Part of magickal responsibility means maintaining an energy shield, which serves much the same function as the energy circle cast before doing most magic and ritual: It keeps unwanted influences from coming in, and it keeps your personal energy from leaking out. It's not like a brick wall; you don't want to be cut off from the rest of the world, but you need protection from psychic static, and you'll need to protect others from your own energy fluctuations. It's sort of like using sunblock at the beach. It's a filter-a necessary protection.
Putting up a shield is a simple matter of visualization, or imagination. One of the first steps toward magical thinking is the belief in the power of your mind and your intent. Choose an image for your shield and see it there. Know it is there, beyond a shadow of a doubt. IF you feel it start to fade, see it coming back. You will not need to strain or push. If you are doing it right, you will have a sense of quiet certainty.
The image you choose for your shield should depend on what you need at the time. Most of the time I imagine a simple clear glass. Almost invisible, but a barrier nonetheless. Just enough to give me a sense of my own space. But sometimes, if I'm feeling threatened, I will put up something more opaque such as the branches of a tree. If I need to feel nurtured and comfortable, then its a soft blue blanket. Someday you may find yourself in a situation that calls for bared wire. Use whatever you feel you need, just keep in mind that it can often be sensed by others. It is part of the image you project. You cannot be shielded with a deathly force field and then try to transmit a loving, nurturing feeling to someone else. It won't work.. Whatever shield you use, try to make sure you always have one. Ours is an unpredictable world, and you deserve some protection.
(*politely saved from someone a long time ago but there was no authors note anywhere)
