Imagine, you are in a mall and the din from the crowds has grown to freight train levels. You feel dizzy as you are trying to keep up with all of the visual simulation and you are even catching yourself on your feet or bumping into people. You feel suffocated and like the ceiling is slowly lowering, getting closer and closer until you finally feel the unbearable urge to flee from the building where you can breathe again.

I have been there and as the holidays creep up with sales being announced everywhere, my heart quickens. I am so grateful for the ability to shop online, but there are times, especially this time of the year when you must enter group situations (family dinners, holiday parties and more). In most cases, these will be smaller groups but because they usually consist of those in our circles, we have stronger energetic ties with them which intensifies the feelings we experience.

You may not identify as an empath – someone who is keenly aware of the energy in their surroundings, or you may have surrendered to that definition, always on the lookout for ways to refine your abilities. Either way, here are some tips to help you navigate the energy in your environment so you can feel at peace no matter where you are and who you are with.

The first things you need to do is breathe. When you are feeling external energy, mingle with your own, breathe in with the intention that you are breathing in “clean” air. Sometimes if you do not set the intention that you are breathing in neutral air, you may feel as though you are breathing in even more energy. If you are sitting next to Uncle Bob who is venting his frustration over the political landscape, you do not need to be taking that in. Visualize the white, clear air entering your lungs and then expel any energy that is not serving you. If you are a Reiki practitioner, breathe in Reiki energy and draw it in through your crown chakra until you are beaming it like a big Reiki lantern. That strong resonance will repel those who are dissonant. If you use essential oils, Peppermint is a wonderful oil to breathe in. It is known as the oil of the buoyant heart and brings a high resonance within. If you love crystals, then carrying a tumbled Black Tourmaline with you can help to shield you from dissonant energy.

If you are feeling like the energy around you overall is just too much and you feel like you are spacing out, ground yourself. You can do this by breathing in and bringing that breath down through your abdomen, pelvis and legs and into your feet, rooting them into the ground. As you stand, feel the energy collecting in your lower body and strengthen you. Like the trunk of a tree, bringing your focus down into your legs and feet will help you stabilize no matter how much wind and chaos surrounds you. Jet is a great stone you can use to help clear energy you have taken in. Cedarwood is a beautiful oil to help ground you while you connect with others. This oil is known as the oil of community and helps you to create meaningful connections which can only be established when you are present.

If you find you have gotten swept up into the whirlwind of energy and have entered dissonance and conflict, breathe and then lift your focus up and out of your body. Imagine yourself sitting high above the situation and looking down. In this place, you are operating from your higher self and will see things with more clarity. Continue to breathe and if you have some Frankincense, applying a little to your heart center and/or crown chakra can be a powerful way for you to see the truth in the situation. When you see from the perspective of your higher self, you are more connected with source and can see that you are one with the conflict and those who are dissonant. As your false view of being separate falls away, all that remains is love and the conflict will dissipate. Blue Kyanite is a great crystal for helping you stay present and see your situation with clarity.

So, some easy steps for you to take in any situation you are feeling energetically challenged. Breathe, Ground and Fly.

At the end of the night when you come home, there are some additional things you can do to balance. An Epsom salt bath is an amazing way to cleanse and release. You can add some essential oils you love diluted with a carrier oil to the salts for an extra clearing.

You can also perform a quick Reiki self-treatment to balance and restore. Even five minutes of quiet and Reiki will work miracles.

Lastly, you can have an essential oil blend to diffuse or apply topically to help you clear away any debris you have stored from the events. Here are some more of my favorite oils:

If you want to learn more about how essential oils can help you on an energetic level, watch my free masterclass about balancing your energy centers with simple and powerful plant medicine (link below).

Wishing you peace, no matter where you are, or who you are with 😉

In warmth,

Lisa