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June 2026
Rooted & Grounded: How Connecting to the Earth Heals Mind and Body 365 Days a Year
Moving beyond Mental Health Month into a daily practice of holistic, whole-body healing.
You are an electrical being, and your body is designed to run on the Earth's natural energy
You are an electrical being, and your body is designed to run on the Earth's natural energy
Every single function that keeps you alive - from the rhythm of your heartbeat and the movement of your muscles to the very thoughts in your brain - operates on a direct current (DC) of electrical energy. For decades, research has shown that the Earth conducts this exact same natural DC energy across its surface, creating a global healing circuit. Because the human body is highly conductive, the moment you make direct barefoot contact with the ground, you plug right back into this global circuit.
Medical studies reveal that this simple connection instantly transitions your body into a profound healing state. By enhancing your "conductive health," grounding optimizes our vital organ systems that rely on this energy to function - including your cardiovascular (heart), musculoskeletal (muscles & bones), and nervous systems (nerves). It isn't just about feeling relaxed in nature; it is a divinely-designed, now scientifically backed, intentional tool that boosts our body's natural functions, helps heal existing conditions, and acts as a powerful shield to prevent dis-ease in the first place.
"Grounding is God's natural way of regulating our nervous system, a process known as neuro-regulation"
"Grounding is God's natural way of regulating our nervous system, a process known as neuro-regulation"
Throughout the month of May, I gave grounding a try and invited my family and clients to do the same. The resounding experience was absolutely life-giving! I warned everyone ahead of time that after a few minutes of grounding, they might feel the "fuzzies" moving throughout their legs and body. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, those "fuzzies" are known as Chi, or life-force energy. I promise, it's nothing spooky—our bodies are electrical beings with positively and negatively charged molecules that work hard to keep us alive and breathing every single day.
So, to help those grounding with me experience the same deep benefits, I shared my exact daily routine.
My 6-Step Grounding Process
My 6-Step Grounding Process
Ditch the Tech: Go outside in flip-flops. Leave your phone, computer, smartwatches, or other electronics inside.
Find Your Spot: Seek out raw soil, grass, or sand somewhere—avoid concrete or asphalt.
Connect and Breathe: Stand or sit with your bare feet (and hands, if you like) directly in the dirt for a few minutes. Inhale healing, and exhale all that no longer serves you (you get to decide what that is). Repeat this to promote calm.
Settle In: Relax your feet, settle into the earth, and feel free to close your eyes.
Linger: Stay as long as you'd like. Feel free to walk around, or even read a physical book if you are seated.
The After-Care: When you're done, do not wipe or wash your feet off! Simply place your flip-flops back on, head into the house, and slide on some clean white socks. Leave the natural earth elements right there on your skin and watch serotonin go to work. Sit in quiet reflection for 10–15 minutes, or as long as your body desires, enjoying the lingering healing benefits of the "fuzzies" and neuro-regulation.
When I first tried this, a blanket of relaxation and calm fell over me like the morning dew gently resting on my heart. The next thing I knew, my mouth was facing the ceiling; I woke up at my desk realizing I had dozed off, feeling like I had been hit with a tranquilizer!
I decided to lean in and embrace the deep rest my body was craving, so I crawled into bed. In all of my adult years, I have never experienced such a deep, healing period of restorative sleep.
Suddenly, my body began to crave that direct current (DC) energy. I found myself out in the garden, this time at 3:00 and 4:00 AM just walking around, squatting to put my hands in the soil, bare feet pressed to the earth, inhaling healing and exhaling release. This went on for a few mornings. During this sacred time, my brain and body got exactly what they needed to begin firing appropriately throughout my entire nervous system.
I'll go into intimate detail another time to share some of the specific healing moments I experienced and now get to live with every day as a result of giving my body what it called for—reconnection with the land. Today, my body enjoys grounding a few times a week as a reset. But even when my body doesn't explicitly ask for it, I just enjoy going out and being one with the earth—barefoot and all. I’ll sit outside and listen to music (with my tablet literally placed in the soil to redirect its electrical energy away from me) or even polish my nails.
What am I saying? Anything you can do indoors, take it outside and do it in the grass! Find a reason to make direct contact with our divinely provided direct current, and watch how God's healing powers begin to transform your health and well-being.
Plugging Back Into Balance: What Your Body Begins to Heal When You Ground
Stress & Burnout
Digestive Issues
Anxiety & Depression
Insomnia & Sleep Disturbances
Back Pain & Musculoskeletal Issues
Trauma & Emotional Release
Joint Issues & Rehabilitation
Cancer Recovery
Heart Disease
Osteoporosis
Keep the grounding energy flowing at meal and snack time
Fuel your cells, mind, and body with the life-giving, directly-from-the-earth recipes in my plant-based cookbook.
Available on Amazon.
Call to Action
Call to Action
Enjoy reading the reasearch study that inspired this and develop your own insights: Practical applications of grounding to support health.
“Here to inspire you to take your health back one meal at a time by eating more plants®”
About the Author:
Ethel Richards, MScN, MBA, MPH, CPH, LSSGB, PMP®, PROSCI® CCP • Food as Medicine Clinical Community Nutritionist. Also known as The Plant Based Nutritionista™, she is the founder and Chief Inspiration Officer of iEatMorePlants® LLC and the creator of In the Kitchen w/The Plant Based Nutritionista™ podcast. Her purpose is to inspire you with practical tools, tips, and information to take your health back one meal at a time by eating more plants®, drinking water, and moving your body.
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© 2026 Ethel Richards | All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer: Always consult your physician or appropriate health care team practitioner when beginning new health, wellness, & nutrition programs to ensure your unique needs are thoroughly considered. Use your best judgement when preparing food at home; if it smells spoiled, then it is - compost it! The information presented does not constitute any health or medical advice. Please seek advice from your healthcare provider for your particular health concerns before changing your healthcare routine or relying on this information. Neither the creator, iEatMorePlants®, nor The Plant Based Nutritionista ™ claims responsibility for adverse effects resulting from the use of the recipes and/or information within this document, video, or links.
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