energy work: 1st efforts, shielding / a funnel not a source / avoiding manipulation

[belenen]

icon: "ethereal (a photo of me looking at the camera from behind a lacy green plant, while wearing makeup that includes a glitter goatee)"What do I think is happening when I do energy work? I think that people's electric fields get dirty and hungry just like bodies, but since people don't often think about them or practice tuning in, they get

Comments

[pallid_regina]

Interesting read. I find energy work fascinating. I was at a public event a few years back and actually felt someone manipulating me, rounded on her and asked her just what the heck she thought she was doing. Turns out she was a Reiki practitioner and she thought I wouldn't notice. Um, WHAT?! Energy rape is NOT OK, you always ask! It was very strange and it kind of kick-started a consideration of energy work etiquette in my mind, what if I hadn't been able to feel what she was doing? Such a strange and interesting area of interaction.

[eristic_writer]

I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but I feel like using the term energy-rape to refer to someone sending thoughts/energy your way against your will is not only extreme, but diminishing of actual rape, which is a lot more than just a "strange" experience.

[pallid_regina]

As a rape survivor, I respectfully disagree. Being raped is having someone take your power away - your right to choose what happens to your own body. Manipulation of one's personal energy without consent is absolutely rape, even if it is meant in a positive way, because I didn't get to choose to allow that person to be in my personal space, my personal energy, and I didn't even have the right to say, "Hey, fuck you, I WANT to wallow in my own psychic filth" which I absolutely have a right to decide for myself. Positive priviledge isn't a valid excuse to enter someone's space - physically or energy-wise - and realizing that is what made me start considering energy work as more complex than it initially seems. It's an interesting consideration, really, and one I've spent some time on. I might send general energy out into the world, send some love to someone I know is struggling, but to actually enter and manipulate someone without asking them? That's not positive, that's thinking you know what is better for someone than they do

[eristic_writer]

Thanks for your feedback. As a rape victim myself, though, I continue to find the term offensive. I'm not disputing how upsetting it would be for someone who believes in energy to have this done to them against the will. But lots of things are morally reprehensible and deeply damaging without being rape.

[song_of_copper]

Hm, considering some recent health issues, I feel like I'm reading this at a very appropriate moment. Are there any resources you would particuarly recommend re. shielding oneself from others' energy?

[belenen]

sorry it took me so ridic long to get back to you on this comment, I never saw it! (btw, you can always email or message me if you want a quicker response) If it's still relevant, I'd shield from others energy in several ways

[song_of_copper]

Thank you for this reply, and no worries re. time taken! :-) I feel like these kind of techniques could definitely be helpful. It's when someone has good intentions but inappropriate volume/intensity that I find I have difficulties, and something that gently and positively reinforces oneself and one's boundaries sounds like a very helpful thing.

[kiwi]

Your statement about not being able to help others by taking on their pain hits close to home, as I have been on the receiving end of similar statements more often than I can count

[belenen]

It's their experiences and by trying to take it on, it can be mistaken as "you're not strong enough or well enough to deal with this, let me deal with it for you"

So true!

[chillychilly22]

I think energy work is interesting and I really enjoy reading about your experiences with it. I'm of the mindset that it won't work for me because I'm too dense to "get it". I also am afraid of what will happen if it does work, so either way I cut myself off from the experience. Have you worked with people who said they were open to energy healing but unknowingly blocked themselves off to you?

[belenen]

I don't think you are too dense to "get it" but I understand this fear! I had the same, especially with worrying what would happen if it did work. Setting out a block of time to explore it helped, as well as practicing with other people.

Yes, I have, but not long distance -- usually what I do is tell them I feel blocks and ask them if they want to break those down and if they do, I'll do eye contact and synchronized breathing or something like that to start, and maybe ask them to try to feel certain things (like, they put their hand out and close their eyes and I ask them to feel the color of the energy that I am sending into their hands from mine an inch above). If they are trying to sense me, it makes it easier to receive from me.

[meri_sielu]

I feel much the same about not being able to take away other people's pain through my own energy. I'm very empathic and so feel others pain physically within my own, and sometimes even as a physical affect on my body. It can sometimes be incredibly painful. :(

Interesting read, thank you for sharing. <3

[belenen]

*offers hugs* I feel you.