We are in what is referred to as the dark time of the year, when the sunlight has diminished, the nights are long and cold, and spirits roam more freely as the veils thin.

It’s been like this at this time of year, in this hemisphere, for hundreds of years.

For healers and empaths, it’s a time when spiritual self-care is of increased importance, as we’re more susceptible not just to the energy shifts and increased psychic phenomena, but also because we are more powerfully sensitive to the feelings & energy of the world around us.

Have you noticed that lately?

You may also have noticed that the collective unconscious rests very uneasy. There is so much fear, stress, strife, violence, uncertainty, and devastation happening in the world right now. And even if it’s not in your part of the world, or if you’re not hearing about it, the energy can still affect you. 

It may make you want to shut off, seal yourself away in your own little bubble, and try to tune it out, but if you’re an empath this is almost impossible, and if you’re a healer (or both), your soul is calling you to respond with love and light.

That’s why you’re here, and you’re needed. But in order to be of service and in order to be ok, you need to be able to take care of yourself first.

Energy shielding and clearing is a must, but it’s only part of the self-care you need. As humans we’re connected to each other, nature and animals in far more ways through our energy fields, especially at night when we’re sleeping.

As our consciousness drifts on the dream and astral plane, we can encounter, interact with, and be affected by energies and spirits far removed from our own on the physical plane.

This can result in:

• restless and/or disturbed sleep and sleep patterns
• dark dreams
• the feeling of not being fully rested upon waking
• feeling seized by panic, anxiety, or deep fear in the middle of the night
• not being able to switch your mind off from your daily problems or the troubles of the world
• emotionally or viscerally experiencing the collective fears and feelings of people and places not directly related to you
• struggling with, feeling trapped or suffocated by dark spirits in your dream state which forces you to wake up

Can you relate to any of this? If so, I have some tips from my own experience that may help you:

1. Clear the energy of your space on a regular basis. By clearing the energy in your space, you raise it’s frequency which can naturally repel lower and harmful vibes. You can learn how to do that here.
2. Clear your own energy. If you have dark energy or psychic debris hanging around on or in your aura, that can plague you at night. Here’s an article I wrote on how to clear your aura.
3. Wear a moonstone necklace when sleeping. Moonstone channels lunar goddess energy that helps to protect us at night and in the dream state. The moon represents light shining through the darkness, and creates an effective energy shield or protective ward for our spirit.
4. Soul-centered meditation. Taking a few minutes before going to bed to meditate, and center your focus on your soul, helps anchor your mind in your own divinity which can keep your mental energy from wandering at night. I recorded a 2.5 minute meditation that teaches you how to do that, you can download it free here.
5. Say a prayer or set an intention before sleeping. Perhaps you read a Psalm (I recommend #23 or #91), a prayer from your own faith or lineage, call in Divinity or protective angels, or affirm that you will rest peacefully, fully, and safely throughout the night. When we speak with authority energy moves, and we always have authority over our own spiritual dominion (meaning ourselves and our own energy).
6. Diffuse calming & protective essential oils at night. Lavender, geranium, rose, citrus + cinnamon + clove, palo santo, or cedar are all good choices.
7. Use grounding + protective crystal placements. Put a piece of hematite (2-5″ in diameter) under the sheet at your feet to anchor your energy in the space, and place either selenite or celestite (2-5″, any formation) under the top of your pillow to create a high frequency vibration that will either repel or dissolve lower energies upon contact.