The further you dive into your journey in personal development and spirituality, the more you’ll begin to notice the importance of protecting yourself from negative energy. As you become spiritually awakened and in-tune, your sensitivity to energy is bound to shift as well.

As an empath, I have always felt the energy around me very strongly. I am sensitive to people and environments with strong or over-powering energies and can become completely depleted if I allow my own energy to be sucked out or transformed by the negative energy around me. (Ever heard of energy vampires before? They do exist.)

Here are a few examples: You may walk into a meeting, a bar, or even a new city you’re visiting and get an overwhelmingly bad feeling or even just the feeling that something is off, not right. That’s negative energy. Or you watch a really violent film or are standing in line behind someone who will not stop complaining. How do you feel? Generally, you feel a little gross, bothered, annoyed, and pretty darn negative.

Then, of course, there are the things bringing negative energy into our life that we don’t even think about. I address some of those below and give you ways to eliminate that bad energy. Depending on where the bad energy is coming from in your life, some big changes might have to be made. Others are quick tips and tricks to protect your energy and keep the bad stuff away. Here we go:

1. Cut ties in relationships

This deserves its very own blog post because it’s such an important part of moving through life positively in alignment with your truth. Do not become a victim of your surroundings. This includes the people you surround yourself with. Assess the types of people in your social circles, your work environment, and even your family. Are there people who constantly berate you? Doubt your dreams? Carry drama with them everywhere they go? You get the point.

Change the people you are around. If someone stops being a positive influence in your life, consider saying goodbye. If there is just no way you can completely cut ties with this person, cut back on the amount of time you’re around them. Set boundaries. Be aware of the energy around the people you spend time with and adjust accordingly.

Additionally, find people and communities who vibrate at the same frequency as you do. Surround yourself with other people who walk in the light, people who lift you, see you, inspire you. I’ve noticed during the times in my life when I have other like-minded people in my life, I’ve been more willing to put my foot down to people and invitations that no longer serve me.

2. Stop watching the news

The media centers around fear, violence, gossip, scandal, drugs, etc. The other day, I was at the dentist and they now have TV’s above every chair. I was asked if I wanted to watch TV so I said, “Sure,” hoping HGTV would be on. Instead, it was CNN. Within seconds, I got extremely uncomfortable and told her, “Never mind. You can turn it off.” For two years, I’ve chosen to not have cable and this reminded me why. There are many other ways to keep up with what’s going on in the world. I strongly encourage you to set some boundaries with how media infiltrates your life.

3. Separate yourself from gossip

Office gossip, trashy magazines while waiting in line at the grocery store, even social media ‘stalking.’ Cut that shit out right now. And when your friend starts ragging on someone else, put your hand up and stop that shit before it starts too. If you allow yourself to become a part of the conversation, you’re taking part in the gossip too. Shut it down. And, if you’re around someone who tends to gossip more than anything, see #1 above. Remember, you have control over what you allow into your life.

4. Use sage to cleanse

If you’re feeling down, stuck, or negative, smudging is a great way to clear your space and home from negative energy. Buy a bundle of white sage from your local New Age/Metaphysical store, on Etsy, or even Amazon carries sage. Hold the bundle over a fireproof container. Many people like to use an abalone shell, similar to this one to hold the sage and prevent any ashes from falling. Open a window. Once you gently light the end of the sage on fire, blow it out, and the smoke will start to billow. Using either your hand or a feather, walk clockwise throughout your house, dispersing the smoke and cleansing the air and energy.

As you’re doing this, repeat a blessing or intention such as:

“Smoke of Air
And Fire of Earth,
Cleanse and bless this home and hearth.
Drive away all harm and fear;
Only good may enter here.”

5. Gemstones + crystals

I am always wearing at least one gemstone/crystal. Whether it’s in the form of jewelry or I simply have a stone in one of my pockets, I keep my stones near to me to bless and protect me. When I am going to be in large crowds or working with others, I keep at least one or two grounding stones with me. Here are a few of my favorites:

Black Obsidian – Extremely powerful so use with caution. I currently have Snowflake Obsidian in my pocket.

Tigers Eye

Amethyst

When you keep crystals with you for a specific purpose, make sure they have been cleansed (I put mine on the window sill under the moonlight) and then set your intention with them.

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6. Visualize white light

I know this one might seem especially “woo woo” for some of you but just hear me out. When you don’t have crystals, don’t have sage, and don’t have much control over your environment, you can try a white light visualization.

• Close your eyes and visualize a radiant white light surrounding you in a protective cocoon. You may feel its warmth. You may suddenly feel very safe. You may feel an overwhelming sense of love. This white light is a cleansing bath for your own spirit, and washes away any negative energy.

There are a couple other cool tools for you to use when you know you’ll be entering into an environment with leaky energy. As I said earlier, it is so important for us to protect our energy.

• Wrap yourself in an invisible protective cloak that will shield you from harm. Harry Potter it up!
• Wear white. Unlike black, the color white attracts positive energy.
• Physically “cut” the cords attaching you to the energy of others. For psychic work, I was taught to do this in a chopping motion with my hands. It’s actually kind of fun. Try it! Just make sure no one else can see you do it because then, you’ll get the side-eye ;)
• At Spirit Junkie Masterclass, Gabby taught us to “zip” ourselves up anytime before we go somewhere where we’ll have lots of other energies around us. Start by your feet and physically zip all the way up your body, over your head, and down the other side to the ground. Again, a cocoon of protection. Ah, yes!

7. Ask Archangel Michael to protect you

The first thing you need to know is that Archangel Michael is the man. You can call upon him to clear any lower negative energies from in and around you.

Close your eyes and ask Archangel Michael to cut all the cords that have been draining your energy and have not been serving your Highest Good. Then, ask him to fill you with white light and protect you from any negative energy. Thank him for his healing.

8. Use an affirmation

Sometimes, it’s really just as simple as repeating a phrase over and over to shift the energy in your environment by focusing your own energy on the Highest Good.

“I release all negative energy.”

[Tweet “”I release all negative energy.””]

9. Purge

I’ve become quite the minimalist these days, compared to how I used to be and one thing I highly recommend to my clients who are moving or people who feel a lot of static energy lingering around, is to go on a de-cluttering spree! Go through all of your stuff and get rid of everything that you don’t absolutely need.

Hanging on to mementos and photos from former relationships or postcards and letters that we “might want to read again one day” are not only collecting dust and taking up space, but they are also stagnant (and often negative) energy that we no longer need in our life.

So, go through your house with a trash bag and ask yourself, “Do I really need this?” And then place it into the bag to donate, and say, “I am free. I am light. I am cleared.”

10. Move :)

I always think about that quote, “If you don’t like where you are, move. You are not a tree.” Some of us live in cities that are magnets for bad energy. Towns that stifle our passionate flame or just do not energetically align. If that seems to be the case, I encourage you to go explore other cities and parts of the world to see what feels best.

For example, San Diego has always been a magnet for my soul. While it’s not entirely perfect and not a city for everyone, it’s a vibrational match for me. Explore different areas to find where your vibrational match is. It might be as close as the park down the street you’ve yet to explore or the new coffee shop that just opened up! Allow yourself to move around and shift the physical environment you are in.

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Above all, keep your own vibes high, positive, and your connection with the Universe strong.

And remember:

[Tweet “Amazing things happen when you distance yourself from negativity”]

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What is your go-to way to get rid of negative energy? Or, which of the above do you think you’ll try the next time negative energy overtakes your life? Let me know in the comments! If you think this article would help someone you know, please use the social media icons below to share and sign up for my emails below while you’re there! xo