How Long Should You Ground After Spells?

BY NICOLE LAU

Short Answer

2-10 minutes is usually sufficient for most spells. Simple spells need 2-5 minutes of grounding, moderate energy work requires 5-10 minutes, and intense magical work may need 10-20 minutes. Ground until you feel stable, centered, and back to normal consciousness. Eating, drinking water, touching the earth, or visualization all work. Don't skip this step—it prevents headaches, dizziness, and energy depletion.

The Long Answer

Why Grounding After Spells Matters

Grounding after magical work:

• Releases excess energy you raised but didn't use
• Returns you to normal consciousness
• Prevents energy overload symptoms
• Completes the energetic circuit
• Protects your wellbeing
• Closes the magical working properly

Skipping grounding can leave you feeling spacey, anxious, headachy, or drained.

Grounding Duration by Spell Intensity

Simple spells (candle lighting, quick petition):

• Duration: 2-5 minutes
• Quick visualization or eating a snack
• Minimal energy raised, minimal grounding needed

Moderate spells (full ritual, circle casting):

• Duration: 5-10 minutes
• Combination of methods (visualize + eat + drink)
• Standard spell work

Intense energy work (trance, deep ritual, group work):

• Duration: 10-20 minutes
• Multiple grounding techniques
• Physical grounding essential (food, earth contact)

Very intense work (shamanic journey, deep trance, major ritual):

• Duration: 20-30+ minutes
• Extended grounding and integration
• May need rest afterward
• Gentle return to normal consciousness

Quick Grounding Methods (2-5 minutes)

Visualization:

• Imagine roots growing from your feet into the earth
• See excess energy draining down into the ground
• Visualize yourself as a tree, firmly rooted
• Duration: 2-3 minutes

Breath work:

• Take slow, deep breaths
• Focus on your body and physical sensations
• Feel your weight on the chair or floor
• Duration: 2-5 minutes

Physical touch:

• Touch the floor, wall, or furniture
• Feel the solidity and stability
• Press your feet firmly into the ground
• Duration: 1-2 minutes

Standard Grounding Methods (5-10 minutes)

Eating:

• Protein, carbs, or chocolate work well
• Chewing and digesting brings you back to body
• Grounds through physical nourishment
• Duration: 5-10 minutes

Drinking:

• Water, tea, or juice
• Hydration helps process energy
• Sip slowly and mindfully
• Duration: 5 minutes

Earth contact:

• Stand or sit barefoot on the ground
• Touch soil, grass, or stone
• Let earth absorb excess energy
• Duration: 5-10 minutes

Movement:

• Walk, stretch, or gentle yoga
• Physical activity grounds energy
• Brings awareness back to body
• Duration: 5-10 minutes

Deep Grounding Methods (10-20+ minutes)

Full meal:

• Eat a complete, nourishing meal
• Especially after intense work
• Grounds deeply through digestion
• Duration: 15-30 minutes

Shower or bath:

• Water washes away excess energy
• Physical cleansing grounds you
• Visualize energy going down the drain
• Duration: 10-20 minutes

Nature walk:

• Walk outside, preferably barefoot
• Connect with earth, trees, and natural elements
• Let nature rebalance your energy
• Duration: 15-30 minutes

Rest and integration:

• Lie down and allow energy to settle
• Journal about the experience
• Give yourself time to process
• Duration: 20-60 minutes

Signs You're Fully Grounded

• You feel stable and centered
• No dizziness or lightheadedness
• Clear-headed, not spacey
• Back to normal consciousness
• Physically present in your body
• No buzzing or excess energy
• Calm and balanced

If you still feel off, ground longer or use a different method.

Signs You Need More Grounding

• Feeling floaty or disconnected
• Dizziness or nausea
• Headache or pressure
• Anxiety or restlessness
• Difficulty focusing
• Shaky or jittery
• Overly emotional or sensitive

Don't stop grounding until these symptoms pass.

Grounding by Magical Practice Type

Candle spells: 2-5 minutes (simple visualization or snack)

Sigil work: 2-5 minutes (quick grounding)

Tarot reading: 2-5 minutes (especially after intense readings)

Circle casting and ritual: 5-10 minutes (standard grounding)

Energy healing: 5-10 minutes (release absorbed energy)

Trance work: 10-20 minutes (gentle return to normal state)

Astral projection: 10-20 minutes (full reintegration)

Shamanic journey: 15-30 minutes (deep grounding and integration)

Group ritual: 10-15 minutes (collective energy needs releasing)

Grounding Before vs. After

Before spells:

• Creates stable foundation
• Centers you for the work
• Duration: 2-5 minutes

After spells:

• Releases excess energy
• Returns you to baseline
• Duration: 2-20 minutes depending on work

Both are important, but after-grounding is non-negotiable.

Emergency Grounding

If you're feeling very ungrounded or overwhelmed:

• Eat something immediately (protein or carbs)
• Drink cold water
• Splash cold water on your face
• Go outside barefoot if possible
• Lie on the floor and feel the earth beneath you
• Hold grounding crystals (hematite, black tourmaline)
• Don't rush—take as long as you need

Building Grounding Into Your Practice

Make it automatic: Always end spells with grounding, like washing hands after using the bathroom.

Set a timer: Don't leave ritual space until you've grounded for at least 2 minutes.

Keep grounding snacks ready: Chocolate, nuts, or crackers near your altar.

Create a grounding ritual: Same method every time builds the habit.

Don't skip it: Even if you feel fine, ground anyway. Prevention is easier than fixing problems.

Grounding for Different Energy Levels

If you feel depleted after magic:

• You gave too much energy
• Ground and then rest
• Eat a full meal
• Replenish with sleep

If you feel wired after magic:

• You have excess energy
• Ground thoroughly to release it
• Physical activity helps
• Earth contact is essential

If you feel balanced:

• You managed energy well
• Still ground for 2-5 minutes
• Ensures complete closure

Common Grounding Mistakes

Rushing it: Taking 10 seconds when you need 5 minutes.

Only visualizing: Sometimes you need physical grounding (food, earth contact).

Assuming you're fine: If you feel "high" or altered, you're not grounded yet.

Skipping because you're tired: Fatigue after magic often means you need grounding, not that you can skip it.

Not grounding before bed: Ungrounded energy can prevent sleep or cause vivid, disturbing dreams.

Final Thoughts

Grounding after spells is essential energy hygiene. It takes just 2-10 minutes for most work, but those minutes prevent hours of feeling awful.

Don't skip this step. Your body and energy system need to discharge excess and return to balance. Give them what they need.

Two minutes of grounding prevents headaches, anxiety, and exhaustion. It's the easiest, most important thing you can do for your magical wellbeing.

Ground before. Ground after. Ground always. Your future self will thank you.