Have you ever had those moments of doubt when you wonder whether you've locked the door, handed the file to your superior or found yourself in a room and forgotten why you're there?
We've all been there, done that, and it's literally a lack of anchoring! Perhaps your friends or colleagues are constantly telling you to anchor yourself and stop being in the moonlight?
That's all well and good, but what does it actually mean? What is anchoring, and how can we anchor ourselves on a daily basis, if not by attaching an anchor to our ankle?
Anchoring, a broader definition
According to the Petit Larousse, anchoring is “the action of anchoring something, the fact of being anchored; implantation, rooting”.
We're talking about anchoring something or putting down roots, but where and in what?
Like a tree, we are living beings interconnected on different planes of existence. As the scientist and philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said, “We are not human beings living a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings living a human experience.”
So, to live this human experience, we incarnate in a human body made of matter, cells and tissues of all kinds. Through our body and our 5 senses, we experience matter and earthly life as we know it. This is why, when we incarnate, we anchor within ourselves our energy, our self and, later, the identity we wish to create.
It's all about putting down, putting something down. Anchoring means coming back to ourselves, to our body in matter. To be fully in the present moment, present to ourselves and our surroundings. To literally have our feet on the ground!
For example, when you're thinking about what you're going to make for dinner tonight, or making projections about a future that doesn't exist, you're in your mind's eye and no longer anchored here in the present moment, in your body and what you feel through your senses. That's why we anchor ourselves through our body, our senses and in the present moment.
A complex energy system
Whether we're talking about anchoring or rooting, we can't ignore the body's energy system. This is made up of seven main chakras located in our central channel along the spine, corresponding to our body's main nerve plexuses. According to traditional Chinese medicine, these chakras are energy wheels that enable the free circulation of energy in the body via the meridians, in our verticality (from top to bottom and bottom to top).
When we lack anchorage, our 1st chakra (or root chakra), located at the base of the spine between the perineum and coccyx, can become unbalanced or blocked. Symbolized by the color red, it represents innocence, wisdom and discernment. This chakra develops and balances between the ages of 0 and 7.
This is the age when the child is developing physically, psychologically and emotionally. A trauma experienced at this age can hinder the proper functioning of this chakra, unbalancing or blocking it, leading to feelings of insecurity, fears and even a blockage of vital energy.
On the other hand, a destabilizing external situation (financial stress, moving house repeatedly, etc.) that generates fear and insecurity can unbalance this energy center and thus all our chakras, which are all interconnected.
The refusal to incarnate fully and the rejection of this world in which we live is also at the root of an imbalance in this chakra corresponding to our primary needs (sleeping, eating, drinking, etc.).
Here are a few examples of a lack of anchoring:
- Being in one's mind with all kinds of thoughts: thinking about what to do tomorrow or how to dress for work...
- Being emotionally overwhelmed by one's own emotions and/or the emotions of others.
- Stumble, forget where you put your things, memory lapse.
- Wanting to escape the present moment, daydreaming.
- Projection into the future or the past.
- Have absences and make others repeat themselves.
- Extremities of limbs numb and/or cold
- Loss of body perception
- Being absent from oneself and others
- Fatigue, lack of energy
- Fears, feelings of insecurity
- Feeling out of place
- Lack of self-confidence
Le manque d’ancrage nous déconnecte de notre perception du moment présent mais aussi de notre corps et des autres. Cet état peut conduire à réaliser des choix de vie non alignés avec nos aspirations profondes, ou encore faire des erreurs. Notre énergie n’est plus focalisée dans le moment présent de ce fait on peut ressentir une fatigue physique mais aussi psychique. Nous devenons passifs de notre vie. Mais pas de panique ! Toute chose à sa solution !
- Being in one's mind with all kinds of thoughts: thinking about what to do tomorrow or how to dress for work...
- Being emotionally overwhelmed by one's own emotions and/or the emotions of others.
