energy hygiene
The Empowered Empath’s Guide To Spiritual Self-Care
Empaths, sensitives and intuitives tend to be givers. Loyal, sometimes to a fault, and fiercely protective of those they care about… moving at lightning speed whenever called upon.
So, when I say to an empath that it may be time to put themselves first, the response is often mixed.
But, if putting yourself first seems too selfish or too difficult, try something simpler: at least put yourself on an equal footing with those you love and care for.
For many sensitive and highly intuitive people, self-care must be an acquired behavior… and it’s a big one. Empaths intend to be selfless, to help, heal and facilitate those they care about. Wonderful!
But remember, if this is your goal, then begin with yourself. The stronger, healthier and happier you are then the more effective, nurturing and supportive you can be to those around you.
Putting yourself first doesn’t mean that you are doing only what you want to do all the time, and it doesn’t mean that you are suddenly going to ignore those you care about.
What it does mean is making it a priority to take care of your own physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs. This can be a tall order and quite the task for some empaths. Don’t wait until you are in a meltdown… frustrated and snapping at everything and everyone around you, with little or no provocation.
How To Cleanse And Charge Your Crystals
If you use crystals in your spiritual practice, it is important to periodically cleanse and charge them.
For example, when you first purchase or receive a crystal as a gift, clearing it can ensure that you are working with a ‘clean slate,’ and are able to both fully connect with that crystal and set more powerful intentions for its use.
Beyond this, charging a crystal ensures that we are able to use it most effectively for our purpose.
So, how can you go about charging and cleansing your beloved crystals?
The good news is that this process is quite simple and easy, and you can use the same method to both charge and clear a crystal:
Moonlight
Place your crystal in a place where it can bathe in the light of the moon overnight. Full moon is, of course, the best time to do this, and one night is enough to both cleanse and charge your crystal.
That said, if I am using a crystal for manifestation, I will sometimes leave my crystal for the full waxing period of a moon cycle, from new moon to full moon.
Hold Your Tongue To Protect Your Peace
Some people deal with unresolved pain in their lives, and that pain often shows up in their words. You can usually feel it right away. Their words can feel heavy, sharp, or draining, like they disrupt the energetic balance of a space.
In spiritual work, one of the first lessons one learns is that words carry vibration.
If you’re the kind of person who’s intuitive, empathic or highly sensitive, this kind of exposure can feel especially overwhelming, leaving you emotionally upset or energetically drained. This reaction isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s just your inner guidance that tells you when something’s off.
It’s important to be discerning on a spiritual path. You don’t have to respond to every person or comment. Not every interaction needs a response.
When someone’s speaking from a place of anger, fear, or unresolved issues, you’re totally allowed to take a step back and choose not to engage with it. Silence isn’t avoidance. It’s all about being mindful of your energy use and being spiritually mature.
Take a breath before you react. Bring your awareness into your body and ground yourself in the present moment. Try to respond with clarity instead of emotion. Meditation, prayer, or just taking some time for yourself can help you get in sync with your higher self instead of getting caught up in reactive patterns.
Making Space For New Blessings To Arrive
At the beginning of a new year many people feel pressured to set big new goals, make major decisions, and “get it right” immediately.
But for the spiritually aware person, the real work of new beginnings starts somewhere simpler and quieter. It starts with clearing. It means releasing what no longer serve you, so there’s room for what’s next.
Over time, we all accumulate energy that is no longer ours to keep: old emotions, outdated beliefs, and stale patterns that once were protective but now just feel heavy.
If these things are not acknowledged and addressed, they tend to follow us into the every next chapter. That’s why the start of a new year can be a powerful time to pause and intentionally create space.
One simple place to begin is your physical environment. Just opening the windows can already shift the energy in a noticeable way.
Fresh air helps move stagnant mindset and stale energy out and brings in a sense of renewal. As you do this, take a moment to set an intention to release what feels old and invite in clarity, ease, and support.
