Grounding on Red Rock: Meditation Lessons From the Desert

Living in southern Utah means living next to some of the oldest, most patient things on earth. The cliffs around St. George were laid down grain by grain, long before anyone was in a hurry.

That landscape makes a good teacher for anyone who feels scattered.

What grounding means

Grounding is simply bringing attention back to the body and the present moment — the weight of you on the earth, the air on your skin, the sounds around you.

When the mind races ahead to tomorrow's list, physical sensation is the quickest way home.

A five-minute desert practice

Sit on the ground, a rock, or a chair with your feet flat. Feel where your body is supported. Let it be heavy.

Take three slow breaths, longer out than in. Then notice five things you can see, four you can hear, three you can feel. Finish by resting your attention on the warmth of the sun or the cool of the stone.

The rock isn't trying to get anywhere. For a few minutes, neither are you.

Practice it with us

On the first Sunday of each month we gather in person to meditate outdoors together. No experience needed, and it's always free.