Lately, I’ve been feeding a greater need to improve my grounding. In the increasingly chaotic and manic world we have stumbled into over the past decade and a half, I feel like I have lost some of the ability I used to have to ground myself. Chances are that it is more likely that my abilities have not changed so much as they have not adapted to the current state of affairs — they are a little off-key might be the better way to think of it.
Prior to my toenail incident, I had plans to resume doing the yardwork I had started on Saturday as part of my exercise in grounding. I’m not into gardening, mowing or those kinds of things, but cleanup is something I can get myself lost in.
A bit of landscape rock that became temporary, then permanent storage of deadfall — it was time to clean it up and get rid of the debris so you can tell that there is that appalling landscape stone there instead of old branches. After several seasons of dead leaves gathering in the nooks of old branches, the rocks were filled with composted vegetation.
Because I was working six to seven days a week from late in the pandemic until the end of last year, I never seemed to get out to clean up the mess. So I started there. Then I trimmed back the volunteer trees from my neighbors chain link fence that borders my yard. Disturbed many worms and grubs to get the compost out of the rocks by raking and leaf blowing until it looked mostly like rocks again. Rain or a good soft spray from a powerwasher should finish it off.
I filled up one of those big 90-gallon yard-waste bins and the area was a tiny fraction of what I could have done. Had the toenail episode not happened, I was planning Sunday on going out and trimming back the other little volunteer trees that grow up too close to things to be healthy, buying some compostable twine and bundling it all up. Maybe take a quick ride around the neighborhood on the bicycle. Of course, my “injury” changed my plans.
This upcoming weekend I plan to plant the three trees that I purchased from the city to replace those that had to be removed since we bought the house. Two flowering (but fruit-free) trees and a river birch. I want to plant more, but I need to find an inexpensive supply of pines to replace the ones that needed to be removed over the winter due to disease.
And maybe at the end of the month I’ll try to teach myself how to use a kayak that I bought over a year ago, but never could get away to actually use. It’s still too cold to think of even trying to kayak without a wetsuit, something that I do not feel like investing it at this time. The water is still at around 45°F/7°C, which is brutally cold to sit in without insulation, even if you can manage to stay dry. Kayaks are not designed to keep one dry. Afloat, but not dry.
All of these activities are grounding activities, all without the ritual elements. So are long walks, especially in the forest (for me, anyway). As I rewild myself, I want to move away from focused, ritualistic grounding sessions and towards activities that support grounding on their own. I want to try and wash away some of the anxiety that plagues the world today, at least in the sphere of which I have influence, which is generally limited to myself (especially because I decline to participate in various magics and rituals).
Rewilding, in some respects, is pulling back from fomulae and protocol. It is about doing those things that come naturally, with an essence of wu wei (the Taoist concept of unforced doing-not-doing) driving the practice.
Or lack thereof.
17 responses to “Rewilding: grounding”
The world’s been strange since Covid and lockdown, and even before that, and it hasn’t improved recently. I’ve always found that getting involved in physical labour take my mind off troubles, the global situation and my personal feelings about it. There’s not too much time to brood on such things when you’re sweeping a ton of spiders’ webs off the garage ceiling, or cleaning out dead flies from the window wells. I hope your manual labour helps refresh you and your mind, my friend. Just don’t be dropping heavy objects on your feet or pulling any muscles. Take care. 🙂
Ha. My toes are shy now when working outside. Believe me.
I do! 😂😂
I like gardening too. We planted a river birch last year, and plan on putting one more in this year. Those long walks keep one grounded.
I’m trying to reclaim some of the manicured lawn in my backyard, probably much to my neighbors’ chagrin. But I’ve decided I don’t want or need typical All American lawnscape. I prefer to invite in the wild. 🙂
River birch are awesome. Love them.
I’m doing the same, little by little, with my lawn.
I spent years avoiding anything to do with gardening thinking it was ‘not my thing’ – I did lay a fairly large patio area (not very well, but, since lockdown, I have noticed more and more professionally laid areas which are no better than my efforts) – until everything looked like a tip.
Got really into it more recently though – not least because of the feeling of one-ness and connection that it brings. I’m not professing to be any good, but I always feel more alive when in the garden messing, and I like seeing how the plants I’ve put in develop in their own unique way. So yes, I get you.
I really should think about getting out of the thought process that plants are generally better off if I’m not involved (they are better off, but I should try to rethink my position). I’d probably do better with an herb garden — then there would be a practical application which would drive things. It’s too bad that our climate is not conducive to growing coffee beans. That would be a perfect thing to garden, in terms of practicality.
Now THAT would be good!
I am a bit more of a ‘nature when they’re young, then let them go wild’ chap. They seem to be happy enough!
Yes! That’s the approach.
😉
Hands in dirt; feet out☺️👌😊
I am rethinking the idea that I should get into it. I generally kill plants with my attentions, but maybe I just need to rethink it.
Grounding is definitely something I have had to work harder on! Enjoy the forest walks – they sound wonderful. I will look out for kayaking updates when things warm up but enjoy…my last trip on the water was in a canoe at 11 😅
A used to canoe (solo and with partners) all the time as a young kid and tween, which is some of the appeal of getting into kayaking. And we have so many lakes and slow rivers in our area that there is really no reason not to pick it up. But, like you , it has been a good long spell since I’ve gone out on the water in anything smaller than a full-sized speedboat, so I admit to being nervous about experiencing “tippy” situations. 😂
I like your ideas of ways to ground yourself that don’t involve outside influences/needs of others. Please wear a life jacket on the water; we lose about ten a year on Lake Tahoe, mostly paddle boarders who just think they’re out to get some sun and then are overcome by cold water shock and inexperience. With all these things remember they are things you ‘could’ do, so you don’t get overwhelmed or frustrated, and for goodness’ sake remember Eeyore’s advice: “We can’t all, and some of us don’t”😎
Oh, believe me… Minnesota — remember? We lose several a month that way somewhere in the state. I’m not going that way… I’ve got my lifejacket ready. 🙂