A little while ago, I wrote about being a highly sensitive person (HSP), and while you've now had time to sit with that and see how to integrate it's powers into your life, I really want to give you some tips on how to protect your energy, cleanse, and ground yourself! It can be incredibly exhausting being an 'emotional sponge', and even if being an HSP or empath isn't something that resonates with you, perhaps finding a way to restore your energy through these practices will.
When you're an HSP, it's sometimes hard to tell what energy actually belongs to you, and what belongs to those around you, because most of us don't give it a second thought. We all have neighbours, colleagues, family, friends or lovers surrounding us at most given times,
and as a result, sometimes they can become like 'energy vampires', seeking out your positive, shining rays of love and light; and unintentionally robbing you of it. Unfortunately, that means that your energy will be flipped, and you're likely to take on anything negative they may be feeling. In short, if you suddenly feel overwhelming emotions like stress, fatigue, upset, sadness, anxiety, frustration, anger, depression and it doesn't make sense to your own situational landscape - it's probably because you've absorbed it unwittingly from some one else.
All of the problems or emotions of others can suddenly feel that they really belong to you, and given most of us are dealing with things that no-one else knows anything about - you're certainly taking one (or several) for the team. I agree, it's o.k. if they are happy, up-beat, positive emotions, but those aren't the ones we are trying to alleviate.
Fortunately, there are some really GREAT and simple exercises that will help ground you (i.e. come back to your authentic, balanced being) and release what doesn't belong to you. Some of these practices can also help you protect your energy, and actually stop you absorbing the heaviness that is bringing down your positive/high vibe to a lower level.
Grounding
Do you sometimes feel like your mind and emotions have run away on you? Do you get dizzy, lightheaded, suffer from headaches, or feel a bit lost? Do you sometimes feel a sense of disconnect, or as though the 'monkey mind' has been unleashed?
Try grounding your energy to come back to your truest self.
Checking in: try asking yourself at regular intervals "what am I feeling right now?" followed by "why am I feeling this way?". These questions alone are enough to decipher if the emotions that you are feeling are actually yours, and if not, it's easy to simply let them go by setting the intention.
Eat foods from the ground: nuts, raw vegetables and fruits are all great to ground energy taking you from those out-of-body feels, back into your self.
Crystals: crystals are formed from the ground, which makes their presence alone great for earthing yourself. As a guide, it's best to choose heavier, dark crystals to ground as lighter ones will elevate your connection with the divine/higher self/universal energy. Choose something like Hematite (subtle); Unikite Jasper (great for disharmony in the home); Bloodstone (brings courage to face challenges, grounds, strengthens the root chakra); Black Tourmaline (great for HSP's/children as it is gentle) or Elite Shungate (purifies negative energy and emotions). You can also add clear quartz with these as it will amplify their qualities, and don't forget to cleanse your crystals first (e.g. with sage etc.) and activate them by telling them what you want them to do for you.
Nature: spending time with Mother Earth can perhaps be the ultimate in self-care, as the elements carefully bring you back to yourself, and back down to earth. Try going for a walk outside and paying attention to the beauty of nature - the trees, colours of the flowers, the blue sky, ocean or forest. Or, for a deeper grounding, walk bare foot on the earth or dip your feet into a lake, stream or the ocean.
Essential oils: Frankincense is one of the best essential oils for grounding your energy, and should be diluted with a carrier oil (like Almond) before anointing the temples and wrists; or put into a diffuser (please don't use the old fashioned burners with candles, as they do bad things to the oils!). Frankincense can aid with physical, mental and emotional health due to its stress-relieving properties. It also promotes focus and grounding by encouraging a feeling of centered connection and calm.
Yoga: yoga has been used for thousands of years to purify the body, mind and soul and unite them as one. Yoga translated in fact, literally means 'union', so when you perform the physical act (asana), you are guiding your body back home to ground your energy and elevate your connection with the universe/higher being/divine. Try whichever variation you like, though my preferences are traditional Hatha or sublime yin (both of which I also love to teach!). Some great, accessible poses to ground are: Mountain Pose, Anjaneyasana (low lunge variation or with Eagle arms), Parivrtta Anjaneyasana (twisted low lunge - I love this pose!), Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward facing dog), Sukhasana (easy seated pose), Paschimottanasana (seated, forward bending) and my personal fav, Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Bound Angle Pose) - which I could find stillness in for hours.
