Protection

Protection. There is a naive and quaint notion that the spirit world, or energetic world, is populated exclusively with saintlike beings who have only benevolent intentions. Oh, I don't like raining on parades any more than the next guy, but... We lock our doors for reasons. We learn self-defence for good reasons. We have best before labels for reasons. Trusting that everything will always work out well is at best naive and at worst self destructive and self-disrespectful.

Each of us has an obligation, if we think that we are important and worth preserving, to care for and protect ourselves.

Examples. I have met many reiki practitioners who believe they are invulnerable to the negative or predatory energies/things that come with some patients. The more brightly you shine, the more attractive you are to darkness. Sorry, but in my experience this is how it sometimes works.
While traveling in China, a number of Qi Gong practitioners confided in me that they thought nothing of opening themselves up to whatever energy might come along and pay attention to them. They were asking for kindness and this is exactly what they expected. The notion that something different might happen was inconceivable. This is like leaving your front door open with a sign saying everyone is welcome. It works until it doesn't.

I love my fellow man. Some are not welcome in my home. Nor are they welcome in my circle of friends.