Empathy is an incredibly powerful tool. It can help you trust your intuition and open your heart to others. Yet, if you are an empath, you know that there is a downside.
As an Empath you can often feel overwhelmed with your feelings, which can also be strongly affected by the feelings and attitudes of those around you. Shielding is an excellent way to regain control of your mind and protect yourself from outside negative influences. Read on to find out how!
Why is shielding important for empaths?
Empaths often feel everything to the extreme which can lead to sensory overload. This can make you feel fatigued, constantly worried, and overwhelmed, and sometimes it can be difficult to separate your own emotions from those of others.
As soon as you feel you are beginning to absorb the negativity of those around you, you should act to reduce the stimulation and center yourself. This is where shielding can come to your rescue.
Shielding is a form of self-care that can be extremely beneficial if you find yourself absorbing the negative influences of others. Shielding is all about protecting yourself and allowing your mind to fall back into balance, which will help you to feel lighter and more in control of your own emotions.
Practicing shielding techniques regularly will also assist you in finding the inner stability that will help you to learn to control your abilities and find that sense of empowerment even in the most challenging environments. Think of shielding techniques as an umbrella that protects you from the rain in winter. It is a skill that is essential to powerful empaths!
9 shielding techniques for empaths
Here are 9 shielding techniques that you can use to protect and recharge your energy:
1. Shielding using crystals
Crystals work to absorb negative energies from their surroundings so they make the perfect shields for empaths. Simply holding one in the palm of your hand or sleeping with one next to your bed can work wonders to remove the negative energies you have absorbed throughout the day.
Bear in mind though, that most crystals need to be cleansed every so often otherwise they can become stagnant and lose their abilities. This can be done simply by leaving your crystals out in the moonlight overnight, or by running them underwater (some crystals will dissolve underwater so make sure you check the properties of your crystal before you perform this cleansing technique).
Below are some of the best crystals for empaths:
1. Black Tourmaline: Considered to be one of the best crystals for empaths due to its powerful ability to absorb electromagnetic frequencies from its surrounding environment. This crystal will act as a shield to protect you against any negative energies which is why it is often worn as a talisman around the neck.
2. Amythest: This beautiful purple crystal will repel negative energies and invite positive ones. It is also incredibly efficient at increasing your psychic ability, which will provide you with psychic protection and increase your confidence in your abilities.
3. Citrine: This is an incredibly positive stone that has been likened to pure sunlight. This crystal will balance your emotions, increase confidence, and repel any negativity.
4. Obsidian: This stone has a very powerful protective energy that can help to repair your aura after it has been damaged by negative influences and feelings. Once you are healed, this stone will act as a strong shield to stop any other negativity from entering.
5. Black Jade: This crystal helps to connect with your intuition, to make you more aware of negative people and situations.
6. Pyrite: Pyrite is also known as Fool’s gold because of how it looks. It has a calming effect on the body and the mind.
7. Smithsonite: Smithsonite helps you relax and calm you after a hectic day.
8. Clear Quartz: Clear Quartz will shield you from negative energies and attract positive energies.
2. Shielding using herbs & plants
Just like crystals, certain herbs and plants have protective properties that can assist you in balancing your emotions. They have been used for centuries by tribes and cultures around the world to achieve a heightened state of consciousness which allows them to connect with a divine power. Here are some of the best herbs and plants to use as an empath:
1. St John’s Wort: This herb has been used for hundreds of years to provide protection from evil forces. It works as a calming agent which also makes it a great herb to relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety which are common in empaths. Drink it in a warming tea or take St John’s Wort capsules which can be purchased from a variety of stores and health shops.
2. Rose: This plant has been viewed as highly sacred throughout history. Aside from its natural beauty, this plant can be a powerful medicine for your heart. It is both soothing and calming when used as an essential oil, which will help you to feel more self-assured and relaxed in everyday life.
3. Lemon Balm: An extremely positive plant that will lift your spirits just like a bright summer’s day. Use this herb in a relaxing herbal tea or add it to your dinners when you are feeling overwhelmed or down.
Here are 12 more herbs that you can use for cleansing and protection.
3. Shielding using visualization
Visualization shielding is a very effective way to protect yourself from outside influences however it can take a little practice so it may take a little longer until you get the hang of it!
The simplest version of visualization for protection is to close your eyes and imagine a bright white light surrounding you. Feel it getting brighter and more vivid and allow it to penetrate through to your muscles and your mind. Feel it working to dissipate all of the dark or negative places in your mind and body. When you are ready, open your eyes. You should feel much lighter.
If it helps, you can also add a mantra at this stage such as “I am the light.”
4. Shielding using mantra meditation
Mantra meditation is a fantastic way for you to prioritize yourself above all others, which is particularly important for empaths. The good thing about mantras is that they don’t take too long to do, yet they can have a powerful effect on the mind. Plus, chanting mantras also creates powerful vibrations throughout your body that can have a cleansing effect on your energy.
