The Grounding Companion: Tap Into the Healing Power of Nature for Health, Longevity, and Vitality

by Donna Raskin

Harness the healing power of earth’s energies with this accessible guide to the scientifically supported practice of grounding.

Have you experienced the calm of a walk in the woods or how your spirits feel lifted after a day at the beach? Science is showing that nature doesn’t just feel good—it has the power to heal. The electromagnetism of the earth’s surface interacts with our bodies in profound and measurable ways. 

Grounding, or earthing, the practice of physically and energetically connecting to the earth, is quickly gaining traction as a wellness practice and as a powerful way to unplug from the constant technology and stress of our everyday lives. Scientific research has demonstrated that being outside can benefit people in measurable ways and reduce symptoms of modern illnesses, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and inflammation. 

The Grounding Companion is your practical guide to using nature as medicine. This compact and gifty reference gives you the fascinating science of grounding and simple grounding practices you can use anywhere, anytime to reap the benefits of this powerful practice.

Electromagnetism and the benefits of being outside The top grounding locations around the the earth’s key energy pointsGrounding foods and practicesMethods and techniques for forest bathing to yoga and meditation
Heal your body and mind with these simple techniques for connecting with the earth.

Genres: Health

160 pages, Hardcover

Published February 4, 2025

Reviews

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Fair Winds for providing me with an eARC to review.

The book's title and cover drew me in. This book is beautifully illustrated, starting with the cover. I wasn't familiar with the author, but the title and illustration said, "Pick me" when I looked for books of interest.

I'm a longtime yoga practitioner and a 10-year yoga teacher. I often use a variation of the word ground when I teach.

Feeling grounded is also a concept that's often taught to people in therapy.

I didn't know what to expect from this book. I thought it might be a bunch of woo with a pretty book cover. However, it exceeded my expectations. It's more than a book with a pretty cover.

There are five chapters with sub-sections:

1. The Science Behind Grounding the Heart and Electricity
2. Simple Grounding Techniques
3. Health Issues that Respond to Grounding
4. Grounding Locations
5. Grounding Foods

I really love this book, and I recommend it as a resource to yoga and meditation teachers. I also recommend it to anyone struggling with anxiety, depression, stress overload, and general malaise.

I'm a fan of getting outside and into green spaces. I know how healing it is to be out on a dirt path, surrounded by birds, bunnies, butterflies, etc. This book added to my knowledge about some of my self-care practices.

I was surprised and intrigued to see the Grounding Foods chapter. I'd never thought of food being grounding, but it makes so much sense. I know that when I eat a more plant-based diet, I feel better, look better, sleep better, etc. This chapter expanded my view of what it means to be grounded.

While I don't know that I believe in the electromagnetism aspects of grounding, what I do know is that when I went barefoot as a child on grassy lawns, I felt free and happy. As an adult, when I pot plants and work in my container garden, I feel calm and connected.

I plan to look into other books by the author.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: The Grounding Companion by Donna Raskin

Rating" 4 Stars

I have to start by saying that "The Grounding Companion" by Donna Raskin is not just a feast for the mind but also for the eyes. The beautifully illustrated cover immediately drew me in, and the artwork throughout the book complements its calming and enlightening content perfectly. So, if you’re a sucker for a well-designed book, this one’s a treat!

Now, onto the meat of the book. If you've ever felt that indescribable sense of peace after a stroll through the woods or a day spent lounging on the beach, the author has an explanation for you: grounding. This practice of connecting with nature is not just some new-age fad—it's backed by science. The book does a fantastic job of explaining how the earth's electromagnetism can have profound effects on our bodies and minds, reducing symptoms of modern ailments like depression and anxiety.

The author organizes her insights into five well-structured chapters. The first chapter dives into "The Science Behind Grounding the Heart and Electricity," breaking down complex concepts into digestible information. It was fascinating to learn how our bodies interact with the earth's energies. The second chapter, "Simple Grounding Techniques," offers practical and accessible methods that you can incorporate into your daily life, whether it's forest bathing or integrating grounding practices into your yoga routine.

