Grounding in your garden
Shoes off, connect to the earth.
The Art of Grounding: Finding Your Centre in Nature
There's something profoundly therapeutic about stepping barefoot into a garden, feeling the cool earth beneath your feet, and taking a deep breath of fresh air.
This practice, known as "grounding" or "earthing," is more than just a pleasant sensation—it's a powerful way to reconnect with nature and restore our inner balance (1).
What is Grounding?
Grounding is the practice of making direct physical contact with the Earth's surface.
This ancient practice involves connecting your body with the ground's natural electrical charge. When we make this connection, whether through bare feet, hands, or simply sitting on the earth, we align ourselves with the planet's subtle electrical field (2).
From a scientific perspective, the Earth's surface has a negative electrical charge, rich in free electrons. When we connect with it, these electrons can help to neutralise free radicals in our body, potentially reducing inflammation and promoting overall wellness.
Why Gardens Are Perfect for Grounding
Your garden offers an ideal setting for grounding practices for several reasons:
Natural Surfaces: Gardens provide various natural surfaces—grass, soil, stone pathways—all perfect for grounding contact.
Sensory Experience: Gardens engage all our senses:
The fragrance of blooming flowers
The gentle rustling of leaves
The sight of soothing colors and natural patterns of light and shadow
The texture of different surfaces beneath our feet
The taste of a fresh picked tomato or herb
Privacy and Peace: Unlike public spaces, private gardens offer a sanctuary where you can practice grounding without interruption.
Living Energy: Gardens are teeming with life—from microorganisms in the soil to the plants themselves—creating a vibrant energy field that enhances the grounding experience.
How to Practice Grounding in Your Garden
Start Simple: Remove your shoes and socks, and stand or walk barefoot on natural surfaces.
Create a Routine: Spend 15-30 minutes each day in direct contact with your garden. This could be via your bare feet or your hands in soil. In fine weather, you could lie down on the earth.
Combine with Other Practices: Try meditation, gentle stretching, or deep breathing while grounding. A simple series of deep breaths will do.
Engage Mindfully: Notice the different textures and temperatures beneath your feet, the way your body feels, and any shifts in your energy. Shift from focusing on one sense to another in a cycle. Try focusing on what you hear, to what you smell, what you feel then what you see.
Transform Your Space for Optimal Grounding
Creating the perfect environment for grounding could mean having a well-designed garden. I personally prefer to practice grounding in a space that I know is free from pet droppings, either on soft grass, pebbles or gravel or stone paving. I so far have not found any scientific papers that tell us whether either is more beneficial, but its always preferable to avoid anything that could harm you.
Go for:
Natural pathways with varying textures like mixed-size pebbles
Quiet seating areas with a soft aggregate surface for contemplation
Move between a mix of grounding surfaces (grass, earth, stone)
Strategic plant placement for privacy and peace
Total Garden Transformation
My Total Garden Transformation specialises in creating peaceful retreats specifically designed for grounding practices.
One of my recent gardens has an ideal grounding place, under a large tree, with reclaimed timber for a seat, soft aggregate underfoot. The owner can also have their back to their new wooden fence, so they feel secure enough to do this with their eyes closed.
MHGD gardens aren't just beautiful spaces—they're sanctuaries designed to facilitate your connection with nature. Each element is carefully chosen and positioned to maximize the grounding experience, creating an environment where you can truly find your center and restore your natural balance.
Whether you're seeking stress relief, better sleep, or simply a deeper connection with nature, a properly designed garden space can become your daily refuge for grounding and renewal.
I will help you create your perfect grounding sanctuary, where peace and natural harmony await just outside your door.
Contact Melanie for your Total Garden Transformation to begin your journey to creating your perfect peaceful retreat.
(1) Oschman JL, Chevalier G, Brown R. The effects of grounding (earthing) on inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. J Inflamm Res. 2015 Mar 24;8:83-96. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S69656. PMID: 25848315; PMCID: PMC4378297.
(2) Sinatra ST, Sinatra DS, Sinatra SW, Chevalier G. Grounding - The universal anti-inflammatory remedy. Biomed J. 2023 Feb;46(1):11-16. doi: 10.1016/j.bj.2022.12.002. Epub 2022 Dec 15. PMID: 36528336; PMCID: PMC10105021.
