (tailbone); the perineum area.

Affirmative Statement:: "I AM" ('I Have', 'I Live')

Associations & Qualities: Stability, Security, Physical/Material, Groundedness, Vitality, Will Power, Identity; Basic Survival Needs (food, shelter, clothing, rest, money, procreation); Self Preservation; Root Support; Bodily Consciousness / Survival Consciousness; Deep Unconsciousness; The Primitive Self; Reptilian aspect of brain; the Seat of Kundalini

Astrological/Zodiac Signs: Capricorn & Aquarius; (also, Virgo, Taurus)

Body Functions: Elimination; Lower Digestive Functions; Sex Drive; Fight/Flight Response

Body Systems: Reproductive Organs; Immune System, Large Intestines, Lymph system; Skeletal system (teeth and bones); Reproductive organs; prostrate gland (male); Bladder and Excretory systems; Lower extremeties (legs, ankles, feet)

Natural Experience: Being barefoot on the earth, watching Dawn or Sunset; walking in the woods; trees and forests; gardening/planting; tending to the earth.

Sound Frequency/Healing Tones: 194.18 Hz.(Chakra Platonic) - 256 Hz (Carrier Wave) - 396 Hz.(Solfeggio); Nature sound - Thunder, rain

Enjoy one of the Nature sounds from our GROUNDED playlist!

Similar to being grounded, another way to return to your center is to focus on the breath. Breathe in through your nose for a count of ten, hold your breath for a count of ten, and then exhale for a count of ten. Then, imagine a white light at your heart center. Feel that light emanating out to the world around you and then spreading out to the universe. Feel the positive energy and strength of the white light. Feel it supporting and grounding you.

In a recent issue of Tricycle Magazine (2017), there was an article called “Hold to the Center: Zen Advice for When Things Blow Up Around You.” The author discussed three tenets of his Zen practice—not knowing, bearing witness, and taking action.

Not knowing is about letting go, especially during turbulent or uncertain times. It allows you to put aside fixed points of view.

Bearing witness means being mindful of the world’s joy and suffering. It’s a way to come to terms with difficult situations and circumstances and to completely embody the lived experience. Bearing witness, in Buddhist meditation, is about being aware of sensations and thoughts as they arise, allowing them to pass like clouds in the sky before your eyes. Bearing witness is spontaneous and often surprising.

Taking action is the third tenet. For the most part, it’s impossible to predict the action for any situation. The main idea is to be with the intention, and that the best action will be taken for the situation, always being mindful of a caring and considerate action for yourself and everyone else involved. Taking action is sometimes connected to not knowing. Practicing the three tenets is one way to improve your sense of resiliency, helping you feel more grounded and centered.

Understanding the basics of being grounded and centered coupled with some simple tools can protect you and help you feel more balanced. This can lead to an overall sense of emotional, psychological, and physical well-being, and ultimately, a state of bliss.

In order to take your Wellness Journey to the next level, you will need to put in some time to figure out the challenges that may be holding you back. While keeping a journal is important and essential to the journey, you might not know exactly what to write down at all times. We encourage you to start by using our Best Life Wellness Workbook. It will serve as a prompt for those questions you need to ask yourself and as the tool to write it all down and MAKE IT PLAIN!