by Elizabeth Farrell

Created on: January 10, 2011

When you hear the word vampire, you'll most likely think of fanged, blood-sucking creatures that prey upon unsuspecting victims. But, unlike the vampires of folklore, psychic vampires are very real. Instead of feasting on a person's blood, a psychic vampire can drain a person's energy with their negativity, and leave the people they encounter feeling spiritually and emotionally depleted.

We all have personal energy fields, known as auras, which can be influenced in positive or negative ways by others. This subtle, electromagnetic energy can indicate one's state of health, provide information at an intuitive level, and form a protective barrier against negative energies. When we're around positive people, our auras will expand, and we'll tend to feel a positive sense of connection. But when we're around people who are persistently negative, our energy fields can be drained by their negativity. The aura becomes weakened, which can leave us with a sense of emotional and physical fatigue.

So how do you know you're around a psychic vampire? Let's look at some common characteristics a psychic vampire may exhibit:

Constantly complains but doesn't have a desire for any resolution to their problems

Does not take responsibility for their feelings, but instead blames others

Likes to vent or stir up trouble

Does not respect personal boundaries, consistently intrudes upon other people's privacy

Does not see the positive side of anything. May encourage others to be negative and critical

Needs to be constantly reassured

May lavish people with false flattery and expect something in return

May brag excessively about their achievements, or perceived achievements, as a way to gain approval

It's important to remember that just because a person is a psychic vampire, it doesn't mean they are a bad person. People with psychic vampire characteristics are usually wounded individuals. But they aren't ready to come to terms with their inner pain, so they project that pain onto others, often unwittingly. They also have a need to draw the energy of others in order to fill the emptiness they feel inside. A person who is a psychic vampire deserves your compassion, but at the same time you need to take steps to protect yourself.

An important step in protecting yourself is to have a good sense of self awareness. Learn to be aware of the subtle signals others give off when you're in their presence, as this can help you know if you are being victimized by a psychic vampire. Cleanse and strengthen your aura on a regular basis, especially when you feel it is becoming drained and depleted. Maintain a state of inner balance through meditation or prayer.

Keep a clear quartz crystal with you, to help absorb negative energy. Be sure to cleanse the crystal regularly.

Envision yourself surrounded by a protective bubble of white light.

Set healthy boundaries; stand up for yourself in a respectful manner. Learn to say no.

Resist the need to "fix" a person who is a psychic vampire, for this will only deplete your energy more. They must be ready and willing to heal and find their own personal power.

Any of us can have psychic vampire tendencies at certain times in our lives. So it's good to be aware of when these tendencies crop up. Understand what's causing these feelings and take the appropriate steps toward healing and self-empowerment.

Learn more about this author, Elizabeth Farrell.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.