Groundedness

I recently returned from a two-week vacation in Italy.

The word vacation comes from the Latin vacatio, meaning “exemption from service” or “respite from work,” and the verb vacare: “to be empty, be free, or have leisure.” So, although I intended to send an email while I was away, I decided to honor the true meaning of vacation: to step back from service — even to all of you. The break was restorative and culturally expansive, and I hope that richness will show up in my upcoming posts.

During our relaxed and unstructured days in the Ravenna area, we visited many churches and duomos. I was able to enter a church containing some of the oldest Christian mosaics in Europe — dating back to the fifth century. Their beauty, strength, and tenderness were at times overwhelming. Standing in a church that is 1,500 years old, I felt a profound connection with the countless people who have prayed there throughout the centuries. The majesty of that sacred space was both inspiring and deeply grounding.

What does it mean to be grounded?

According to the Oxford and Merriam-Webster dictionaries, grounded means well-balanced, sensible, mentally and emotionally stable. That certainly resonates with spiritual growth — but something is missing. We need mindfulness: a nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment. We may feel stable, but without mindful presence we can’t make skillful use of that stability. To respond wisely to life, we must be fully present, open to everything a moment contains.

In a meditative context, grounding usually means centering our attention on something stable — the breath, a bodily sensation, a simple phrase. This anchors us in the present and offers refuge from the wandering mind. In this grounded space, we can release distractions, worries, fears, and concerns. We become aware of a peaceful joy that arises simply from being here now.

Grounding and our true nature

Spiritual grounding connects us to our inherent worth and dignity (a nod to the UUs) and reminds us that this dignity is shared with every human being. From that recognition grows a willingness to let go of habitual patterns and open to deeper connection with all beings.

Groundedness also carries a feeling of safety and acceptance. When we are grounded, we feel supported — by the earth beneath us, by the people who care for us, by ancestors and teachers, and by all who walk a spiritual path. In benefactor or caring-moment practice, we experience being held in a field of care. Because this loving presence is part of our true nature, we can return to it at any time, even in difficulty.

We often use sacred imagery to evoke grounding and create refuge — a mental space where the mind loosens its grip on reactivity. In those ancient churches, I felt instantly grounded by the spaciousness and beauty around me. I could sense the earth supporting the structure through the centuries, and the devotion embedded in its very walls. It was a physical place that generated a felt sense of refuge: peaceful joy in body, heart, and mind — with no striving or practice required.

Finding refuge where you are

Perhaps you have a physical place in your own life that evokes this sense of refuge and grounding — a space where peace seems to arise naturally. If no such place comes to mind, then this is an invitation to explore new spaces or even to create your own sacred place, however small, where the heart can rest and the mind can become still.