How to Get Grounded Before Writing
Writing comes naturally when we feel grounded, rooted, and safe in our bodies.
When our energy is scattered, it can be challenging to connect to inspiration, and to truly catch the flow of our creativity and our words.
In my own practice, I love to get grounded with nature before I write. Mother Nature is the greatest healer! She not only heals our bodies, but also gently nurtures all the creative beauty that wants to flow from us.
Have you ever gone outside for a walk, and come back with a million brilliant ideas for your novel? Yes! That’s exactly the energy that I’m talking about.
Here are a few techniques—a mini ritual, actually—that I do before writing to get grounded. I always feel so rooted and calm and present afterwards!
To begin, go outside and find a quiet place in nature. Place your bare feet on the earth. Feel the beautiful energy of the earth flowing up from the bottoms of your feet, steadying your energy and grounding you.
I like to imagine roots growing from my feet, anchoring deep within the soil, possibly unfurling all the way down to connect with the crystalline core of the planet. You can also do this with a tree—placing your hands on its bark while having your feet touching the earth. (Trees have amazing energy!) I often visualize these “feet” roots merging with the roots of the tree before delving deeper into the earth.
From here, take a few deep breaths. You might even want to sit down if you’d like, and close your eyes. Connect with the feeling of rootedness. Feel Mother Earth’s energy surrounding you and nourishing you.
Stay here if this feels good for now. You can take it a step further and send your roots all the way down to the center of the earth, gently wrapping around the core. You might want to send some love as a thank you to Mother Earth, or just simply enjoy the energy of this connection—this idea of really, truly being here. Being present in the moment. Being alive.
When I do this, I send my love, and I also allow the nourishment and love from Mother Nature to return to me. I sit with this for several minutes, letting all the goodness infuse into me.
Now, place your hands at your heart center. Say this mantra: “I am safe. It is safe to write.”
Stay here for as long as you’d like. You may already be experiencing a sense of peace, of the connectedness between your body and the nature around you. Let yourself take it all in. This might be a time for some creative sparks to arise—maybe inspirational tidbits, ideas for chapters, plot twists, or the perfect name for your main character (that you’ve of course already changed a million times). Everything! Let it all flow in.
Journal Prompts:
Grab your journal and choose one (or maybe all!) of these prompts to reflect upon!
What does it feel like in your body and mind before you write? How would you like to feel?
How is your writing different after you’ve taken time to get grounded beforehand?
How does connecting with nature influence your creativity?
Affirmations:
I ground myself before writing to remain steady, peaceful, and calm.
A calm state of mind helps my words flow.
I am safe in my body. It is safe to write.
Essential Oils for Grounding:
One of my favorite essential oils for getting grounded before I write is Frankincense. It has a warm, woodsy, and earthy scent—perfect for getting calm and steady, especially since it’s derived from nature. You can place a few drops in an essential oil diffuser before you sit down for a writing session.
Goddess Connection:
Gaia is the Greek goddess of the earth and of fertility. She is the mother of many gods and goddesses. Her essence is all about creation—that beautiful spark of life that is within all of us and the entire universe! Call upon her energy when you’d like to get grounded with the earth before writing, and when you’d like inspiration for birthing a writing project.
Happy writing, beautiful creative soul!
xoxo, Ana