Earth Is My Nature
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Earth day is just around the corner and before I get too far ahead of myself I want to name a few things. The first being, I am 100% aware of the nuances that science comes with (beginning with the birth of science being based off the theft of intellectual work of Africans but utilized and credited to philosophers like Aristotle, Plato and Hippocrates and finally the way science in the United States was historically used to experiment on Black people that descended from Africa, to justify dehumanization, enslavement, subjugation, abuse and terrorism around the world (enter Benjamin Rush and Samuel Cartwright).
I find it important to name this because there are many beliefs and thoughts in the spiritual, yoga and wellness industry that it can be difficult to know what is truth or has some truth to it and what is pseudo science. Even within this context I also want to make space for the nuance of the colonial mindset that we must have proof, whether scientific or research-based which has more often than not stolen and heavily created biases and oppression on indigenous cultures around the world that provided healing wisdoms but did not yet have written “proof” for why a culture or people believed or did a thing.
Americans recently experienced a moment of propaganda in 2020 and 2021 regarding believing or trusting science in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, in which many Americans believed the pandemic was not only fake but was a plan constructed by our own government and determined to blame and marginalize Chinese people. This ritual is not to convince anyone to agree with either side of the argument for or against science but the nuance of acknowledging the harm and history of science as a contributor towards white supremacy, racism and oppression. The sentiment #believescience is easily a privileged statement to make when removing the history, complexities and nuance of the scientific field. (For additional resources on this specific topic see here).
OKAY, now that I have named the nuance, marinate on that while I shift to discussing what I came here for. Earthing. I cannot name the many times I have attended yoga classes and heard the cliche ‘ground down into the Earth and lengthen the spine’, but what the hell does that mean?!? By definition, BYJU’s defines earthing as “This process of sharing the charges with the earth is called earthing. Earthing is a simple way for the leakage of current and hence protects the devices from electrical damage.” What I mean when I am saying to ground is when I am down to my bare basics, barefoot and standing on the Earth or walking, earthing. I find myself earthing throughout my day to check in with myself and bring myself to what feels like my nature. For me, earthing reconnects me to the thought that no matter what I am dealing with or facing in the present moment, I am not only a part of natures tapestry but the Earth is vast enough to hold all of us [humans] and ALL of us (our identities, layers, nuances and complexities).
My favorite time to earth is first thing in the morning before the sun comes up. It is almost as if majority of the world is dead or asleep and I get to have these private moments with nature to witness it coming into Spring each day. The dew on the ground or sitting on leaves. The chirping and songs of the birds. The blue hue and sometimes mist hanging in the air before the sun arises and makes it all dissipate. My feet bare on the ground.
There is so much wisdom that comes up through our feet. Is it hot or cold, wet or dry, sandy or muddy? And as much as our feet do for us, we often forget to take the best care of our feet. Shoving our feet into shoes that are perhaps way too big or way to small, heels to accentuate our calves or outfit without much thought of how crammed our toes are and the pressure we feel on the soles of our feet. I want to make space for nuance here and acknowledge that the next statement is ablest in the sense that the assumption is that we utilize the muscles in our feet daily regardless of the shoes we wear and often do not begin to pay them attention or care unless we notice something is wrong like a smell, being off balance, a corn or a bunion. I mean what does that say to us really being intentional with living and caring for ourselves from our heads to our toes (pun intended)?
I began earthing on accident but not really. I mean, pre-pandemic as my family was experiencing financial challenges I did not have accessible income to pay for self care services because we needed every bit we had to actually live. But I also needed ways and practices to keep me centered and connected to what was real and present for me that I did not necessarily have to share with a husband and children. I may have finally during this time come to terms with what I had always noticed for myself, that in winter time it was hard for me to want to engage and function in the world and for as long as I could remember as an adult, by October annual- I check out. I decline making any plans. I make really really good food. I reflect on relationships and friendships and what I need to release and I vow not to do much of anything until January. NOW, colonialism had me convinced and self-diagnosed as having seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and as a way to cope from everything outside being so brown and ‘dead’, I made sure the inside of my home was alive and green via houseplants. And remembering what my mom or elders would say if you weren’t feeling well, lay down, go outside and get some fresh air or have some ginger ale. So I opted for outside.
It was crunchy to walk around on the grass which felt warmer than the concrete. I’d feel the grass poking the bottoms of my feet like little needles left behind and watch my feet with each step because I was not going to be the casualty of an ever prowling spider. I wouldn’t stay outside for long walking around barefoot for a few reason: one, my neighbors would think I lost something walking in circles with my head down, or two someone would want to speak to me and in this moment, I needed these Earthing walks just to myself. After about 2-5 minutes or so, I walked back into the house ready to face the little people again.
BUT then I realized how calm I felt. Not just a okay, back to Mom’ing but like I had given away burdens from the day I was having and it wasn’t in a push it down or ignore they happened way. It didn’t require me to dump on those I love or friends that may have had just as fried of a day as I was having. So I kept doing it, everyday, twice a day. Thats when I knew for sure it was working. What I thought was SAD was actually my bodies wisdom telling me it missed the connection to nature it usually has. It felt so natural to me to go outside, even if I had to grab a jacket and put my barefeet on the ground.
Now earthing looks slightly different for me now that I am homesteading on ancestral land. There is no cushion of grass but there is plenty of space to spread my toes and feel the earth underneath me. I don’t venture off the sand often because this area is known for slithering siblings and I don’t want to engage with them like that. Since I have made earthing a part of my regular practice I notice how easily it is for my children to get kick off their shoes as soon as we get home or comfortable in a place. I guess earthing is their nature too.
Being intentional and mindful about our actions and living them as ritual and practice do not have to be hard. They do not require us to be on retreat across the world as often as possible if we apply the lessons in our daily lives and make the mundane ritual. So my invitation to you is together outside, whether on a balcony, garage with turf or tarp, concrete or grass and feel the Earth under your feet. Tag me on IG so I can share your practice.