One of my absolute favorite grounding exercises is Giant Strings. I began this activity with my girls when they were worried or awake in the night, and it benefited me as much as them. I adapted it from meditation techniques, guided imagery, and it has a magical way of bringing you to a mindful moment.
Imagine the following (when working with children, say this in a slow, quiet voice which can be hypnotic in nature):
At all times there are two giant strings that connect you to the earth and the sun. These giant strings can hold you up or even pull you along when you’re tired. Imagine a giant string that attaches to your back and runs all the way down your legs to the middle of the earth – past the dirt, the ground animals, the water, the rocks and the minerals – all the way to the center of the earth. This string grounds you and keeps you connected to the firm earth. Imagine another string that attaches to your stomach and runs all the way up and past the top of your head to the sun – past the birds, the clouds, the stars, the moon, and the planets – all the way to the center of the sun. This string gives you energy, warmth and light. Imagine these strings as they hold you up and make you strong. Now take three breaths.
The placement of the strings can vary based on where you need support. The string to the sun from your stomach helps when you need energy and nourishment and a sense of being taken care of. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with responsibility, move that string to attach to your shoulders or upper back. If you’re feeling sad, have it attach to your heart. For the string to the earth, attaching it to your back gives you strength. You can also attach it to your hips if you’re feeling stuck and cannot move forward. The connection can be wherever you need support. If you experience chronic pain, that location would be a great place for the sun string. If you want to stand tall, have one at the top of your head to the sun and one at your tailbone to the earth.
Giant Strings can be used at night as a relaxation tool to help fall asleep, or anytime during the day when you need a little extra support. Giant Strings is a way to notice what’s in your body as your attention is brought directly to your back and stomach and brings grounding. It is a way to notice the sensations in your body as you imagine the strings connected to the centers of the earth and sun, and begin to feel more calm. You may take a deep breath of air or feel tingling somewhere. Giant Strings reminds you that the sun and the earth are with you all the time – giving you life. Taking care of you. Together, they give life through light for trees to produce oxygen and through soil for food to grow. Giant Strings is a heart connection – connecting you to something bigger than yourself.