Happy Wednesday my friend,

🏔️ I recorded a special 2-minute message for you from Glacier National Park (from the very spot I was married just 4 months ago!).

It’s the FINAL 3 days to get the Earth Conscious Life Membership at 30% off. Those who do join as “Founders” and lock in the option to renew annually at a price that will never be offered again.

To get this week’s Deep Dive on the Science of Grounding, and all future articles & exclusive video interviews in our ever-growing content library from experts all over the world, become part of Earth Conscious Life history as a Founding Member. This will never be offered after Friday.

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🐿️ CREATURE FEATURE 🐿️

The Mountain Ermine

Also known as the short-tailed weasel or stoat, this tiny alpine mammal turns from brown to all white fur in winter to blend in with the snow, and this video confirms it’s now one of my favorite adorable snowy animals. Capable of catching pretty up to 5x their size, ermine are feisty hunters of chickens, rabbits, mice, chipmunks, and voles, and even snakes and frogs.

Forested and brushy areas near water, Northern Hemisphere forest edge meadows, and barns and woodsheds provide the perfect habitat for ermine— and they’re highly adaptable. They can climb trees, travel more than 8 miles in a single night, and even leap 6 feet high! Despite their cute appearance, ermine are notoriously pungent smelling to keep other ermine out of their territory. 

Though they don’t have many animal predators, European royalty once wore their extremely soft fur and pelts for portraits, and their fur was used for paint brushes in the 17th century. 

If you happen to spot this winter weasel, there are many Native American folktales about their appearance, role and meaning in life. In wanting to honor the land and Indigenous people where I live, I learned the Blackfoot tribe feels “the changing colors of the weasel symbolize the cycle of life and death, making it a sacred animal.”

🌎 INTO THE…🌎

Into the Deep Scattering Layer

Known as the "false bottom" of the ocean, the deep scattering layer is one of Earth's most fascinating and massive daily migrations. This mysterious layer of the ocean appears on sonar as a false seafloor due to the dense concentration of marine life.

Every evening, countless organisms rise from depths of 300-3k meters toward the surface waters to feed under the cover of darkness. This daily vertical migration includes lanternfish, squid, shrimp, and various zooplankton, creating a living curtain that spans the global oceans.

Scientists estimate that this layer contains up to 10B tons of marine life, making it the largest known animal migration on Earth. The movement is so significant that it actually creates subtle changes in ocean acoustics and affects global nutrient cycling.

🛌 Sleep Deeper

In honor of this week’s ECL Deep Dive on grounding, I wanted to share a tool I’ve used in my own home.

My wife Riana and I swear by our Grounding Well Earthing Sheet. We noticed a difference in our sleep quality on the very first night – a deeper, more restful slumber (and less tossing and turning).

My mother-in-law got one and said she noticed a difference immediately as well.

Sure, these are anecdotal cases but it turns out, the science does support that connecting with the Earth's natural energy can have amazing benefits for your sleep!

Grounding Well's sheet is a convenient way to experience the benefits of earthing right in your own bed. It's comfortable, breathable, and easy to use.

Since you spend nearly a third of your life in bed, use this time to be grounded.

Visit Grounding Well to see the sheet, and their other mats. Some up to 50% off right now!

🍎 NUTRITION 101 🍎

QUERCETIN: Quercetin, a powerful flavonoid antioxidant, is gaining attention for its impressive array of health benefits. This compound, found naturally in many fruits and vegetables, has demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.

Recent research suggests quercetin may help combat allergies by stabilizing histamine-releasing cells, while also supporting cardiovascular health through its ability to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. Rich sources include red onions, apples (especially the skin), dark cherries, and green tea.

📝 ROB’S PICKS 📝

1. Fungi: Web of Life - Sometimes I wish I lived somewhere that had an IMAX screen, because I’m itching to see this documentary narrated by Björk that explores the hidden networks connecting all life on Earth through the eyes of biologist Merlin Sheldrake.

2. The Songs of Trees by David George Haskell - A fascinating exploration of twelve trees around the world, revealing the complex webs of fungi, bacteria, and cooperative animals that make up nature's great connectors.

3. Soundscapes of Coral Reefs - A groundbreaking study showing how acoustic monitoring can help us understand and protect marine ecosystem health

🔎 EARTH CONSCIOUS DEEP DIVE 🔍

(Preview, full article for ECL Members)

Grounding: The Science Behind Earthing

For years, the practice of connecting directly with the Earth's surface was dismissed as pseudoscience. Like many natural health practices - from the gut-brain connection to the importance of hand-washing in hospitals - grounding faced initial skepticism from the medical establishment. However, mounting scientific evidence now supports the significant health benefits of this ancient practice.

For the science, evidence-based benefits, practical methods (including indoor options), and how to practice properly…

Become an Earth Conscious Life Member to read this full article and all future Deep Dives and exclusive videos!

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