Energetic Boundaries for Sensitive Souls
Because we all need them right now
If there is one lesson life keeps offering me, it is this: capitalism never stops asking for more, so learning to protect, restore, and reclaim my own energy has become my act of liberated rebellion. I notice the relentless noise and constant pull to give more, be more, do more. I have lost count of the seasons when I felt wrung out by chaos, my own impossible standards, heartbreak, or the slow drip of daily stress that seeps in no matter how I try to rest.
Over time, I have found a set of tools that help me return to my well. These are the weekly practical steps and the quieter, mystical practices that help me stand steady when everything else is swirling. I am sharing them here in hopes they offer you a lantern in the darkness.
But before any of these tools could truly help, I had to get radically honest about where my energy was actually going. Sometimes the leaks were easy to spot: too many late nights online, a tough conversation, or a string of obligations I never wanted in the first place. Sometimes it was subtler. I would find myself over-giving, falling into old people-pleasing patterns, living by someone else’s calendar, or getting stuck in resentment and perfectionism. Even the way I practiced “self-care” sometimes turned into another performance, another thing to check off.
I have learned to pause, take a few breaths, and ask myself: Where do I actually feel empty, irritable, or just off? Which habits or interactions leave me flat? This check-in is always meant to be kind, not punishing. If I catch myself slipping into shame, I turn to parts work or hypnosis, and remind myself to make this a loving inventory instead of a new place to criticize.
I need to say this plainly. Energetic boundaries are only as strong as our physical boundaries. If we do not have healthy boundaries in the day-to-day; if we cannot say no, ask for what we need, or honor our own limits, there is no way to maintain boundaries in the energetic realm.
Over the years, so many students and clients have come to me for rituals, spells, or visualizations that could help them clear away what they pick up from others. But often, the deeper challenge is in the day-to-day: asking their partner for what they need, refusing to over-give, keeping promises made to themselves. I want to be very clear: all the rituals, spells, and magick in the world will not help if the intention is to bypass the real, physical work. Magick cannot land if we are not willing to support it in our actions. The result is often feeling more drained and confused, not less.
The boundaries we hold with ourselves, and the boundaries we keep with others, are the very foundation for any energetic protection we want to create. If you want to care for your energy field, begin by being clear in your daily life, your relationships, your home, and your calendar. Only then do the energetic tools actually work.
So what does tending to my energy look like in practice? Here are a few things that have made the biggest difference for me over the years:
I have had to start by practice saying no, even when my voice shook. I am not obligated to every request or invitation. Protecting my energy starts with getting real about what is a true yes and what is not.
When someone asks something of me, I pause. I check in with my body, not just my mind. If my response is not a clear yes, I give myself time, or I decline.
If I blur the lines between work and rest, my energy vanishes. I need boundaries around time, too.
I take a real lunch break, away from my phone.
Before bed, I give myself five minutes of deep breathing.
Since I started working from home a lot, I have learned to signal the end of my workday with a little ritual like: a short walk, lighting a candle, or simply changing my clothes.
Once a week, I give myself have an hour to do nothing (no screens, no agenda) on purpose.
And then there are times after a client, conversation, a Zoom call, or a social media scroll, I feel a heavy residue. My body lets me know something needs clearing. When this happens, I sit quietly and breathe, and run through a boundary setting visualization that holds three affirmations, “I am here, you are there… That is your story, that is not my story…. When I can no longer affect change, I withdraw my energy”. I run through this as many times as I need until I feel myself fully disconnected from the people place or thing.
This practice only really works when I also remember to come back into my body. So often, I lose energy simply because I drift out of presence. Placing my hand on my heart or belly, breathing deeply, and gently reminding myself, “I am here” helps me return. Sometimes it’s moving, stretching, or stepping outside that does the trick; anything to help me inhabit myself again.
I have also learned not to expect myself to be at full power all month or all year. I track my own cycles, or look to the phases of the moon, to honor my natural rhythms. I notice when my energy rises or falls, and I plan for rest with just as much intention as I plan for my work. The new moon is a chance for me to set intentions, while the full moon is a natural invitation to let go of what I no longer need.
Embracing these rhythms has taught me that choosing rest over constant productivity is one of the most radical acts I can commit to. Rest is not just sleep, but permission to stop, to sit in quiet, to have no answers for a while. Just last month, my body hit a wall. I wanted to keep showing up, to keep creating, to keep serving, but I was spent. My body demanded stillness, so I canceled meetings, delayed deadlines, and gave myself permission for long baths and longer naps. At first, the guilt was loud. Old stories told me I was falling behind. But after a couple days, clarity and inspiration returned, and I felt connected to myself again.
These lessons continue to remind me that caring for my energy does not require an overhaul; sometimes it is just one small, honest act. I have seen this in myself, and I see it reflected in others around me. Tending to our energy is not a luxury; it is a necessity. The world is hungry for people who are resourced and awake. When I care for my energy, I am not just supporting myself, I become a well for the people and work I love. If you are an artist, your energy is your muse. If you are a healer, it is your medicine. If you are a caregiver, it is what allows you to show up. If you are leading, it is what makes your vision sing.
Above all, your energy is your compass and your safety. You are worthy of tending. You are worthy of returning to what restores you, again and again.
So I want to leave you with this: What would it look like to care for your energy, without guilt? How might you restore yourself, not just for others, but for your own well-being? What might become possible if you called back the parts of you that have been scattered or spent?
If you feel called, share your story, your practices, or what is working for you in the comments. Let’s keep tending to our wells, together.
And if you’re ready to go deeper; to receive support, tools, and community for reclaiming your energy and rewriting your story, I have a few spots left in my Alchemy Program. It’s a space for women ready to meet themselves, move through their patterns, and step into a life that feels both nourishing and true. If you’re feeling the pull, reply here or reach out directly to learn more. I’d love to walk this path with you.
Remember, You don’t have to do this alone. You’re allowed to pause, to ask for more, and to protect what is sacred inside you. When you choose to honor your energy, you give yourself permission to be nourished, supported, and fully seen; just as you are.
Because restoration and true connection are possible. Sometimes, reaching out is the first step back to yourself.
With so much love,
Emily Rose