Grounding, Centering and Shielding

Grounding, Centering and Shielding,




The Tree Meditation

Stand or sit straight up - your spine must be perpendicular to the

Earth's surface. Sitting against a tree is really neat but not

necessary.




Take four (or however many you desire) deep inhalations and exhalations

and get your mind in the right space. Visualize that you are breathing

in golden-white light - this is prana. Prana is more than air; it is the

life force that sustains all things.




As you breathe begin to notice those areas of your body that are tense.

Breathe prana into those areas and relax the tension. Start with the top

of your head and work your way down to your toes.




The next step is very important. One of the most difficult aspects of

meditation is that our minds are constantly filled with various

thoughts. These thoughts distract us from having a good meditation. To

deal with this problem (and there are many methods for mind-calming) try

the following and at this point focus your awareness on the third eye.




Visualize that you are on a bridge that spans a body of water. Go to the

top of the bridge and put all your thoughts, concerns, cares, and

worries about your mundane life into a bag. Tie the bag closed and throw

it into the water.




Watch the bag float for a time and then see it sink down. When you are

satisfied with your actions you may leave the bridge or stay for the

next part - the actual "Tree Meditation."




Now VISUALIZE your spine and body as a tree trunk. See and feel roots

growing from your legs (or tailbone if sitting) and send them into

Mother Earth.




Let your roots tap deeply and send them to the Earth's center. There you

will see a glowing silver-blue ball. Allow your roots to wrap around the

ball like fingers. Think to yourself that this ball is the heart of the

mother, the stone, the center, the home of our ancestors and the realm

of the ancient ones. Then allow the energy from the ball to rise up your

roots and feel the Earth's energy (the power of immanence, the power

within) to fill your body.




Feel the energy travel up your spine into your head. Feel it come out of

the top of your head and fall down upon you like a fountain. Feel it

fill your entire body and being.




Next, VISUALIZE that there are branches full of leaves coming up from

your head and shoulders (some folks like to see their crown opening).

Allow them to grow upwards, reaching for Father Sky. Allow your branches

to wrap around the sun and to take in his light (the power of

transcendence, the power without) so that you may bear "fruit"-the

fruits of wisdom, intelligence, creativity, etc.




Feel the energy come down the branches and let it fill your entire body

and being right down to your feet. You are now grounded and centered

with two energy circuits moving within you. It is a good idea to do this

exercise at least once every day, particularly in the morning as a good

way to start the day. You should also do this exercise before and after

any magickal working and ritual.




As you do the exercise you may find it helpful to say outloud the words

of visualization and we also like to give thanks when the exercise is

completed -- without the Earth and Sky we would not be!




Shielding




After you ground and center, allow energy to build up in your heart

chakra. See a green spiral spinning faster and faster. Then send the

energy out into your eggshell shaped aura.




Visualize this egg shape and see it surround you - even to the point of

extending into the Earth just underneath your feet. Visualize and, if

desired, say outloud that you shield yourself.




At this point you need to set up the type of shield that you desire.




There are many variations on this theme. The most basic is the mirror

shield where any type of energy, good or bad, is deflected back to the

sender. Another is a net or mesh shield that only allows good energy

inside. Or your shield may take in bad stuff and then transmute it to

good vibes. Or negative energy may be grounded into Mother Earth where

she will then take care of it.




One may like to surround herself with a three-dimensional pentagram of

whatever color.




There are many types of shield shapes, colors and functions; try

different things and experiment.




Shielding is very important because as you become more sensitive to

energy, you become more sensitive to positive and negative energies.




Shielding helps to protect you and, equally as important, helps to

protect others from you! It is a good idea to shield when you know that

you will be going to a public place or a tough situation (in particular,

shopping malls, government buildings, police stations, prison, and the

like - trust us on this!). You may find that you will need to first do a

quick grounding and centering to build up the energy to establish your

shield.




Of course, with these basic energy exercises, you may fine-tune and

augment them to satisfy your particular yen.

Remember - regular daily practice makes perfect! The more you do it the

quicker it will happen - i.e. you will get to the point where you can

ground, center and shield in just a minute or less.