Some people also choose to cleanse their space with sage or palo santo. This doesn’t need to be elaborate or ritualized. Slowly move through your space, paying attention to areas that feel heavy or overused, such as corners, entryways, and especially places where you often sit with your thoughts. As the smoke moves, silently name what you’re ready to let go of and the kind of energy you want to keep.
Create Your Own Energy Cleansing Spray
Remember the last time you changed out a dirty air filter from your air-conditioning unit, vacuum cleaner, or your car? Remember how clogged with dust it was? In our living spaces, negative energies accumulate over time just like those ‘dust bunnies.’
Even though we can’t see these energies, there is a way to clear them on a regular basis. Think of it as the spiritual version of house cleaning.
Just as we’re drawn to refresh our surroundings with a good spring clean, our homes and sacred spaces crave energetic renewal, too.
Energies from arguments, stress, illness, or even just the daily grind can leave behind subtle residue. This energetic debris doesn’t vanish on its own. Left unchecked, it can affect your mood, your sleep, and even the flow of abundance into your life.
The first and most obvious step to take is to physically clean your space. Clutter and unwanted items work as repositories for negative energy, so it’s important to get rid of it.
After you’re done, imagine the space being deep-cleaned with an indigo or violet-colored flame. Use this as a silent meditation, and picture the flames consuming all that invisible ‘dust.’
And, just like your body or your car, your space can be cleansed and cleared of obstructions.
The easiest way to do this is to create a personal essential oil blend, which can be sprayed throughout your office and home. If made right, these smell wonderful, although their main purpose is for energy clearing and not aromatherapy.
Here’s what you’ll need to make your very own space-clearing spray blend. The ingredients can be purchased at an herbal supplies or natural products store.
Remember To Wear Your Protection Daily
Many of my clients complain feeling drained by people around them. These energy thieves can be found in their work environment, and among friends or family. In turn, what affects them energetically, also affects their pets.
Only yesterday, I was driving one of our local veterinarians back to her practice in town. I had brought her out to our place in the country to check our latest rescue dog; he is still too nervous to get into the car.
She then started telling me, with no prompting from me, how her customers are draining her. She feels that her animal patients are profoundly affected by their owners’ moods. The vet said she takes a few days off intermittently to recharge her batteries – not from the work she loves, but from the pet owners!
When I saw psychic medium John Edward perform live, he was stressing how important it is to wear our energy or psychic protection. “Wear it like a condom,” he said. I have since adopted this motto as my own, because it really nails the importance of wearing protection from negative energies around you.
We dress according to climate changes, and so, we must also wear the appropriate psychic protection for our own inner ‘climatic changes.’
We are all vulnerable to external energy vibrations, but at times this threat intensifies. We are especially more open to taking on external ‘stuff’ when we are anxious, tired, going through personal changes, and when are under the influence of any mind-altering substance.
Protect Your Energy From Toxic People
If you’ve ever felt emotionally drained, manipulated, or physically unwell after spending time with someone, know that you’re not alone. I do relationship readings for people stuck in toxic relationships, or dealing with energy vampires in their family or workplace, on a daily basis.
These relationships and people feed off your energy, often leaving you feeling depleted, anxious, or confused.
Why do so many people allow these people into their lives? Often, they simply have no choice. These toxic people may be family members, coworkers, in-laws, friends we’ve known for years, other relatives, or even life partners.
As a deeply empathic person myself, I understand the profound sensitivity that comes with feeling the energies around you.
Being surrounded by energy thieves can feel like standing in front of an emotional vacuum or caught inside a whirlwind of chaos. If you don’t prepare yourself energetically and spiritually before engaging with these types of individuals, your emotional and physical well-being will suffer.
It’s exhausting trying to maintain your peace in the presence of drama, manipulation, or constant criticism. Take for example family gatherings or in-law visits.
These moments can trigger a cascade of emotions due to clashing personalities, judgment, gossip, and unresolved history. It often feels like nothing you do is ever right, and it becomes a true test of inner strength.