A grounding shielding practice
There are times when life gets you on edge, and a shielding practice is a great way to quell some of that nervous energy. With a regular and established meditation practice, I still like to shield myself.
It’s because I feel like I use my own energy, and those of my ancestors and relations to create a shield around myself to protect me as I go about my life.
Shielding protection
In my own life, I use this smoke-cleansing** on Sunday or Monday mornings to prepare for the week. I feel this protection when I’m commuting to work in my car on the busy highway. I feel it when I see and hear negative energy in others: I know my own shielding will deflect it.
I feel this protection in life’s ups and downs, knowing that my ancestors and relations who have passed on before me are helping me to use energy to help me stay strong.
This practice has its roots in both Native American Indian traditions, as well as in Far Eastern traditions.
Shielding with smoke-cleansing
The smoke-cleansing version is one I like to use at the beginning of each week as mentioned, but also at any time I feel I need to dispel negative energy and bring in more positive energy.
Sage gets rid of negative energy. It clears the air and sanctifies it.
Sweetgrass encourages positive energy and also makes the air sacred.
I do this at the beginning of the week. I imagine a shield surrounding me.
Materials:
- Sage stick
- Sweetgrass stick
- Matches
- Candle
- Feather (optional)
- Any favorite stones or crystals
The practice
I usually do this after meditation, but you can do this before or if you don’t meditate, the early morning is a good time.
Light a candle.
Take three deep breaths, and close your eyes. Allow your mind to settle into this practice. (It won’t get still unless you’re an olympic meditator, by the way.)
When you’re ready, take the bundle of sage and gently light it in the candle flame. Blow on it to help it to smoke (and not have an open flame).
Take a feather (or not – you can run the sage stick up and down the body without it) and waft the smoke around the head, around the arms, legs, back, front, and finish back at the head.
While working with the sage
Call upon your ancestors and relations (some people like to call on their angels and relations) that, through the sage, to shield and protect you as you begin your week. Imagine their energy from The Great Beyond coming through to guide and protect you with this energy shield.
This energy shield clears out negative energy from around you, the body, and mind.
While the sage is still smoking, imagine all the energy centers – the chakras – in your body spinning as marbles of light. This light expands and fuses with the energy shield you have created with the sage.
When you have finished with the sage, do the same with the sweetgrass. Imagine this sweetgrass sealing your energy field with positive energy and helping to psychically keep out any negative energy.
If you had a stone that you set nearby, it is now infused with all this energy. You can take it with you to keep in your pocket, backpack, purse or other item. It can serve as a reminder of the shield energy around you.
You are now ready to begin your week!
Shielding without smoke cleansing
This second practice is one I use for any time I need to feel grounded – any time I’m anxious about something, or when I just want to feel more connected or grounded due to stress or anxiety. This practice is similar to the one above on smoke-cleansing, but without the sage and sweetgrass.
You can do this at anytime, or anywhere, as a sort of boost to your smoke-cleansing practice.
Shielding while out in the world
Find a quiet spot.
Put your hands on your hips to assume the stance of the power pose. Take ten deep breaths – breathing in for 4 seconds, holding for 7 seconds, and exhaling for 8 seconds.
With your eyes capped or closed, imagine the seven energy centers of the body (the chakras). See their individual light as the colors of the rainbow.
Now see how their light is, at first, the size of a marble at each chakra point, but with brightness like that of the sun. Watch as their light expands to fuse with each other. This light continues to grow such that it envelops your body and becomes one bright, white light.
Silently repeat to yourself:
I am grounded.
I am protected.
I am safe.
Continue to breathe and see this light shield surrounding you for a few more minutes. See your feet growing roots and connecting to the earth so that you feel safe and protected.
When you’re ready, open your eyes and return to your day.
**I have begun to use the term smoke-cleansing out of respect to my Native American Indian fellow humans. It is their sacred practice to “smudge” and those who are not of Native American Indian descent have often stolen artifacts, cultural identities, rituals, and more for their own gain. I feel like using different terminology is one small way I can show respect to the people who created and figured out this practice early on and used it in a very sacred way. I always aim to give credit where credit is deserved.
Absolutely love this and definitely a wonderful way to start your week off on the right foot. I think I am going to give this a try as I am battling a bit of a head cold this week before Christmas and in need of some calming vibes to say the least. So thanks for the suggestion here. Hugs and wishing you a very amazing week before Christmas to you, my friend xoxo <3
Thank you, sweet Janine! I hope you’re feeling better and that your holidays are as incredible as you are. And I’m sending you more calming vibes. Sending you lots of hugs, love, light and well-wishes. Merry, merry Christmas, my friend. You are one amazing mama! ❤️
Nice rituals Cynthia. I understand their power and benefit and yet rarely use them. Happy Holidays!
