Energy Fatigue

[tawneypup]

Something I’ve been struggling with lately is how often I get requests to send energy out for people who are struggling with health and other issues. Maybe it’s always been this way and I was just too obtuse to notice it, but it seems like the last few years in the pagan community it has ramped up to the point that every day I am bombarded with

Comments

[chronarchy]

I think the way I balance it is this: there is a great deal of power in saying, simply, "I will light a candle for you" (and, of course, doing so). I think it's got more "oomph" than "sending energy" or even "keeping you in my prayers." It's something concrete that people (even magical people who grok "energy") understand very well, and it's really, intrinsically religious.

I start a small list when I say that to someone, and I tend to do it in batches: if I say it, I look to see if anyone else needs to be added to the list, so I can light all those candles at one time.

I have thought before that a good solution would be to simply add a single candle to my altar and light it, praying for "those who need healing (or [insert general thing here])." If you do that, you can simply state the truth: "I've lit a candle on my altar." It doesn't have to be a candle specifically for a person, or specifically for their thing. They won't ask if it was "just their candle," and it isn't important anyway.

The other thing is that I occasionally retroactively light candles: if I miss a notice of someone going into surgery until after they're out, then I'll let them know I'll do the work "retroactively." It's all sacred time, after all. And if you can do that sort of work retroactively, anyway, you can certainly do the physical candle lighting tomorrow and have it still be true.

My short advice, probably, is this: contain it. Do it at a certain time, within certain parameters. Don't let it overwhelm you and cause you grief. That's not what clergy-ing is for. ;)

[dragonmamma]

This seems very helpful. As a "not quite sure" pagan I have always wondered about techniques and how to help people in a practical way without draining off my own energy. This I can understand and can do. I'm sure that we will all find this a helpful method. Thank you.

[tawneypup]

Thanks for your reply! I live in a house where burning candles or incense is problematic (the honey prefers I don't do it) but I like the idea. Do you let your candles burn down or blow them out after a while? Perhaps I can come up with a similar thing to do.

[chronarchy]

I always blow them out. Unattended candles are just a mishap waiting to happen, and I don't want to be responsible for that :)

It's about blessing, not becoming homeless ;)