The Earth, so solid and grounding, has been calling to me lately, reminding me to stay rooted amidst a chaos of energy. My mother has been in and out of the hospital for several months, and I’ve been redefining my role in my family, as well as researching an upcoming move to a new community. To say there is major transition energy in my life is an understatement!

When I feel unsteady or need a boost in confidence, I’ve been using the Earth mudra or Pirthivi Mudrato help stabilize my energy.

‘Mudra’ is a Sanskrit term used to symbolize a gesture, a mystic position of the hands, a seal, or a lock. Mudras are yoga for the hands and they engage certain areas of the brain. On a physical level when the finger tips touch each other, each finger has a specific function and power within the body. Due to the enormous amount of nerve endings found in the fingers and palms, touching certain points together triggers specific signals in the body. Similar to acupressure points in Chinese Medicine, these signals can have a healing effect on the body, mind and spirit.

By working with the subtle energy body, mudras respect nature’s way of healing. They encourage and activate natural healing within the body without interfering with the body’s wisdom.  In a culture that is accustomed to taking pills for health, this is a starkly different way to approach healing.

To practice the Earth Mudra, simply join the tips of the thumbs and ring fingers together with a light touch on each hand and allow the other fingers to extend. The energy of the Earth is awakened within the body.

Practising the Earth Mudra generates a sense of equanimity and helps to activate our life force energy in the root chakra. The Earth Mudra stimulates the liver, and is healing for the nails, skin, hair and bones.  It helps to sharpen the sense of smell and increases the temperature of the body.

This is the perfect mudra to use when feeling insecure, or when you need inner stability and more self assurance.

Mudras act as a bridge between our inner spiritual experience and our outer interactions with the world – they are like prayers in the physical body.

Today my prayer is to mother earth. I thank her for her healing, her wisdom, and her power to keep me grounded.