Pause and Reset

So what do you do when you realize that your self esteem has taken a hit and it is time to make a change?

In our previous articles I have laid out a sort of theory foundation for starting the recovery process.  I included a basic structure for maintaining and/pr restructuring of dynamic balance in our lives. I am continuing a basic discussion of foundational ritual practices before you actually do anything else. Like using a good primer to make paint last longer, these practices help tools like positive affirmation or even wiccan specific practices of underworld journeys be more effective.

In most metaphysical traditions there are the twin practices of grounding and centering before any type of real meditation can begin.  Grounding is the process of connecting to the earth energy around us and centering can be best described as pulling the energy around us to our point of balance so that we can use it throughout our day. Developing the self discipline to ground and center multiple times throughout the day does increase your own ability to combat negative self talk when it arises and assists in better decision making skills that are not purely reactionary.

Grounding basics:

Stop what your doing.

Stand or sit with your back straight. (Good posture does help the muscles relax.)

Take three deep breaths to exhale the stale, stressy energy.

Close your eyes and imagine that you are a tree and that your feet are roots going deep into the earth.

When you feel/sense that you are completely connected to the earth begin drawing that core earth energy into your being through your roots.

When you are ready it is time to move on to the second phase called grounding….

When you feel the energy flowing from your feet to your head imagine that energy condensing into a centralized place in your body or your natural center of gravity. (For some people this is the solar plexus or gut area. For myself it is the base of my spine or my root chakra.)

Stay here for a few more moments and when you are ready to can move back on to the rest of your day or ritual.

When confronting negative thought patterns and being willing to change them this is a major practice.  In her Udemy course Freedom to Choose Something Different Pema Chodron describes this as a 3 step process. When you start getting hooked into your cycle either a cycle of behavior patterns or emotional responses the first step is to notice that you are getting hooked. The second step is taking that pause. The pause can be a few seconds to several minutes but it is noticing that you are at the crossroads. The third step is choosing to do something different.

It is through the consistent observation of our destructive mental processes and being able to stop it do we obtain the release and the relief of choosing to go down a different path.  More on that to come.

Blessed Be.