Cutting the energy cords with the other people in our lives sounds like it might have a negative connotation, like we’re pulling the plug on our relationships. In reality, this therapeutic exercise is meant to preserve our spiritual space, so that we can nourish our bonds with our own cleansed, pure and vibrant energy. When we exchange energy with another person—which can happen during any daily interaction—there is a potential for their energy to stick with us. Most people don’t do this on purpose. Cording is something that happens during certain energy exchanges, and can be especially likely in exchanges with loved ones.

Many of us can remember a time when we supported a friend through a difficult situation, and felt emotionally affected by it even after leaving that friend. That is because their energy was still attached to us. While those are the most memorable examples of cording, we often pick up and carry other people’s energy without even noticing. Cutting the cord helps us to cleanse ourselves of the energy we pick up, before it causes us to feel emotionally drained or tired. We aren’t cutting emotional ties, we are releasing energy ties—and there is a big difference between the two. In this week’s edition of Heather LIVE, Heather reveals her favorite techniques for cutting energy cords. Watch the full video to see Heather demonstrate these simple methods, as well as answer one viewer’s question about auras.

Crystallized Methods For Cutting Energy Cords

1. The first thing that you want to do to cleanse your energy is sage yourself and your environment.

2. Another technique is to use sound to break up the energy surrounding you. A Tibetan bell is an absolute must to have in your energy toolkit. Any kind of bell will work, but we especially enjoy using a bell made with several different metals, as each metal carries a different energy frequency. Heather suggests ringing the bell around your own energy field, even if you’ve already smudged yourself. When you are in your own head, with a mess of thoughts buzzing around, the bell will help to break you out of that space and shed the negative energy around you.

3. You can also cut energy cords with a piece of black kyanite. At the end of the day, Heather will cut the energy cords from family, friends, work colleagues and everyone she comes into contact with throughout the day by coupling a piece of black kyanite with an intention. She takes the black kyanite, and slowly moves it along each chakra, and around her entire energy field. As she does this, she asks archangel Michael, who is associated with black kyanite, to help her cut the cords of anything or anyone attached to her, and to send their energy back to them with love and light. It is important, even when cutting toxic cords, to always send energy back to others with love and light.

   Sometimes we know exactly where energy is corded to us. We can feel it in our heart chakra, in our stomach or in our mind. When we want to understand and release these significant cords, it can be a beneficial practice to take a moment to get in tune with who is chorded to you and why. Then focus your crystal over the area of attachment. If you are looking to release the energy, use black kyanite. If you want to release the energy and fill that space with positive light, use selenite. If you want to cleanse the energy and fill it with love, use rose quartz.

4. Another way to release energy cords, is to journal with crystals. Many times when we get corded with people, it causes us to recognize our own negative energy that we need to work on. To get clear the negativity that is our own, sometimes it’s nice to put pen to paper. Take a few minutes, and jot down what you need to let go of from your own energy field. It could be excessive or overindulgent behaviors, a preoccupation that is stealing all of your attention or even a negative focus on the past. Taking the time to get to know yourself is really what this practice is all about. The more we acknowledge our personal truths, the faster we can get rid of the things that do not serve us. So write on a piece of paper something that you’d like to release, fold the paper up, and place a piece of black tourmaline on it. Black tourmaline is a great stone for release and letting go. Then place a piece of rose quartz on the paper as well to carry the energy of love and forgiveness.

In the end, the most tenuous relationship in our life is the one we have with ourself. We beat ourselves up. We don’t take the time to recognize everything that we do right. Cutting our energy cords allows us to reconnect with ourselves. In these moments, we can recognize that while some days are great and some are difficult, we need to commit to loving ourselves regardless. These are the tools that we hope can help you with shifting your energy. Release what no longer serves you, give yourself a break, and enjoy yourself on this journey of life. For complete cord cutting and energy cleansing rituals, pick up a copy of Crystal Muse: Everyday Rituals to Tune In to the Real You.