This has come up for me this year like never before and several of my friends experienced it too. As predominant signature of 2016 is purifying and cleansing, it is of no surprise that the rise of potent negative energy will be experienced more, as it rises up in and around us from places quite deep. Another factor of the year is a very fast speed of clearing energies, therefore, we feel overwhelm of the fumes we consider negative and more likely to absorb it and experience it. Often this doesn’t belong to us at all. There is this energetic exchange that is happening between clean and ‘not so clean’ while we work towards achieving a state of balance.

Herbal infusions and essential oils might help in times of particular difficulty of shifting what might feel like a ‘curse’ or something quite ‘evil’ that seem to have attached itself to your being. It can be difficult to shift and might take a few days, even weeks.

I had this experience in September this year and turned to oils, herbs, incense burning, Earth digging and Gods for assistance. Depending on where you are and what you are doing the first thing, of course, is to become aware of something feeling not quite right within and around you. Some symptoms might be when you notice that things don’t go right in several areas of your life regardless of your efforts. You don’t feel well physically, experience a foggy head, up and down moods, negative thinking, a feeling of doom, wanting to escape that feeling, as it is very uncomfortable, loss of appetite or increase in appetite, if you tend to self-soothe with food, interrupted sleep and/or nightmares of particularly dark, unfamiliar nature. You feel heavy, hopeless and scared most of the time.

I committed to burning sage for seven days every day particularly asking masculine energy for help, as it holds the vibration of support, protection and courage – all the qualities needed in such cases. I also created and wore essential oils perfume including Frankincense, Lavender and Sage. I consciously started eating well, drinking more water and practice self-compassion and generally spreading kindness from within outwards (this one particularly helped) towards my family and friends. Beware of projecting out at this stage and hold it in your awareness and see it for what it is, something happening around you, which has nothing to do with others. You happened to be a match for a particular energy to attach itself to you, hence you are the one carrying it, e.g. you might have been under stress, your immune system might have been weakened and generally you might have taken your eye off the ball in many areas and became an opening for invasion, so to speak.

Many people report bathing in salts as a good thing to do. I would agree. What I do sometimes is first thing in the morning I go outside and throw a pinch of magic/sea salt (you might have your own blend, which is even better) across my left shoulder. Some also recommend sprinkling salt outside all entrance points of your dwelling.

Crystals that might add to a good effect of clearing the ‘bad’ energy out are black crystals – tourmaline and hematite.

Rituals outside involving digging the earth is one of my favourites. Find a tree you are drawn to, at its roots dig some dirt up and really feel it with your fingers and hands. Earth neutralises energies and transforms it into other things useful.

All of the above works better when used as preventative measures rather than a cure. It is best to practice awareness around your physical and emotional bodies daily and really tuning into yourself for any imbalances that you notice. It is much harder to ‘treat’ once an attack is already in place.

Many blessings!