Brad – thanks, friend! You know, I forgot to do one this week (after I did this post!) and I noticed it. I just feel so much more grounded and ready to take on the world when I do a smoke-cleansing at the beginning of the week. ☺️ I wish you a wonderful Christmas and holiday season!
I understand Cynthia. I have some morning rituals that are important to me and help me feel grounded and ready to start my day. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you, friend! May you be merry and bright! 🙂
Lil Sis, I”m going to make a statement which will probably sound ridiculous to some, but it is my truth as I know it: I do not experience anxiousness or stress or any of that stuff. I have reached a point where I am at peace, and it is marvelous. I wish I could tell people how I achieved it, but one answer would be inadequate. I had a mentor once tell me not to stress the small stuff and it’s all small stuff, and I guess I have internalized that piece of wisdom. The daily grind, the daily problems,well,compared to death, or being unloved, they are all small stuff to me.
Today is a beautiful day. Tomorrow will be a beautiful day. For me, they all are beautiful. That in no way is meant to trivialize the problems some people have; it is simply an attempt to explain how I rock and roll. 🙂
Hugs,Lil Sis!
Big Bro, you are fortunate. I think you don’t have the anxiety gene. And that is wonderful. Not everyone has a propensity for anxiety. Me? Oh lawd, I do. But my practice of meditation and my mindfulness tools all help to keep it at bay – and help me to stay calm, focused and centered. Do I fall off that rock of centeredness from time to time? Sure I do. But I return to center more easily than if I had no practice. As for the small stuff, you’re right: it’s ALL small stuff. I mean, in the end, nobody gets out alive. So just living life really is such a gift. I have used Death as a teacher many times. And seeing my dad recently laying in a casket, it sure snaps everything into perspective.
I hope you’re having beautiful weather. Merry Christmas! And no, I know exactly what you mean: being calm trivializes nothing – it enhances it. You keep on keeping on, Big Bro. You are remarkable! ☺️ Sending you hugs🤗
how much more practical a topic is there than ways to protect ourselfs from the toxic elements in life? v helpful.
and while specific techniques and practices adds to what I get from today’s post, the benefit of identifying with others who are engaged in an effort to deal with the negative end of the spectrum is, alone, sufficient to add to my world.
thanks
Clark – I love the clark-words that you bring to the discussion: ourselfs and such. 🙂 I so identify with the other folks when it comes to this. Hehe. And glad I could add to your world: I’m cultivating my inner-scott. Hehe. Sending you hugs! Merry festivities!
Loved your video Cynthia.. I will try again to leave my comment, I some how managed to click on my key board and delete my comment apart from the first word LOL..
I love Sage, as you know and recommend smudging, Holding the thought within is important.
I have a wonderful feather which I bought back from Canada in 2000 which was crafted by the First Nations People, it always feels special like ceremony when I use this feather to waft the smoke and smudge.. It is bound in leather work on the stem, with tassels…
Thank you again Cynthia for this .. it is needed..
Sending love and Blessings and so pleased I got here before a week passed by 🙂 Hugs my special friend <3
Sweet Sue! Thank you for leaving such a wonderful comment. I’m so sorry your keyboard ate it! That is an exercise in patience, no? Hehe. The scent of the sage is…heavenly! I just love smudging and smoke-cleansing.
A beautiful feather!? From Canada!? So incredible that it was crafted by the First Nations people! I love this…so much! Bound in leather with tassels – it sounds like something I would use in a communication circle in which only one person speaks at a time, whoever is holding the feather.
Sending love and blessings to you! Wishing you an incredible holiday – I’m sure you’ll get to spend some quality time with your granddaughter. Have fun! Sending you big hugs, love, light and Merry Festivities! xoxo
Dear Cynthia,
Thanks especially for the strategies for shielding while out in the world – valuable and practical.
Sorry to be late in commenting – I saw this earlier and returning to comment escaped me for a bit.
Happy, blessed and peaceful 2019 to you…!
Love,
Maria
Mar – so wonderful to see you! Thank YOU for your feedback. No worries – ever – when you get here. I’m just always glad to be graced with your presence and smile. Happy 2019 to you. Almost there! Hehe. Sending you BIG HUGS!