While I would love to be laying on a lily pad with curls down to my toes being fed fresh fruit in the middle of a forest somewhere—that is not my reality. I live in New York City, and New York City lives in me. I am highly sensitive to energy and can pick up on the discomfort, fears, and anxieties of others, so my energetic maintenance is non-negotiable. In a city that literally does.not.sleep, it’s important I do so—for the safety of those around me. Kidding…but not really.
I have been openly offering intuitive readings for about 6 years now, but before that I was reading people’s energies for many, many years unknowingly (or knowingly). It all started with my body, giving me signals when something wasn’t right, then seeing spirits when the room was quiet, then receiving messages during a casual conversation. I kept these moments close and private for so long until I was finally able to openly speak on it with people who understood. Even then it felt strange saying it out loud, that was until I realized I could use my gifts for good, as long as I knew how to stay connected to myself and my energy.
At first, my way of protecting myself was isolation. I noticed patterns quickly, so the only way I knew how to stay in my energy and protect it was to separate myself from anything or anyone who felt like a threat—at one point this was everyone. To be honest, I still come back to this tactic when I am overwhelmed, but I have gotten better at recognizing what is mine to hold and what isn’t. The minor headaches and knee pains still linger when I am out of balance, but I keep a list of my practices handy to come back to.
I am fueled by sharing my gifts, being able to help guide people, bring clarity to their lives, reassure them they are on the right path, and support them through difficult energetic blocks and beliefs. In order to show up as my best self, I have to care for my mind, body, and energy daily.
Here’s what I do to sustain, clear, protect, and align my energy:
Cleanse and Bubble
Every morning and evening I cleanse my energy by visualizing a white light pouring over my body, then I bubble and seal that energy. This protects me from anyone else’s energy attaching itself to me. When I know I will be near large crowds of people, I add a few extra steps and layers of protection.
Obsidian
I carry black obsidian in my purse, always. If I know I am going to have a difficult conversation that requires me to stay grounded and protected, I hold it in my hand.
Yoni Steam
I started this one after my first myomectomy back in 2022. I knew I needed to deepen my connection to my womb space. This bi-monthly practice has been a great way to honor, connect to, and cleanse my womb. I set an intention for the session based on how I am feeling and what I would like to release from this space.
Journal + Oracle pull
One of my favorite rituals is my morning ritual. I make my coffee, sit at my table, and journal about how I am feeling that morning, any dreams I had, what I’m looking forward to, or what is weighing on me. Then I pull a few oracle cards for the day based on what I journaled. I call these moments coffee with spirit.
Travel
As I mentioned, New York City lives in me and with that comes the energy, too. Travel has become not only a moment for self-discovery but energetic maintenance. I find that each time I step through a new portal, I am reborn, cleansed, renewed, and ready to take on new tasks toward alignment. It’s not just fun, it’s necessary.
Meditation
This one is obvious, but I would be lying if I said it was easy. I set aside time every evening to sit either in silence or with a guided meditation, usually a body scan. This helps me stay connected to spirit while also remaining in the present moment. I have needed a few reminders to surrender—meditation helps with that.
Mind My Business
You read that correctly. As someone who attracts people’s business, I tend to stay away from gossip or the inner knowings of people’s lives. I’m human, so yes, I enjoy a little tea, but I also know the harm that can be done when you absorb all that information and attach yourself to it. With that being said, I enjoy living a private life. One thing you will never know about me is everything, and I believe some people would find adopting that mindset useful for their energy.
Sleep
Rest is very, very important to me. I need about 9 hours to feel like my best self. When I have time to take a nap, it feels like a gift. Sleep is a recharge for me and my energy.
Monthly Massages
I carry a lot of tension in my body and can usually tell what I am holding onto based on where that tension or pain lives. Body work helps release that tension while also giving myself a moment to relax and receive care.
Movement / Dancing
Moving my body to music and letting myself flow with it is the greatest medicine when I feel stagnant. I put on a good playlist and dance in front of the mirror—it brings me back into balance.
Walks in Nature
If no one else will listen, the trees will. I find my nature walks to be incredibly healing and grounding. I give myself about 30–40 minutes a day to walk in nature while either listening to music, a podcast, or voice-recording any messages that come up during my walk, but my favorite thing to do is listen to mother nature and her unique soundscape.
Epsom Salt Baths
Salt helps absorb heavy and negative energy. When I’m not feeling like myself or I’ve been around a lot of people, salt baths or scrubs are my go-to for a deep cleanse.
Energetic maintenance doesn’t make me untouchable, but it does allow me to stay connected to myself in a world that can constantly pull me out of myself.
Living in an overstimulating city pushes me to live the life of a modern witch; tuning out loud sirens during meditation, avoiding eye contact with the person who doesn’t respect personal space on the subway, receiving a notification on my phone during a yoni steam, voice-noting messages for my future self while dodging people traffic in the city.
Early on I thought the goal was to be less sensitive, but my sensitivity is something I’ve learned to stay in relationship with. It guides me in my personal life as well as my time with clients. Some days I am grounded, other days I am completely overstimulated, but I always know I have a place to come back to.
No matter where I am, I always come back to myself.
If you are looking for alignment in this moment of becoming. I created Self + Soul Activation is a 7-day guided experience designed to help you reconnect with your energy, build intentional daily rituals, and return to yourself in a grounded, supportive way.
You can explore it here.
xx,
Sapphira