Putting bare skin to earth is a grounding experience. Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

I am now full throttle into motherhood and really enjoying it so far. I got used to waking up several times a night throughout my pregnancy, so the interrupted sleep schedule isn’t as big of a deal as I had been led to believe. Of course, I know things can change, and they will, but for now I’m blissed out snuggling at all hours with my little one.

A couple days ago, I made myself take 10 minutes while little guy was napping to meditate. I hadn’t sat formally in 2 months….and it did not go well. For some reason, I was very surprised that my mind was so scattered! The last time I meditated, I was able to focus solely on my breath and get profoundly relaxed (during labor!!).

To say that I am currently ungrounded would be pretty accurate. And I remember the first time I heard the word grounded used that way; I was confused by it. For most people, the word grounded is probably loaded with the punative memories of a jaded and angsty teenager. (It is for me!)

But these days, grounded  is yoga-speak for the opposite of flighty and scattered. If you are grounded in your body, for example, you have control over your breath, feel balanced with gravity, and are physically calm. There are grounding yoga poses, grounding foods to eat, and many grounding Ayurvedic practices. I’ve been immersed in the yoga world for so long that when I was thinking of a descriptor to put on the Bartanica Vetiver + Orange spray label, grounding was the word I chose. It didn’t occur to me until after I made that decision that it might make little sense to someone who is not familiar with yogic parlance.

Grounding is accurate, though, so I’m standing by my decision. The scent relies on a base of vetiver essential oil, made from the roots of the vetiver plant, to deliver the grounding action. Vetiver e.o. has this earthy, dense, cooling and damp fragrance that lends itself very well to meditation, reflection, and relaxation. Vetiver is a tall grass that loves to grow in marshy areas, so it loves growing in New Orleans, and its oil has been used in perfumery for centuries. (Read more about vetiver in this article I wrote.) The blend is intended to not only ease your mind, but also to uplift your spirit with bright citrus oils.

There are a myriad of ways to get grounded. If you find it hard to concentrate and stay focused, it’s a good indication that you need to take steps towards becoming more grounded. And, thankfully, it is a pleasant place to be (from what I remember 🙂 and doesn’t involve punishment of any kind.

May your roots grow strong and deep…..

Sharon