Some people find that mantras work better if you sit yourself down in a quiet room, however once you get the hang of it you can perform short mantras in your head wherever you are.
You can either chant traditional mantras if they speak to you, such as OM or Sat Nam (meaning truth is my identity), or make up your own such as ‘I am powerful and I am loved.’
5. Shielding through relaxation
When you relax your body, all stored up negative energy tend to fade away. The first step to relaxation is to get in touch with your body. Once there, you can start to consciously relax your muscles while practicing deep conscious breathing. Remember, the more you relax, the more you release.
You can practice conscious relaxation while sitting, laying down or even while having a bath. Consider adding calming essential oils or herbs to the water to heighten the effects. Lavender is a good choice. When in the water, it is important to visualize the liquid washing away all the negativity from your mind, body, and spirit. This practice also works just as well in the shower.
6. Shielding through grounding (with mother earth & nature)
With everything that goes on in our lives, it can sometimes be hard to ‘come back down to earth’. You can do this by literally using the ground under your feet. In many cultures, Mother Earth is regularly worshipped as she is the one that gives us life; our crops grow from her, and the materials we use to build houses come from her.
Simply find a quiet spot outside, take off your shoes and socks, and feel the earth beneath your feet. Visualize your energy traveling down through the earth and allow the calming, grounding effect to be absorbed through your body. It is best to feel the earth the first few times you do it but after that, you can simply stand or sit in any room and draw the calming influences of the earth up to you.
7. Shielding by wearing a protection necklace/bracelet
Instead of simply holding a crystal to cleanse you, consider wearing a crystal pendant around your neck, or a bracelet on your wrist. Selenite necklaces are considered to be one of the best ways to protect empaths against negative influences as this crystal has the power to not only cleanse everything in its surroundings but also itself.
However, you don’t just need to use crystals. Do you have a favorite necklace that speaks to you? Or one that is filled with good memories? Then wear it! Your mind is a powerful tool that can be influenced by good and bad memories so wear what feels right to you.
8. Shielding through veiling
Veiling is simply the act of using a head covering to act as an additional shield from negative energies. If you feel as though you need extra protection on top of the techniques mentioned above, try pulling your hood up or wrapping a scarf around your head when out in crowded spaces.
9. Shielding through smudging
White sage has been regarded as an incredibly powerful cleansing herb throughout history. White sage leaves are widely available and they burn well. Alternatively, you can purchase incense sticks. Simply burn the sage (ensuring you have a fireproof bowl to catch the ashes), close your eyes, and allow the smoke the cleanse you inside and out.
It is also a good idea to open a window when you are burning this herb as it is believed that the smoke absorbs all of the negativity and carries it away. If all windows are closed, the negativity will simply stay in the room! If sage does not work for you, there are numerous other scents you can try including lavender, Palo Santo, and sandalwood.
10. Shielding through self reflection
The best energetic protection is love. Heavy energies and emotions from other people latch onto your unresolved pain and fear. These are the places in you which need healing and love. Love does not only heal old wounds, it beams through your energetic field. This is why, loving yourself and embracing who you are is the best energetic protection that you can get.
Innerwork is key here to heal your wounds, face your fears and start working on a better you. And remember to love yourself, love the person you are and be proud. If you are having a hard time with this, try writing down 3 things about yourself every day that are great about you. It makes you think about yourself and will help you see who you really are. Simple exercises, for example looking in the mirror and saying I love you, will also help. I know it might feel a little weird in the beginning. But in the end it will be worth it.
11. Shielding using a protection jar
Another simple yet powerful way to shield yourself is to use a protection jar. You can fill your jar up with herbs and spices that have protective properties (as discussed above). In addition, you can also add other ingredients like protective crystals, stones, gems, symbols and sigils to your jar. Finally, charge the jar using your intention. You can then place this jar in a room where you spend most of your time or even in your bedroom to attract good sleep.
Find the source
There are times when you have tried different ways of protecting yourself, but every time the same thing keeps coming back to you. When you are feeling really drained, try to go over your day. Was there a certain situation in which you felt drained, or maybe there is a certain person who keeps draining you. By finding the source you can start working on it. If it is a person you can try to keep a distance, if it is a situation, try to find a resolution for it. Sometimes there is no escaping and we can’t cut certain people out of our lives. But when you know this person drains your energy, you can protect yourself in advance by using one of the techniques in this article.
Points to bear in mind
Although shielding techniques are critical for empaths, you mustn’t end up shutting yourself off completely. Learn to work with your gift rather than against it and find that inner strength that will offer you empowerment and enlightenment in everyday life.
Conclusion
Being an empath is a gift yet it can feel like a curse at times when you feel overwhelmed. If you believe you are an empath you should perform self-care techniques like the ones above, to protect your own energy. If you practice these regularly, you may find that your skills become more powerful over time as your confidence increases.
