With Open's initial post regard psychic attack based upon the bond he shared with his mother, others commenting on the parent/child bond, and the mention of co-dependency in this thread, these situations strike me as more lasting, permanent exchanges than those temporary interactions with a stranger on the street or a conversation in the office. Therein, when one talks of boundaries, why do they not seem to apply to those who one is close to?

There is an amble amount of transparent beauty which arrives with these more permanent bonds, but also a glowing responsibility. How does one re-exert their will over their life and claim their sovereignty? I am all for shared healing, but when one person can be such a dominate, in fact energetically draining bond void of physical presence, what would those boundaries be? And is intuition distorted as product of the strength of one's attachments and their intentions? How much responsibility do we have to another, in order to energetically support them, whereupon they may pull from us? For that energetic support, appears to heal them, but at a compromise to ourselves. However if we are going to heal society, then some of us may need to allow others some of our light, until they are able to uncover their own.

What are others thoughts on this? I live in America, and I have noticed this rapid saddening shift towards an egoistic nature these past many years since the early 2000's (9/11, globalization, internet, cheap products, lower wages, low nutrition food, etc), and in all that entails; diminished depth, emotional instability, narcissism, lack of self-worth, coddling -- which affects all of us. It is impossible to not be affected by it, to be insulated from it, as other's radiance affects one's writing, craft, or attitude, and it is encouraging me to strengthen my boundaries, and I am trying to determine what that means, without being too insulated from my attachments.

Cheers everyone!

Tom