Chakra Meditation: while a quick search on YouTube can bring you a plethora of chakra balancing meditations, I've selected a ten minute one for you here so you can quickly get on with your day if you don't have time for something more substantial. There are also meditative sound tracks (e.g. via Spotify) that you can listen to while you work or study, which means the will 'do the work' as you do your own. Focusing on the Root chakra (Muladhara) is a great place to start with meditations as this is our seat of all basic needs.
Dance: yes DANCE! Like no one is watching, or perhaps EVERYONE is watching but you no longer care. Shake your hips, move your body the way you feel it needs to, and do it bare foot. Shake off any negative energy, release and restore. Finish with a short Savasana (corpse pose), or sitting quietly with the intention of reconnecting to your truest self.
Reiki: at the end of each session, you will notice that I touch your feet, and as I do, I imagine your energy being 'grounded' or coming back to your body so you are in union - mind, body and soul. You can try imaging this too, any time you feel a sense of 'disconnect'.
Yoga Nidra: powerfully deep, Yoga Nidra is a style of meditation derived from the Satyananda branch of Yoga founded in India, and now, used all around the world. Often practiced right before lunch, you can try the very traditional version from Swami Satyananda Saraswhati here, or a more modern recording here. It's also a great way of finding inner peace, creating focus, and creating better body awareness.
Cleansing
Have you had a long day at the office and need to disconnect from other people's energy or moods? Do you associate your 'work uniform' with work? Have you had an argument/disagreement with someone and want to 'wash it off'? Have you spent the day in other people's 'toxic energy' and you just need to feel refreshed?
You need to cleanse in order to release and restore!
White Sage or Palo Santo: one of my favourite rituals to clear negativity or emotions, is to burn a stick of one of the beforementioned, waving it around in circular motions (ideally with a feather and Paua shell to catch the embers) from your feet, over your body, the top of your head, and all the way down to your feet again. You can have the intention of cleansing and clearing or combine the elemental cleanse saying "Air, fire, water, earth; cleanse, dismiss, dispel" as you do. If you have time, open all the doors and windows and cleanse the whole house while you are at it, paying special attention to dark corners - low and high - as dark energy likes to stagnate here.
Bath with essential oils: The oils I would adding to bathwater I recommend are Lavender (relaxation); Bergamot (grounding!); Frankincense (purification, grounding); Peppermint (uplifting, refreshing); Eucalyptus (purifying), Palo Santo (emotional trauma, anxiety and depression - I love this scent!), rose (self-love); or one of these blends from my other business, NeoVeda, aptly called 'Balance' and 'Calm'. If you can't take a bath, then make a blend of 3-5 drops of essential oil in about 20 mils of Almond or another carrier oil and apply to the temples and wrists or directly into your skincare products.
Diet: while I'm working towards my certification as a nutritionist, I would highly recommend seeing a Naturopath to put you on a cleansing diet that doesn't involve juicing or a 'lemon detox'. Nourishing your body with the RIGHT nutrients is incredibly important during times of stress, and that means a full range of vegetables, fruits, lean meats, nuts and wholegrains to optimize your nutritional capacity. However, the best way for an HSP/empath to truly cleanse, is to go vegan, or at least vegetarian as much as possible. You will feel lighter, less negative, less angry and more fulfilled when you eat less meat at a mental/emotional level, which will filter down subconsciously to a spiritual and physical level. There is a reason in Yoga that we follow a vegetarian diet; because we are not ingesting the pain, misery, sacrifice and violent acts of the animals that have been slayed for us eat. Again, this is a very personal choice, and you also must make sure that you are getting all of your essential nutrients if you chose vegan as there are repercussions when you lack (e.g. iron deficiency).
Elemental quick cleanse: ask the elements of fire, water, earth and air to take your emotions, and turn them into love and light. Try just asking the universe to make it happen, believe that it will, and watch the results come to you in their subtle ways. Over time, you will feel this more deeply as you unify with your thoughts and the energetic power of the universe.
Energy work: Reiki again, is a great way to cleanse yourself of unwanted stress and emotions as it's like a mind, body and soul cleanse with universal energy heading exactly where you need it, for your highest and greatest good. While the conduit (healer) may be performing the act, it is essentially your subconscious and superconscious doing the work, so remember to thank-yourself for following your instincts, and taking time out for self-care. If you want to give it a try, you can book in a session here or call me (0406713018) to learn more about how in person or distance reiki can work for you.
