:four_leaf_clover: Merry Meet :four_leaf_clover:

:sparkles: Learn About Grounding & Centring :sparkles:

Grounding and centring are useful techniques that can aid spell work, meditations, rituals and more. They are an excellent way to bring us a sense of balance and a simple way of making our everyday lives more spiritual.

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:seedling: What is the difference between grounding and centring? :seedling:

This is something that is difficult to clarify as both use similar techniques and are used for similar reasons. Grounding allows us to get out of our head and bring us back to our foundations. It helps us become more mindful of our surroundings and in turn aids us in becoming more present within the space. Centring helps us become more aware of our body and the sensations within it. It helps us to simply be in the moment by focusing on sensations such as our breath. The difference between the two is that grounding is linked more with our surroundings while centring is linked more with our body. Both can be used to calm our mind, still our thoughts and become more present in the moment.

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:seedling: Why Do We Ground Or Centre As Witches? :seedling:

As witches, grounding and centring is one of the most important practices you can partake in. Grounding and centring helps us still our mind meaning that in that moment not only are we more balanced, but we are also more focussed. This is hugely beneficial as it can aid us in deeper meditations and visualisation. It can also be beneficial when partaking in divinatory practices, spell work, rituals and preyers as your mind is not occupied with unnecessary distractions making it easier to focus and complete your goal. It can also be good to ground and centre after partaking in such practices as it can still your mind once more making it easier for you to return to the mundane.

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:seedling: Simple Centring Exercise :seedling:

• Find somewhere comfortable to stand, sit or lie. This can be outside or inside, just make sure you are comfortable. If you wish you can use cushions, blankets or a chair to feel more comfortable.

• Close your eyes and breathe slowly in and out. Focus on the sensations as the breath comes in. Does the air feel cool? How does it feel as it travels through my body into my lungs? On the exhale ask yourself, how does the air feel as it leaves my lungs and travels out of my body? Does the air feel hot or cool? Slowly breathe with a gentle curiosity.

• Once you feel calm enough and you are more focused on the breath, start counting your breaths. On each inhale count, exhale, inhale and count again. Do this for ten breaths and begin the counting cycle again.

• Thoughts may come and go, this is perfectly natural. If any thoughts arise, think of them like a cloud slowly coming and going. Here one moment and gone the next. You may find your mind drawn to external stimuli such as the sound of a car or a neighbours dog. If such distractions occur, think of them like a radio in another room. Sure you can hear it, but it does not matter. Simply acknowledge it and come back to your breath once more.

• After about ten minutes, you should be ready to draw your session to a close. Stop counting but stay focused on your breath. As you breathe come back to that gentle curiosity. Does your breath feel different to when you began? Is it faster? Is it slower? Is it deeper? How does it feel? After this, slowly bring your attention back to your surroundings. Can you feel any pressure points where you have been standing, sitting or lying? Bring your attention to your body as a whole. When you are ready, slowly open your eyes to complete your practice.

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:deciduous_tree: Sources Of Information :deciduous_tree:

• The Mindfulness Bible ~ Dr Patrizia Collard

• The Meditation Bible ~ Madonna Gauding

• The Wicca Bible ~ Ann-Marie Gallagher

•All Giffs/Images From Giphy