I’m find myself thinking a lot about earth energy. There has been alot of instability and uncertainty this summer. The Okanagan and many other locales across Canada and beyond, have been scorched by wildfires, which has threatened or destroyed homes and habitats and wreaked havoc on our physical and mental health. A few weeks ago there was a rockslide that covered the highway between Peachland and Summerland, closing the road (still closed!) At the same time, the earth is some of the most reliable energy we know in our lives. Most of us have homes on stable ground, or on such slowly shifting ground, it is barely perceptible. At times, we may describe ourselves as feeling grounded, sure of ourselves and our place in the world; at other times, we feel ungrounded, like the rug has been pulled out from under us and we feel scattered and unable to get a foothold. We may experience a lot of fear, uncertainty or free-floating anxiety.
The earth energy, pṛthivī, in Sanskrit: पृथिवी, is often described as The Mother, who bears all life on earth and produces all of the abundance that we enjoy on a daily basis. She nourishes us with food and the materials to make shelter and all of the products we use. We often take Her for granted and pollute Her waters, which is like spitting in Her face. And yet, she continues to love unconditionally, and provide for us all. In that sense, we all have the same Mother, we are united in this earth we share.
The yogis have called the outermost sheath of the human being the “annamaya kosha” which means the body made of food (“anna” ) and it’s comprised of the earth element. When we eat, we are eating earth. Think about other ways the earth element expresses itself in the physical body; for example, the stability and dependability of the bones. If you’ve ever broken a bone, you know about that feeling of flimsiness.
A very simple way to connect to this earth energy is sensing the part of your body which is touching the earth. You can do this anytime, even right now. If I am talking to someone and feel nervous (unsure of myself and unsteady), I drop down into the sensation of my feet on the floor, or butt on the chair, and remember the earth as this giant body of love beneath me, holding me up. Working with the earth element helps to feel steady in our lives even when the “shit hits the fan”.
Right now, as we head into the autumn, it is a juncture, or sandhi, between seasons. It’s a good time to connect to the earth element. The leaves start to dry up and fall from the trees, and the winds are blowing in the cooler air. While we are getting back into some routines, there is a lot of activity. It is a time when the air element is more pronounced, and thus, a good time to turn to warming, nourishing soups and stews of root vegetables, that are grounding. It’s also a great time to go for cleansing, as this seasonal transition is a typical time when sickness can take hold. Earth is the healer too, providing nurturance and medicines.
Of course, since junctures or joints (also in the physical body) are the most unstable, transitional places, in our yoga practice we can pay attention to stabilizing the joints to bring an earthy quality. Then the firmness we feel in the body brings about a steadiness of mind. Yogasana, sensation grounded in our physical body, can be a welcome stabilizing force of nature.
