posted 24th August 2025
Energetic Protection
I've always been the type of person who can walk into a room and energetically know what's going on with the majority of the people in the room. My body literally takes on their feelings and reflects to me what is going on with the other person..... Call it empathetic, psychic, intuitive, or whatever you will, it’s not the easiest “gift” to walk around with. And definitely the heaviest when people are sick or having a hard time, but you may need or want to be there for them.
I have also noticed more and more on social media, whether it's because of my algorithm or because people are becoming more guided by their intuition (I hope), that a lot of people are asking for guidance on protection regarding other people’s so-called “negative” energies. So I thought I'd write this blog about what I do to protect myself from unwanted energy and what has worked and hasn't worked for me.
Energy and our nervous system
I think it's important to start off by recognising that what you feel when you are in the presence of another person is also going to be a partially a reflection of your conditioning and belief systems. One person may feel a sense of peace around someone who is a bit chaotic because it reminds them of a family member who looked after them well. In contrast, another person may find a chaotic person frustrating and draining because what they associate chaotic with is a memory that is challenging for them. Yet, even when we are aware of our conditioning and how our experiences have shaped us in both positive and negative ways, energy is something our nervous system responds to based on what it already knows happened to in the past. It’s effectively a fight or flight response that your body automatically reacts with to protect or help itself. But each living experience is never exactly the same, and so sometimes we can make assumptions based on how we are reacting to a situation, rather than what is actually happening. This can happen, even if we are not aware of it!
For example: Ever someone new and just felt angry, sad, or nervous for no reason? They’ve triggered something in you. Your body recognised their energy and whatever response you get from that, it is giving you an answer to either stay – this person is safe, engage – this person is trustworthy, or keep away – this person is dangerous.
The problem is, if we have had a lot of interactions with others that have been conflicting, or we have been in high-speed environments, our body sometimes recognises these energies that have been familiar and regular, as healthy and safe. But this isn’t actually truth.
This is where we have to be mindful that repeated patterns create our nervous system's familiar and safe space, and in turn, this is what we are wired to go after or engage in in life, even if these habits are not actually good for us.
Empathetic energy
When we deeply feel for others, we pick up on their energy. We noticed a slight change in eye gaze, a slight drop of the shoulders, a slight tightness in the throat, a change in the tone of voice. The more we are connected to someone, the more we can pick up differences/ changes in their behaviour, but when we are truly empathetic, none of those things matter because we can just feel our energy shift around them.
Mothers have this heightened awareness of their baby if healthily bonded, because when your child can’t speak, you have to learn to communicate in other ways. And the love you have for your children is said to be deeper, specifically to help the baby survive.
I don’t have children, but when I go to a shop, go to a café, go to a lesson, get on a plane… whatever I am doing, I sense the feelings of others. It is overwhelming and interesting at the same time. How about you?
My biggest lesson is to fight to urge to step in and help others with their need because not everyone is even engaged with how they are feeling, and they can’t even see the need for your help. I tend to end up stepping in and become a maytre. But, i am learning! I know how unhealthy this is now, and boundaries were one of my biggest lessons in protecting myself from stepping in when no one asked and from taking on that person’s pain so they don’t have to feel it themselves.
Unfortunately in the past, I ended up in codependent relations and friendships, or teaching people with injuries and then getting the injury or problem myself … it was a bit of a nightmare. And the worst thing? When I really needed someone, they would literally disappear or didn’t know what to do because the roles weren’t in place anymore, and I wasn’t useful to them. Sound familiar?
Boundaries
Boundaries can be energetic, physical, or emotional, and without them, we merge into others.
How to stop yourself from absorbing or entering someone else’s energy field:
- Don’t engage with them physically or mentally and keep a distance.
- Think of yourself in a protective white bubble before you enter any space.
- If you are talking to someone, you can put a handful of rock salt between you to absorb any negative ions. i also sometimes carry rock salt in my pockets... just be mindful of how it may effect your fabric of clothes.
- Clear your energy with sage: Smudging with sage helps cleanse your aura and the space around you. Walk through the room with a smouldering stick, letting the smoke reach corners and doorways, while visualising a protective white or golden light and all negative energy being disintegrated.
- Wearing or carrying grounding crystals – Tourmaline and Shungite are my favourites.
- If someone is in front of you and you don’t like their energy, think of a brick wall around you during the interaction.
- Don’t have sexual or tactile interactions with people who don’t respect you or treat you with honesty and integrity.
Physical and emotional boundaries include:
- Saying NO when you want to
- Taking your time to make a decision and not letting another person make the decision or pressurise you otherwise
- If someone has crossed a line, explain what they have done and how it made you feel. If it’s something that repeatedly happens, you need to take the next step
- Block them on your phone if you need to
- Don’t engage with them anymore or share your life with them if they keep crossing a line you have explained is a problem for you
- Take things at your own pace, no need to merge with others' pace to connect
Remember that on the opposite end of the spectrum, good energy is infectious, and you may naturally want to take a little of someone else so called good energy when you are feeling low. However, it is always important to be aware of how much you take, so you don’t become an energy vampire!
Self-awareness
If you're someone who feels energy very easily, this section isn’t really for you, but if you are unsure what you are feeling – whether it's yours or someone else's energy, below are a few tips to help you understand the feeling of energy:
If you want to understand more about someone else’s energy field, spend a little time with that person and notice how they make you feel… joyful, playful, sad, happy, confused, anxious? That’s your answer to how they feel in the present moment. To double check, when you are away from them for some time does this feeling stay or go away? And if you re-enter their space, does it come back again? Noticing these changes in feelings will help you tune in to shifts in energy.
Notice where in the body you feel the feeling … anxiety can be felt through tightness in the chest? Happiness through a relaxed feeling in the belly? Confused by a spinning, dizzy feeling in the head? check in with what resonates for you and then you have your answers when you are met with that feeling/energy sensation again.
Bringing the energy back to you
When you walk into a room full of people, think about your feet rooted in the ground and listen to your breath. This will automatically connect you back to you and not outwards. You can come back to this at any given time to reset yourself back to you.
To keep boundaries in place, notice the distance somebody is from you when they speak to you… How does it make you feel? If it's uncomfortable, take a step or two back, or if there is resistance, consider approaching with a different conversation that may draw them closer – if you wish. Notice and include these social distancing and spatial awareness techniques where needed.
Need some further help?
Would you say you are in touch with your feelings but unable to express them well?
Or maybe you are someone who does anything in your nature to avoid them at all costs, distracting yourself with work, others’ needs, or even unhealthy numbing mechanisms like alcohol?
If this sounds like you and you are unsure where to look for help, I offer several wellbeing focus packages that are tailored to meet YOUR needs.
Give me an email with a little overview of what is bothering you the most, and I'll aim to get back to you within 24 hours.
Have a great day!
Crystal X
