Protection for Empaths: Centering, Grounding, Shielding and Cleansing

Protection for Empaths

Grounding and Centering

Sometimes the terms centering and grounding are used interchangeably to describe techniques that one can use to stay better balanced. There are many benefits to grounding and centering, for anyone but for an Empath it is essential.

Benefits to Grounding and Centering:

• Being grounded can help relieve inflammation and pain

• Reduced stress and anxiety

• The stress hormone, cortisol normalizes which helps control blood sugar levels

• Metabolism is regulated better

• Improved memory formulation

• Better quality sleep and feeling more refreshed

• Improved circulation

• Increased focus

• Balanced moods

Centering

Centering is the process of anchoring and stabilizing your inner, energetic, non-physical soul within your physical body. Mindful breathing, meditation, guided visualization, and progressive relaxation are all good tools for centering. Here are some specific ways to become more centered.

• Mindful breathing - breath in for a count of five, then breathe out for a count of ten

• Practice gratitude - make a list of all the people and things you appreciate

• Acknowledge all of your senses to develop mindfulness - What do you see? Feel? Hear? Smell? Taste?

• Practice self-care activities such as yoga, massage, listening to music, reading, an Epsom salt bath, or other activities you enjoy and find helpful

Grounding

Photo Credit: m-a-c

Grounding (also called earthing) refers to strengthening or reaffirming your connection with physical reality, the senses, and the earth. When you walk barefoot on the earth, free electrons are transferred into your body from the earth. This grounding technique is one of the most powerful antioxidants known. You can walk on the grass, dirt, sand, or even the sidewalk. Another technique for grounding is to take a few deep breaths and imagine you have roots coming out of your feet and securely holding you to the ground. You can also hug a tree (yes, really). Make sure to thank it for the energy exchange. Here are some more specific ways to become grounded.

• Touch the earth with your bare feet each day and when you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed

• Practice yoga or tai chi

• Meditate regularly

• Eat a balanced, healthy diet and drink lots of water

• Move your body

• Make sure to have alone time to reflect and recharge

• Learn to say no without guilt

• Shielding

Shielding is a technique you can use to protect yourself from other people’s emotions and energy. Research has shown that visualization is an effective healing mind-body technique. Many people, including health care practitioners with difficult patients, use this type of visualization. It involves imagining a bubble of white light around your entire body. For extra protection, you can visualize the outer edges of the bubble being made of diamonds which are one of the hardest materials on earth.

Some empaths find shielding and protecting tiring and exhausting, while others find it very effective. This is because everything is energy and some empaths find that they have to shield and protect all day, every day. Shielding and protecting don’t address the energetic root cause of protecting our energy. The solution is creating and honoring your energetic boundaries which require practice, discernment, and intuition. It is also important to practice self-responsibility and to learn how to be fully present in your physical body while being attuned to your thoughts and feelings.

Energetic scan

Being an empath or highly sensitive person (HSP) means you can pick up on other people’s energy and emotions. Understanding what energy is yours and what is not yours is an art and takes practice. Scan your body for tension or uncomfortable sensations. Ask your higher self, is this energy or emotion mine? Your intuition will guide you and you will know the answer.

Quick meditation for energetic release

Inhale and silently call back all of your power and energy from all places, people, and realms that have been draining your energy consciously or subconsciously, intentionally or unintentionally. Exhale and release unwanted energy and emotions that don’t belong to you or are not serving your highest purpose. Feel this in your heart chakra or solar plexus and notice that your chest expands and tingles. Silently say I am safe, protected, and sovereign.

Cleansing

Cleansing your space energetically can be as important to your well-being as cleaning it physically. Cleansing regularly can help improve the energetic flow and feng shui and introduce more positive energy into your home or office.

Clean and eliminate clutter

Before you move further into cleansing the energy, it’s important to note that maintaining a relaxing and aesthetically pleasing home or office is a great place to start. Clean thoroughly and eliminate clutter which tends to be distracting and draining for people, especially empaths.

When you need to cleanse the energy of your space:

• When you have had a bad day, been depressed, or stressed as negative energy in your space may be feeding those feelings

• When you are feeling stuck, distractible, or overwhelmed with projects or goals Cleansing your space can help give you a new outlook and help you move forward

• Following a physical illness to eliminate negative energies in your space that accumulated while you were ill

• After having an argument or stressful conversation with your partner, family member, or friend. It helps to clear the air literally

• Following a breakup or loss. Cleansing your space can give you a fresh outlook and help you process the pain and move forward

• After you have had a visitor to your home or work space whose energy was overwhelming, draining, or negative

• During major life transitions like a new relationship, new job, pet, or baby arriving as cleansing makes space for the new energy coming into your life

Smudging

Smudging with sage is an age-old practice for clearing energy. It works by putting ions into the air which clears that which does not serve us. You can smudge throughout your home and work environments and around your physical body as needed. Set your intention for what you are clearing and allow it to work its magic.

Another option for smudging is using Palo Santo which is a bark from ancient trees grown in South America. The Incas used Palo Santo and many modern-day shamans use it today. It purifies the air and clears the energy.

Sweetgrass can be burned to promote happiness, loving-kindness, and harmony, for purification of the spirit, and to attract positive, light energy. Its sweet, vanilla-like scent gives a calming effect when used during cleansing rituals. Sweetgrass is a sacred plant like sage that has long been used in smudging ceremonies. Yet unlike sage, which is a shrub, sweetgrass is a type of grass.

