by Suzanne Buchauer
While living in Australia, the land of barefoot walking, I learned some fascinating and surprising things about going barefoot and touching the earth, directly. Yes, it feels so invigorating to wiggle one’s toes through the grass, and is so freeing to stretch out, on a rock, after bathing in a river; skin touching a smooth, warm, rock surface—yet there is more to going barefoot and lying on a rock than just fun—it is called “earthing”.
What in the world is earthing?
Earthing is when you directly or indirectly (with help) connect your body, to the Earth’s natural healing energies. This can be done by: going barefoot, swimming in a natural lake, stretching out on the lawn in shorts, or on a sandy beach, sitting on a log or stone, with shorts on, so that the skin touches the earth object’s surface. It is the direct contact with earth; that is key!
This is not a new concept, of course. Thousands of years ago, “earthing” was recognised in Chinese records, which focused on “Earth Qi”. Other indigenous cultures throughout time have demonstrated that they have had a very easy and connected relationship with the earth’s healing energies. Dressing minimally, when possible, and spending time directly touching the earth’s surface was an easy way to gather the earth’s energy into people’s bodies, in the past and now.
For starts, it can be done anywhere you can find a bit of earth; or, it can be done inside your home, with the use of passive earthing contact technology, for sale through various vendors. Earthing can be a free way to heal many conditions. And, amazingly, you can even choose to purchase items to assist you to do it more often, indoors, to suit your personal condition or needs.
How can I easily connect to the earth?
You can connect directly to the earth with your body, or buy helping items, like blankets, copper inserted sandals, arm pads for desks. . .
How does it help us humans?
Connecting the human body with the Earth’s electric charge significantly stabilizes our human physiology at the deepest levels. Both qualitative and quantitative research studies document the effectiveness to our human body and mind. See the link below for research and discussion of benefits, including a visual mind map. The benefits are holistic, including: calming the mind, lowering stress levels, calming the heart, reducing muscle pain, enhancing immune response to speed wound healing, slowing free radical damage associated with aging, enhancing energy, reducing painful joint inflammation, balancing bone calcium, regulating hormones, calming digestion, improving blood oxygen, enhancing cell function, and improving circulation. To see the research on these benefits, check out the article linked here.
How can I actually do earthing if I do not like to be barefoot, it is cold, or I cannot go outside due to health or work circumstances?
There are products on the market to help with most human conditions. Yes, earthing can be done outside at any time, and inside with the assistance of: grounding blankets for day or night time passive earthing connection; mats for your bare arms, at your computer table; grounding mats for your feet, while sitting inside at your desk or table; sandals with copper conductive inserts, to connect with the earth, while walking outside; and more.
Nature path project, for the whole family, or for community locations
A nature path for yourself, your family, or your community is easy to make and fun for all. You can clear a path and make it around 15 feet or as long as you like. Divide the path up into segments by putting some stones or non-treated wood branches along the edge of the path and across the path every three feet, or so. You can make this path circular or straight. Once you have around five or six segments all cleared and boxed off, you are ready to begin collecting various conducting earth objects. You can collect and then put different natural items inside each section, which work as conductors to the earth below. Here are some ideas for the different segments in a nature path:
- grass and moss
- soft pine cones
- smooth stones or smooth gravel
- coarse sand
- cedar or other bark
- pine needles
- mud
What about my freshly mopped floors inside and the mess of going outside, barefoot?
Yes, safeguarding the peace in the house and feeling refreshed can be managed by washing the feet after earthing. This can be as easy as using a nearby hose and having a towel ready at the entrance to the house afterwards. My personal preference, in all weather, is to provide my family members and myself with a foot-sized basin of warm, sudsy water, using biodegradable soup, of course, with a wash cloth in the basin, to clean the feet. Then, I have various towels at the ready, on the door step, for drying, afterwards. It is very refreshing and relaxing and keeps the harmony in the house. (No more muddy footprints through the house.)
Whether you decide to do your earthing by stepping outside and kicking off your shoes for a walk or just standing in the yard while on the phone; making a planned nature/earthing path at home or in a local park; or getting some of the inside earthing products; my hope is that you have been inspired to give it a try and find your own creative way of connecting with the healing energies of our earth.
Happy Earthing, to you all.
Suzanne Buchauer
Suzanne Buchauer is a licensed Davis Dyslexia Correction Facilitator and Davis Autism Approach Facilitator, dyslexia-works.com, who lives in Upper Nyack, New York.
Upper Nyack Green Committee 