In my last several columns, I have been discussing two types of energetic leeches: 1) the energy attachment, which is the most common; and 2) the entity or walk-in spirit, which is less common yet still prevalent, particularly among those with addictions. Another type of energetic leech results from abuse--sexual, physical, emotional, etc. This energetic leech manifests as the energy of the abuser that is still lingering around the person who was abused.

I usually see this type of energetic leech in my clients who suffered regular abuse in the past, particularly physical and/or sexual abuse. In effect, the negativity of the abuser can settle in the energy field of the individual who was abused and cause havoc. Those who are able to visually sense the energy field or aura may sense this presence as darkness, a cloud, or a shadow. Those who emotionally sense the aura may feel this presence as something violent, destructive, and even "evil."

It is important to remember that the perpetrator of the abuse was more than likely simply reenacting something that occurred to him or her. While that does not excuse their behavior, it makes it easier for the person who was abused to forgive the abuser.

Notice that I do not use the word "victim" here to describe the person who experienced the abuse. "Victim" is a word that disempowers survivors of physical and sexual abuse. The word "survivor" is a much more powerful means of encapsulating the emotional, physical, and spiritual toll that the abuse had on an individual while also acknowledging the individual's tenacity in making it through the trauma.

When I work with clients who have the energy of an abuser hanging around them, we do a very powerful process of both forgiveness and release in which we return this energy back to the abuser and forgive the abuser him or herself, if not his or her abusive behavior. Clients can feel the release and often describe it as a big burden being lifted off of them.

The positive benefits of the process include increased energy, clarity, and peace of mind for the client. While the client may still need therapy and healing work to deal with the emotional ramifications of the abuse that occurred, releasing this energy from the client's energy field frees up more energy for him or her to move forward--courageously and powerfully--with healing.

Barnsley Brown, PhD and Reiki Master,
can be reached at Spirited Solutions™, 919-967-1164, or
spiritedsolutions@yahoo.com.