“From the Ground Up” is the third in a monthly column on healthy mental habits by Karen Munson. Read the previous article, Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie, at the link.
Have you ever wished you felt better physically and emotionally, or had more energy? Believe it or not, the answer could be in your front yard. “Beneath your feet lies an amazing gift from nature with the potential to quickly restore your health, balance, and quality of life,” said Martin Zucker, an author and proponent of the simple practice of “earthing,” or connecting directly with the earth.
Actress Mariel Hemingway, granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway, is also a big proponent of earthing. She comes from an amazingly creative family, she shared in an interview, “many of whom suffered from mental illnesses including depression, alcoholism, bipolar disorder, and even schizophrenia, resulting in seven suicides and various addictions for generations.”
Even as a child, Mariel found that the one thing she could rely on was her connection to nature.
“Since childhood,” she shared, “I have been on a path to discovering the best methods to prevent sadness in my own life. I was depressed for a significant part of my childhood and young adulthood. The one thing that has always been a saving grace for me is my connection to nature. When my family was in turmoil, I sought solace in the mountains. I remember scrambling up trails, sometimes needing to rest under a tree for an hour. … Afterward, I felt like I could handle whatever came my way.”
Many of us instinctively “head for the hills” when we need to regroup. We spend time in our gardens or go for walks to reboot our energy and release stress. Emerging scientific research from a study in 2012 suggested there may be scientific benefits to this instinct. The study showed that through barefoot contact, excess electricity in the body grounds into the earth.
Here’s the theory: The Earth is like a gigantic battery continually being recharged by the sun. In simple terms, this results in its negative electrical charge. This natural energy benefits all life on land and the sea, but the present human lifestyle has disconnected us from the battery. Rubber is an insulator that prevents conductivity, and unlike our ancestors, we wear rubber-soled shoes that cannot conduct this flow.
Just as electric systems are stabilized when they are grounded, i.e., connected to the earth, researchers theorized that human bioelectric bodies become stabilized when we are grounded through direct skin contact with the earth. As a result, we experience a sense of balance. Martin Zucker referred to this direct contact as “earthing,” though it has also been called “grounding.”
Earthing is an alternative medical practice, and it does have its critics. Skeptics argue that while earthing does no harm, it shows no empirical evidence of having direct benefits either. Proponents, though, say their lives are happier when they practice earthing.
If the theory sounds strange, you can always test it out and see what you think. As with any self-care option, it has to work for the person who is using it.
Mariel sees her personal journey as a testament to the power of earthing and its potential impact on health. Earthing is believed to help stop inflammation, a condition that can lead to more adverse health effects.
“This is not a diagnosis,” Mariel said; “everyone’s experience is unique. It’s just an observation that when our mental and physical health is out of balance, we might experience some of these issues.”
She continued: “For many years, clear into my forties, I carried the fear of suicide because of my family’s history. Now that I plug all the connections into a balanced life, I am truly a happy person, and I do not fear mental illness or suicide anymore.”
The components of Mariel’s recipe for achieving mental balance include:
- Eating healthy food.
- Engaging in exercise regularly.
- Staying hydrated with good-quality water.
- Taking time for silence and prayer.
- Getting enough sunshine and vitamin D.
- Connecting with nature.
- Connecting with Mother Earth – “Earthing.”
Mental illness is a major national and local concern and a challenging reality for many people. It affects all ages, and presents in many different forms, including anxiety and/or depression. In addition to whatever medical resources and advice a person has, adding even one self-care routine can positively impact a person’s inner experience of wellness and self-empowerment.
Of course, there is no magic solution to life and what Mariel calls “the fiery brain.” She shares, “I still get stressed now and again — there’s no avoiding that in this fast-paced life.”
But having go-to resources available can make a difference. “Fortunately, I now know that if I take my shoes off, go into the yard, and either wander around or simply sit cross-legged and quiet, I get instant relief,” Mariel said. “I feel the tension literally being expelled from my body. And that’s how I live my life, making the time I am grounded as important to my lifestyle as the food I eat.”
The earthing concept can be tested by simply walking barefoot outside on a natural surface. It is free and an option worth considering for what ails us. If you want to increase your exposure, find a place outside where you can sit comfortably or lie on the ground. Try it; you may like it.
– by Karen Munson
Feature image caption: Mariel Hemingway. Courtesy of the Mariel Hemingway Foundation.
Karen M. Munson – Escalante
Karen is an associate editor at The Byway. She is fascinated and fulfilled by all things involved with writing. After graduating from BYU, she taught English at Escalante High School for three years. She pursues opportunities to write and support others in their writing. Karen has published three books with four more scheduled to be released in 2024. She and Reed are the parents of ten children and the grandparents of 35 grandchildren.
Karen is the author of two columns in The Byway, A New Twist on Healthy Mental Habits and Lyle’s Corner.