Back to Earth

When Did You Last Lie Down on the Ground Outdoors?

The best things in life are wild and free.

~ John Muir ~

When was the last time you laid down with your whole back on the Earth?

Not just sitting on, or sinking in your bare feet in the grass (though that’s nice too!), but allowing yourself to fully surrender to gravity, and letting your whole body be held by the ground beneath you?

It’s such an underrated activity, almost too easy, that we tend to take it for granted. In a world overflowing with fancy supplements and seeking self-improvement on screens, we often forget that the simple act of lying on the Earth can be a powerful reset, a humble homecoming to our body and breath.

Lying on the ground can help:

🌿 Calm your nervous system

🌿 Refresh your body and mind

🌿 Reconnect you with your breath

🌿 Ease tension in your back and shoulders

🌿 Invite a sense of peace, presence and perspective

Enjoying some grounding earth therapy under a palm tree in Penang. Please note: (avoid coconut trees, unless you’re wearing a helmet!)

Slowing down and reconnecting with nature can be the most healing tonic. Resting with your back on the Earth requires nothing but a few moments of presence.

All you really need is a patch of ground and some time out to take a pause. You don’t need anything fancy. Just the clothes you’re wearing, or a jacket will suffice. A yoga mat, picnic blanket, or rug could be handy if it’s damp, sandy, or scrubby.

Some of my most delightful memories have been to stride outdoors to find a spot in nature to lie in the sunshine (ideal, but not required!) or under a tree, and simply be.

Let your whole back rest on the ground, and let the earth drain away any tension, heaviness, or worries you've been carrying.

🌿 Did you know?

Lying on the Earth - sometimes called grounding or earthing - has been shown to reduce inflammation, calm the nervous system, and improve sleep. Scientific studies suggest that direct contact with the ground helps your body absorb the Earth’s natural electrons, which can neutralise stress and support healing.

Indigenous and holistic traditions have long known what science is beginning to catch up with, that the Earth is a living, nurturing force. She freely offers deep nourishment for our body, mind, and soul. When we rest on her surface, we are gently reminded that we are held, we are safe, and we belong.

So I’d love to know…

🌳 How often do you lie on the Earth?

🌳 Can you remember the last time you did this?

🌳 Where would you go for this kind of grounding?

Here are some lovely places to inspire you:

• Your local park under a tree

• A quiet patch of beach or sand dune

• Woodland clearings or mossy paths

• Your garden or local green space

• A sunny hillside or meadow

Why not take a few minutes (or more?) this week to try it, if you’re not already in the habit, or haven’t for a while. Or if you are, consider exploring somewhere new?

And if you do, I’d love to hear where you went and how it felt.

With love and soft Earth beneath you,

💚 Fiona 🌍

This is day 14 of Magical Momentum May, challenging myself to meditate daily & write a Substack post each day.

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