Holding Space Without Losing Yourself

September Full Moon Eclipse, Energetic Boundaries in Grief for Animal Professionals and Sensitive Pet Parents

Animal Intuitive, Energy Healer & Holistic Pet Health Coach

The full moon is a time many of us feel everything more deeply. It shines a light on what’s heavy, what’s unfinished, and what’s asking to be released. And with an eclipse, that light feels even sharper, pulling hidden emotions right to the surface.

For animal professionals, communicators, energy workers, and deeply sensitive pet parents, this can be especially intense. We carry our own emotions, and we also hold space for the grief and love of others. Over time, that can blur the edges of what’s ours to hold, and that’s how compassion fatigue quietly settles in.

This is why boundaries matter. Not to close us off, but to keep our compassion sustainable. They are how we care deeply without losing ourselves.

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Boundaries as a Form of Self-Love

In grief work, boundaries aren’t walls, they are sacred containers. They are how we say, "This is how I care for you without abandoning myself."

When we love animals and their people, especially around end-of-life transitions and after, we hold space for intense pain, love, confusion, and sometimes guilt. And even when we do this professionally, it still touches something deeply personal.

I’m not a therapist, but I’ve done a lot of personal grief work, and I walk beside others every day as they navigate the hardest moments of their lives. Much of my animal communication work centers on end of life, checking in to see if they are ready to go, if they need help, if they want to be held or supported. And in the days that follow, I often learn they’ve taken their final steps home. It wasn’t just a "session" it’s a shared sacred moment, and when they go, I grieve too.

Sometimes it’s beautiful. Sometimes it’s crushing. And sometimes I feel the weight of it all and realize I need to reset.

This is where boundaries come in as a form of self-love.

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Energetic Hygiene for Grief Workers and Sensitive Souls

These are a few tools I use to cleanse, reset, and reconnect with myself:

✦ Flower Essences

I work with Australian Bush Flower Essences, Flower Essence Services, and Back Flower, and I use two specifically for grief and transition:

• Waratah: For dark nights of the soul, despair, and emotional survival.

• Transition: For supporting souls (animal or human) through big changes like death, moves, loss, spiritual shifts. (This can also be supportive near end of life to support the animal in transition).

Other options:

• Borage (FES): For trauma, anxiety, and deep grief.

• Sweet Chestnut (Bach): For the deepest grief and anguish.

• Bleeding Heart (FES): For grief and loss. Letting go with love.

✦ EFT (Tapping)

I use Emotional Freedom Techniques with both animals and their guardians. It helps move emotional energy gently but effectively. If I’ve had a particularly heavy day or session, I’ll do a round just for me: "Even though I feel the weight of this loss, I honor the love and the sadness."

✦ Cord-Cutting Meditations

Cord-cutting doesn’t mean forgetting or erasing the love connection. It’s about releasing what weighs heavy so love can flow freely again. It’s allowing yourself space to heal and calling your energy back home. If you’d like to explore cord-cutting meditations, there are many free resources available on YouTube and meditation apps. I also offer guided meditations, both in groups and one-on-one, for a more personal experience.

✦ Nature Time

When I start to feel compassion fatigue, that bone-deep weariness from giving and grieving, I step away. I go into the woods with Piper and Arya. We walk. We breathe. We honor those we’ve lost.

✦ Smoke Clearing Rituals

I grow, harvest, and dry my own herbs to make bundles for energetic clearing, but you can buy premade bundles or simply dry fresh grocery store herbs.

My favorite is rosemary because it connects me to my ancestors. Other great options:

• Lavender: Calming and uplifting

• Cedar: Protective and grounding

• Mugwort: Dreamy and deeply intuitive

When I burn herbs, I say a few words of thanks or release. I imagine the smoke lifting what doesn’t belong to me.

These practices aren’t just for us. Animals feel our emotions deeply, and when we reset our own energy, they find more ease too. Many of these tools like EFT, flower essences, or simply taking time in nature can also be shared with your animals when they’re grieving a companion, sensing your sadness, or holding stress in their own bodies.

✦ Community

You don’t have to grieve alone. Whether it’s a friend, a circle, or a group like Compassionate Paws, find your people. The ones who understand when you cry about a dog you never met in person but loved anyway.

Our animals are part of this community of grief too. They sense our sorrow, and they grieve losses in their own way. By caring for ourselves, we make it easier for them to feel safe and supported.

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The Full Moon as a Mirror

A full moon acts as a mirror, asking us to see clearly. With an eclipse, that mirror turns into a magnifying glass. What’s been hidden comes into sharp focus, and we’re invited (sometimes nudged, sometimes shoved) to let go.

The full moon reminds us to pause. To exhale. To ask:

• What am I holding that isn’t mine?

• What am I ready to release?

• Where do I need to fill my cup again?

You don’t have to wait until burnout to give yourself care. Boundaries are self-love. Grief needs room to move, and so do we.

As you release and reset, notice how your animals respond. When your energy clears, they often soften too. Grief moves through the whole household and the way we care for ourselves becomes another way of caring for them.

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Journal Prompts

Where in my life or work am I holding onto grief that isn’t mine to carry?

What old grief or energy is being illuminated right now that I no longer need to carry into my next chapter?

What might it feel like to lovingly let some of it go?

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If you're navigating grief or supporting someone who is, I see you. I’d be honored to support you through a one-on-one session, where we can tap, listen, and honor your process together.

With love, Melissa

Thank you so much for reading this post! Please let me know what you think.

🔗 Join my private group here

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My name is Melissa, and I’m an animal communicator, energy healer, and holistic pet health coach. I weave together a variety of gentle, natural modalities to support animals and their humans including Reiki, EFT/Tapping, chakra balancing, muscle testing, tuning fork fascia release, canine herbalism, and both feline and canine nutrition. I'm also currently studying clinical animal iridology to further expand the holistic lens I bring to this work.

I live on a little farm sanctuary where I'm happily outnumbered by animals—seven dogs, three cats, and a mix of other furry, feathered, and hooved friends who keep life interesting. My approach is heart-centered and intuitive, combining ancient practices and modern knowledge to help bring balance, comfort, and clarity to our four-legged companions.

Thank you for taking the time to explore ways to enhance the quality of life for your furry companions. I hope my tips and recommendations prove invaluable to both you and your beloved pets. For more information and to discover how I can assist you further, please visit my website at calmingcreek.com.

I'd love to hear from you! Whether you have stories to share or questions to ask, don't hesitate to join the conversation in the comments section below.

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For more pet health tips and other ways to connect:

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Disclaimer: The information shared in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. I am not a veterinarian, and my services are intended as a complementary practice to support your pet’s overall well-being. They are not a substitute for professional veterinary care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian regarding any medical concerns, conditions, or treatments your pet may require.