Journal: a quick way to check in with your energy, and clear your emotions is simple: write about what's going on inside your head, and let the words flood the paper as though you are letting go of fears. Start by writing about your day, and you will soon fixate on the real issue that is haunting your body, mind and soul. When that happens, you can start letting go. Cleanse, clear, release.
Book a float: float/sensory deprivation tanks take a little getting used to, but they are powerful portholes for cleansing. Designed back in 1954, they have been scientifically found to decrease stress and anxiety, induce better sleep, aid with muscle relaxation and due to the high volume of salt in the water, they cleanse you like nothing else.
Take a cold shower: cold water that washes over you can cleanse and clear your chakras; help to rid toxic, negative energy; reset your mindset; increases cardio vascular and lymphatic circulation; is great for your metabolism; and reduces swelling and inflammation. Relax, you only need to start with a few minutes.
Ocean swimming: want something next level? You can also try swimming in the ocean like one of my good friends recommends, and get all the additional benefits of salt water such as cleansing your skin, strengthening your immune system, reducing anxiety and slowing down the development of rheumatism!
Protecting
Do you feel drained when you've been around people or busy places? Do you feel like you can sense or feel other people's emotions? Do violent films or sad news effect you deeply? Do you feel deeply moved by the arts, soulful music or acts of kindness? Are you sensitive to taste, smell, energy, touch, caffeine, drugs, emotions, medicines or alcohol?
You need to protect your energy... and read this blog on HSP's!
Anoint with essential oils: essential oils are made from all parts of the plant/flower t to have medicinal benefits for the mind, body and soul. As they are potent (especially if you have sensitive skin), you will need to blend them with a carrier oil like almond, then you can anoint them at your temples, wrists, third eye chakra or where ever you feel like you need it. To start, I recommend this 'Calm' (Aum) essential oil from my sister site, Neoveda.
Be mindful of what you are paying attention too: stop watching overly emotional things like horror films, the news, tv shows or those that bring up drama (e.g. suicide, death, loss etc.) that you will quickly live into, and latch onto. As an HSP or empath, you will feel this consciously or subconsciously, and because you can't do anything to heal the situation, the weight of it will spiral you into a negative emotional space. This also goes for podcasts, magazine articles, books or even speaking to people about negative events. When it is unavoidable, prepare yourself with some of the other tools listed in advance. Unfortunately, sometimes the most negative people in our lives are the ones that we can't just ignore, so just remember to set healthy boundaries, protect your energy and cleanse when you can.
Avoid fear based ANYTHING: similar to above, but this includes things like religions that will promote 'hell' as an option; things, places, or experiences that make you feel anxious or uncomfortable; people that rub you the wrong way; ghosts, ghouls, demons, vampires or anything that you find scary (even if it's not real); don't mess with Ouija boards either - because you are a sponge for being open to this energy, and some negative spirits can cling to you for YEARS. If it doesn't make you happy, don't let it into your life in an sense.
Set boundaries: some people find this incredibly hard to do, and often work so hard making sure everyone else is ok, that they neglect their own self-care and love. If you need to restore, say NO to that invitation that will only further deplete you. Say NO to overtime that your boss is making you undeservingly do. Say NO to extra responsibilities, to caring for others when you need to care for yourself, to the things that don't bring you joy and the people that don't treat you as you deserved. If people are constantly coming to you for support, but they aren't there for you in return, its time to ask the question "why am I giving all my energy to you, when I need it for myself?".
White orb of light: sit for one to two minutes and envision a bright white light coming down from the heavens, and radiating through your crown chakra (crown of the head) to fill your entire body, and out your fingers and toes. Then imagine this light turning into a bubble of protection, surrounding and protecting you from any outside energy, shining so brightly that it reflects anything that it could possibly come into contact with. Let it envelope you. Let it saturate you. Let it be your safety net that you carry with you wherever you go, knowing that nothing can penetrate it but love and light energy, and it will keep you centered in your true power.
The zip method: another really simple and quick way of protecting your energy when you are out and about is to literally draw a line up and down the chakra line of your spiritual/metaphysical body. It might be that you've walked into a room that has a weird/bad energy, or you've met a person that is making you feel uncomfortable; whatever it is, this is really quick, simple and effective that will stop you from absorbing others energy, and them 'vampiring' yours.