Tips for smudging

• Try to smudge after cleaning your space as dirt and clutter will prevent smudging from being as effective as if in an organized, clean environment

• Open a window in each room you are cleansing so that the smoke and negative energy can escape

• Say a mantra, prayer, or affirmation for your intention out loud or silently to yourself. For example “I cleanse this space of all negative energy and it is filled with love and light”

• Move clockwise throughout the space, up and down the walls and around the edges, and in the corners

• Smudge with sage or Palo Santo then burn sweetgrass afterward. The sage or Palo Santo will eliminate negative energies and the sweetgrass will draw in positive energies afterward.

Crystals and Stones

Be sure to cleanse the crystal or stone before using it. To cleanse, you can use put them out in the sunlight or moonlight, smudge with sage or palo santo or sit the crystal on a slab of selenite. You can also wash them but be mindful that crystals that end with the letters “ite” are not tolerant to water and may become damaged or begin to disintegrate. You can also wipe them clean with Florida Water.

• Black Tourmaline is one of the best crystals for empaths due to its powerful ability to absorb electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs) and negative energies from its surrounding environment. This crystal will act as a shield to protect you and is often worn around the neck as a talisman. Black Tourmaline also protects against EMFs.

• Rose Quartz is a light pink heart chakra stone that promotes peace, inner harmony, and positive energy. It is a nurturing stone that encourages self-care. It also washes away negative emotions and purifies bad air. It is considered the stone of love.

• Amethyst is a beautiful purple-colored crystal that will repel negative energies and invite positive ones. It also helps with increasing your psychic ability, which will provide you with psychic protection and increase your confidence in your intuition. Amethyst also eases anxiety and stress and promotes restful sleep.

• Citrine is a beautiful and positive stone that has been compared to pure sunlight. This crystal will balance your emotions, increase confidence and personal power, and repel any negative energy and emotions. It also helps with self-will, creativity, and manifesting the best of your intentions.

• Black obsidian is a stone that has a very powerful protective energy. It protects from negative energy and bad fortune, keeping the mind, body, and soul strong. Black obsidian protects against energy vampires and psychic attacks and it absorbs negative energies in the environment.

• Pyrite is also known as Fool’s gold because of how it looks. It has a calming energetic effect on the body and the mind.

• Malachite is a stunning vibrant green stone that helps build love and trust and encourages positive change. It helps empaths develop inner wisdom, intuition, and resilience.

• Clear Quartz amplifies energy and promotes calmness and emotional balance and will shield you from negative energies and attract positive ones.

• Selenite is a clear and white stone with linear lines. Due to its softness, it can be flaky. It is one of the best stones for purifying energy. You can use a selenite wand to clear your energy field as needed or you can keep a chunk of selenite in all four corners of your room.

• Smoky Quartz is a golden-brown crystal with brilliant translucence. It is one of the best stones for grounding your energy and bringing you back into your physical body.

Florida water

Florida water is a water/cologne that contains flower and herbal extracts. The use of this spiritual water stems from Peruvian shamanic traditions. With Florida water, you can energetically cleanse yourself, your space, and your crystals. It is great for wiping down your altar. The water helps to expel negative energy and the effect is comparable to smudging. It is flammable so be careful not to get too close to a candle.

Incense

Incense has been used to cleanse energies for thousands of years and throughout all cultures of the world. You can use incense the same way you would with sage or Palo Santo, or you can burn your favorite type and let the smoke permeate your space. Some of the most popular types are:

• Nag Champa

• Sandalwood

• Patchouli

• Lavender

• Frankincense

• Copal

• Jasmine

• Dragon’s blood

• Desert sage

• Amber

Sound

One way of clearing negative and stagnant energy in your home is with sound. Bells and singing bowls have often been used to drive these energies away from a particular space. I like to use sound as I am smudging and ring a bell as I circle the room clockwise making sure to get into the corners and empty spaces. You can also use a special kind of bell known as a singing bowl to clear negative energy. Tibetan singing bowls are often used in clearing negative and dense energy from a space. Once the negative energy has been cleared, fresh new energy or chi can flow through the space.

To use a singing bowl, position the bowl in the palm of your hand feeling the weight of it. Then you can begin to strike the rim gently to become familiar with the sound it makes. You can also circle the bowl clockwise with the mallet to create sounds.

Essential oils

Essential oils can uplift your spirit, purify your environment and eliminate negative energy in your space. You can use a diffuser with a few drops of your favorite essential oil or use a few drops as a personal aromatherapy scent you enjoy wearing. Empaths are frequently very sensitive to certain smells and feel a powerful emotional response to them. Scents can trigger past memories, joyful feelings, and even sadness. Aromatherapy can help one feel more balanced and can improve one's mood. Here are some of the most common essential oils for cleansing energy and enhancing your mind, body, and spirit.

• Lavender oil calms anxiety and stress and promotes a relaxed feeling

• Peppermint oil can help with a negative state of mind or depression and it promotes alertness

• Tea tree oil can cleanse the air and purify your environment because of its antimicrobial properties

• Bergamot can help with feelings of fatigue and promote energy

• Lemon oil can improve motivation and productivity

• Ylang Ylang oil can help improve positive self-image and self-esteem

• Frankincense can help calm the senses and leave you feeling grounded

• Sweet orange oil can ward off depression and brighten your mood

I hope that this blog post has given you some ideas for ways to protect your energy. It takes mindfulness and practice to master these techniques, but they can be very helpful. Please comment below and share your favorite centering, grounding, shielding, and cleansing techniques and tips.

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