GROUNDING
~Sonia Choquette, The Psychic Pathway - Extract

Once you are aware of how people's energy affects you, you have to train yourself to keep them from affecting you. People's energy patterns are real.

If you could see these energy patterns, you would notice that they look like swirling cocoons of energy surrounding each individual.

When a person's energy intermixes with your own, it is literally a co-mingling of two bands of energy...

Ideally you want to learn to observe these energy patterns mentally but not absorb them emotionally...[CHOOSE not to engage them emotionally].

This is easier said then done...unless you learn a skill called "grounding."

Consider that we all are huge ELECTRICAL ENERGY STATIONS, sending out, picking up and holding in energy all the time.
We have multiple layers of physical, emotional, mental and psychic energy flowing into, around and out of our bodies at all times.

GROUNDING is a technique that:

* calmly drains your self of excess energy, thus keeping your perceptions clear

* your emotions balanced

* your body relaxed, preventing emotional explosions.

The best method of grounding is so so obvious you will not believe it: TOUCH THE GROUND...simply put your hands onto or into the earth...
Plant a garden if possible and tend to it every day. Literally put your hands and feet in dirt. Potting soil will also work. Plant herbs or flowers in small pots if you live in the city.

By playing with dirt, your excess emotional energy will drain.

Working with clay is another way to get grounded. A simple bag of children's clay, the kind that won't dry out, is very grounding, Play with it for an hour.

*** ANY ACTIVITY THAT USES YOUR HANDS IN A CREATIVE WAY IS VERY GROUNDING.***

Clean a closet, paint our walls, organize books. Cooking and baking in particular are grounding. Baking bread both grounds your energy and nurtures your self...

City dwellers may need to touch a tree. If possible, lay on the grass...

Exercising, going for a walk or playing sports can also be grounding & is especially helpful if your energy is really sluggish or overcharged.

CRYSTALS

Crystals are very grounding and specific crystals help you in different ways.

* OBSIDIAN is volcanic rock. It is black and opaque and is excellent for BLOCKING ENERGY. It is a good crystal for hypersensitive types, people who pick up too much energy and are too concerned about other people.

FLUORITE, esp. green fluorite, is especially good for grounding and balance and is CALMING TO THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.

HEMATITE is also grounding and helps people with addiction problems because it STABILIZES EMOTIONS.

Carry these crystals, wear them as jewelry or sleep with them by your bedside.

Crystals are an especially practical took to hide in a desk drawer if you have a tense work environment. Whenever you feel too charged up with other people's energy, simply reach for your crystals, hold them in both hands, and imagine this unwanted energy flowing out of you and into the crystals.

Keeping yourself clear of other people's energy [i.e. the "draining" type] and staying grounded enhance your awareness a hundred percent.

[My format, caps & parentheses]