- Stumble, forget where you put your things, memory lapse.
- Wanting to escape the present moment, daydreaming.
- Projection into the future or the past.
- Have absences and make others repeat themselves.
- Extremities of limbs numb and/or cold
- Loss of body perception
- Being absent from oneself and others
- Fatigue, lack of energy
- Fears, feelings of insecurity
- Feeling out of place
- Lack of self-confidence
Lack of anchoring disconnects us from our perception of the present moment, but also from our bodies and from others. This state can lead us to make life choices that are not aligned with our deepest aspirations, or to make mistakes. Our energy is no longer focused in the present moment, so we can feel both physically and psychologically tired. We become passive in our lives.
But don't panic! Everything has its solution!
Anchoring techniques :
As we saw earlier, anchoring brings us back to the present moment and to our body, through our root chakra.
So all manual or sporting activities are good ways of being present to ourselves. We are fully present to the tasks we perform. Yoga, with its various bodily and breathing practices, reconnects us to the body and balances our first chakra.
Connecting with nature is also a great source of anchoring.
Mother Nature is nurturing, the basis of our deepest roots. Without nature, there would be no ecosystems, and no human beings on Earth. Mother Nature has nourished and healed us since the dawn of time, through plants, medicinal plants and animals. We need to rediscover the deep roots of who we are and our interconnectedness with everything. Like the majestic oak, we need to be deeply rooted in order to brave the winds and storms outside. In other words, the more deeply rooted we are, the more we can face the trials life throws at us without breaking.
Walking barefoot in nature is not only a good way to anchor yourself, it's also an energetic cleansing technique for releasing tension and unpleasant emotions.
Here's a little visualization exercise (well known in the field of personal development); the tree roots exercise.
Standing in a quiet, safe place, focus on the rhythm of your breathing to regain a sense of calm and connection with your body.
You can place one hand on your heart and the other on your stomach. Become fully aware of the contours of your body, feeling the different points of tension and the strength in your legs and feet.
When the link is established with your body, you can visualize large roots extending from the base of your spine and feet, plunging deep into Mother Earth.
With each exhalation, your roots sink deeper and deeper into the earth, and with each inhalation, the energy of the earth rises through your roots into your body (you can also visualize the color red, symbol of the 1st chakra).
Repeat these breaths over several cycles until you visualize the center of the earth, a bright ball of energy where you plant your roots. Inhale this earth energy and feel it in your body. Depending on your sensitivity, you may feel warmth in your legs, heavier, or even more present to yourself. Draw this energy up into your heart.
With practice, you can personalize this exercise by repeating phrases that make sense to you, such as: I am safe, the earth sustains and nourishes me, I am fully present in the here and now, etc...
You can also breathe out, lowering your arms to the bottom of your body to “help” your roots take deeper root, and breathe in, raising your arms to help the energy rise. It's up to you to experiment, personalize this exercise and feel if it's right for you. Throughout the day, you can visualize the roots for your re-rooting at any time.
The benefits of anchoring :
Including anchoring with the technique of your choice in your morning ritual helps you to wake up better, rediscover the reality in which you live, and gain and keep your energy.
When we anchor ourselves, we regain energy through our connection with Mother Earth, and we are no longer scattered left and right by parasitic thoughts.
It brings clarity of mind, increased concentration and self-confidence. It brings discernment and a better ability to analyze life's situations, whether professional or personal.
Our vital impulse develops and nourishes our desires, enabling us to realize our full potential in this world.
To conclude
It takes more than love and fresh water to be happy and healthy. Anchoring ourselves is the basis of everything we do on a day-to-day basis, whether it's performing well at work, enjoying our loved ones and the things we love, or embarking on a journey back to ourselves and opening up to the realms of personal development and spirituality. It enables us to live our earthly incarnation to the full, unfolding our verticality like a majestic oak. Patience and perseverance.
It's a practical tool you can put in your toolbox to brighten up your daily life and your health.
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