Earth Palms in Baguazhang

Digging In: Earth Soles

Before we see how Earth Palms work…let’s feel Earthy Soles.

It’s best if you can go barefoot and find some good, grip-worthy soil. Sand will do; maybe you can find a garden or a good lawn.

Otherwise, if your ground is frozen or your feet are fragile, then push your imagination through your carpeting, through your house foundations, and then: into the Earth.

• Coil your feet. Grip the ground, like you’re clawing at it, but gently.

Grip the ground, just a little more. Grasp the Earth with your feet enough so that you must sink into your heels—some weight remains on the outside edges of your feet and in the tips of your toes—center your weight in your hefty heel.

• Sink from head to heel.

Let your weight drop, flow, fall through your heels into the Earth.

Feel with your Earth Palms

• Hover your hands, palms down, about shoulder width and cheek bone height.
• Spread your hands, and just a little, grip with your fingertips (like holding two small basketballs).
• Soften your focus and feel: feel the Earth pushing up. It’s radiant. It presses upward (see below).
• Resist the Earth’s pressure. Press down on it.
• Let your whole body sink into your hands, as if you were pushing on a high wall, about to pull yourself up and over it.
• Warm yourself with Earth.

It’s true that the Earth presses up. You can…

Feel it. That’s the key.

There’s some technical science and weird ideas about why and how. But you can feel it.

When you feel the Earth, then you know.