As someone who occasionally battles stress and anxiety, I found the third chapter on "Health Issues that Respond to Grounding" particularly enlightening. It's incredible to see how something as simple as spending more time outdoors can have such measurable health benefits.

Chapter four takes you on a global tour of "Grounding Locations," highlighting key energy points around the world. It made me want to pack my bags and explore these natural wonders. Lastly, the chapter on "Grounding Foods" provides insights into how what we eat can enhance our connection to nature.

Overall, "The Grounding Companion" is a treasure trove of knowledge for anyone looking to harmonize their life with nature’s energies. It's not a perfect 5-star read for me because some of the scientific explanations were a bit dense, but Raskin’s clear passion and thorough research make it an invaluable resource. If you're curious about how nature can be your medicine, this book is definitely worth picking up.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

[Debbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

"The Grounding Companion" is about 'grounding oneself' in the sense of being aware of the moment you're in and your body, preferably while touching something from nature. It's not about what is popularly called earthing or grounding: putting your bare skin against the grass or dirt, walking barefoot along a seashore or in a creek, etc.

The first chapter described how the body is electrically-based and how man-made EMFs can be harmful. Despite being the chapter on the science behind grounding, only one scientific research article was briefly referred to on the benefits of grounding. The book's definition of a "free radical" doesn't match what I understood it to be nor what a subsequent search of medical websites described it as. Despite some 'science' terms, I felt like the author didn't really understand the topic.

Chapter 2 was on grounding techniques, like have live plants on your desk or touch a stone (while inside) or put your feet on the floor. The author stated that actual contact with the earth/ground is not necessary. In fact, one technique could be done while lying in bed. The techniques are short, breathing-and-movement based meditations 'grounding' you in the moment and in your body to help you deal with anxiety or panic attacks.

The author did mention grounding mats and erroneously stated that "...the mat conducts electricity to your feet through a grounding wire that you plug into an outlet. Some mats come with special adapters to ensure that the electricity is properly grounded." Actually, no electricity is involved and all grounding mats only attach to the ground in the outlet, thus are grounded. There were enough errors up to this point that I just gave up on the book. I can't recommend it.

I received an advanced reader ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Tina Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the E-arc in exchange for an honest review.

While this book had beautiful artwork and included a good amount of information I wasn't that impressed by it. Maybe for someone new to the idea of grounding it would be better. While I liked finding out about the grounding places and foods, as well as a refresher on chakras I found the amount of "grounding" background information to be overpowering of the amount of grounding techniques. For a book with its title I just expected more.

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 5 out of 5]

For someone who has always loved walking barefeet, and gotten scolded over it- reading this was such a comfort, not only for it's therapeutic information, but also for the research and insights on life, balance and harmony with nature.
Plus the book has beautiful illustrations which enhances the reading experience.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC, I would recommend this to anyone seeking for their first introduction to grounding.

[Whitney Pieren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Grounding Companion is short and sweet and full of good inspiration and information. I would certainly recommend it to those who are interested in yoga or anyone who struggles with anxiety. There were lots of valuable takeaways from Donna Raskin's book, which just published on February 4, 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley as well as Quarto Publishing Group and Fair Winds Press for providing and ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Grounding Companion is a guide to the practice of grounding. From forms of meditation to recipes to best aid in grounding practices, this guide covers all aspects of grounding. It's an interesting and creative guide.

[Sarah Goethem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this!

[Kate Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really pleasantly surprised by this book. I thought I knew a fair bit about 'grounding' - and found the idea of it pretty simple and straightforward. However, this book has opened me up to thinking about the practice of grounding in a completely different way.

The book was very in-depth, but at no point did I find the information overwhelming. The illustrations, and the way the text was structured really helped in making the info more digestable.

Definitely much more to 'grounding' than I originally thought!