Set the intention: "I am protected", "nothing can penetrate my bubble of protection", "I am love and light, and I only accept love and light into my being". Simple, but incredibly effective when you add with it the belief held in every fibre of your being.
Crystals: again, crystals have a number of uses, and can be carried with you in your pocket, purse or even in your push-up bra! Try Amethyst which is known for emotional and spiritual protection; to break anxious/addictive thought patterns; and help you move into your higher consciousness. Its high vibration blocks negative, stressful energies and stimulates serenity of the mind. One of the best however, is black tourmaline which will help turn negative energy into positive, and encourage a more positive outlook on life in the process.
Raise your vibration: I'm sure you've heard this term thrown around, but what does it mean? In Reiki, we understand that everything is energy. There is high and low, dense and light energy, but everything in this universe around us is moving SO fast that we can't see the vibration it creates and instead, it forms a solid object or being. This being said, positive emotions and thought patterns such as joy, peace, happiness, love and acceptance create higher vibrations; while feelings of anger, fear, jealousy, and despair vibrate at a lower rate. To alter these states, you can listen to music that resonates at 528hz (self worth/confidence) or 639hz heart connected/self love (thanks to one of my fav local influencers IG @willconnolly__); rhythmic deep breathing like alternative nostril breathing; meditation and mindfulness practices; yoga or just try switching your mindset to let go of the negative 'stories' you tell yourself, and focus only on the positive outcomes your working for and searching for. Want to learn more about your high/low virbational energy? Click here.
Self-Reiki: if you've already been attuned to Reiki level two (my level 1 & 2 courses are in the making!), you can draw the power symbol east, west, north and south of you; as well as below and above. Feel into this power of protection and embrace it, like it's a boundary created around you that will protect your own light, and radiate it back to the world.
Ritual magic: want to get 'woo woo' with me? Buy some witches salt to keep your property, desk or person safe from harm. Just sprinkle some around the area (e.g. across your front door step), or carry it with you because the one I've linked is small enough to fit into your handbag. For more personalisation, make up a chant to say as you do it and believe in it's power. Want to dive deeper? Click here.
Use your gifts for good: most empaths will also have at least one clair sense; that is the ability to have certain psychic powers such as knowing, feeling, seeing, hearing, smelling or tasting things that are not physically presented in front of them. It's not that they don't exist entirely, it's just that we are born with the ability to connect with other 'realms', such as that of spirit. Yep, I know, it's a lot. However, when you know you have these gifts, you can start to cultivate them more powerfully and actually use them for good! You have been put on this earth to be 'of service' and no matter what profession you chose, you are unlikely to find true purpose, passion and fulfillment if it's not helping others/the environment/animals. Find what it is you feel really pulled towards, and enhance your gifts in a way that calls you.
Invite love in: one of the simplest, most beautiful ways to protect yourself is to think about someone you love deeply, and let those feelings wash over you like a warm blanket of protection. Notice how you feel when this happens. Notice the subtle changes with your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual body. Does your aura change? Does your vibration change? Do you feel lighter? When you invite more love into your life, it not only reminds you to love yourself from the heart centre outward, but you can also use this as a protective field telling the universe "I only invite in love and light".
You could certainly spend hours on Google looking for more answers, but I'm sure as you try some of the abovementioned techniques, you will find things you are naturally drawn to, and even come up with some of your own.
One last thing to remember for the Empaths out there, is that while you are getting used to understanding your gift, you also have to prioritize self-care more often by shutting off to the world and re-energizing yourself. Often when you have been around lots of people, or draining/depressing circumstances/people, you will feel depleted, so the BEST thing you can do is allocate time to recharging in your own way... maybe a blog for next time!
Take care beautiful souls, and remember to be kind to yourself, your loved ones, and the world around you. We are all fighting internal battles right now, and the best thing we can do for one another, is to work through it with love and light.
Until my next blog,
Love & light,
Monique Elouise xx
🌟🌟Updates: lockdown 6.0 is here, and rumour has it, it's going to stick around... In the meantime, I would LOVE to offer FREE Reiki distance healings in its place so you can see just how it works, and rediscover that inner peace. For those interested in in-person sessions only, you'll be pleased to know that the NEW new move to QLD has now been pushed back until further notice - Hoorah! See you soon my lovely clients, and don't forget - we are all in this together xx 🌟🌟
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