Ok I think that little pointed headed gnome dude asked my out the other day. Seriously!

I have no answers but I can tell you what I do. I raise, or change my own vibration and then I "put" my vibration, through visualization, next to the person/being/whatever that needs it. I've tried to send my energy elsewhere but two things make me think that's less effective ... 1. I think it's easier on everyone's energy level if you help raise their's and then back off and then send it again. I know I get overpowered when someone sends me a whole lot. When my husband had a heart attack a lot of my friends sent a lot of energy to us both and I was woozy and light headed for days. I felt bombarded instead of propped up. It got so bad I had to shield myself from my friend's energy and just deal with it on my own. ... and 2. I think it doesn't last as long or work as well. Say you're sending healing energy ... they might feel better while you're sending it but you can't keep it up forever. If you can raise there energy to a healing level even when you aren't sending, they are working on their own toward the goal. And you still have your strength.

And as for candles, stones, or whatever I'm using, I picture myself matching their vibration instead of taking it from them or asking them to send it. When I have my energy the way I want it then I shift it to where it needs to be.

Anyway, those are my crazy thought on it. Did that make any sense at all?

I look at distance healing as a form of sympathetic magick. In which, when I want to send energy, I program in an anchor point of where I want to send it, such as with a photo of the recipient, or any other sort of prop that I associate directly with that person... then I raise energy with the intent of healing, and I beam it into that object.

Candles, crystals, and other such items used in spellwork, those are for my personal use to "get me in the mood", or help me focus my energy and get it on the proper wavelength. They don't directly do anything for the person receiving the energy.

In the realm of shields, through experience I've figured that certain shields do more harm than good... For instance, an Algiz rune visualized on each wall, ceiling, and floor. It's the utmost protection rune, and it can keep just about anything out... including my own memories and thoughts as I walk in the door. I have to go back outside to remember what in the world I was planning on doing once I went inside. (Of course, this is just personal experience... it might have a different effect for different people.) You do want to protect against loss of energy, but at the same time, try to keep an avenue open to the earth, which can replenish your energy.

I hope some part of this helps.

Ok, well I see you already have a couple of answers, but it can't hurt to have lots can it? So this is what I do:
Visualise the stars and the Universe very far away and there is a bright star, a universal energy. You know that this is unlimited energy. Now imagine you are back in your body and you beckon the light to you. It beans down a bright light through the top of your head. Imagine as you breathe it filling all of your body. I usually find my hands begin tingling. Then use this energy to send healing whichever way you normally would. This will only use the universal energy, not your own, but you will need grounding afterwards or you might feel floaty or tired. Try clapping your hands, or washing them, drinking a glass of water and perhaps a biscuit or piece of fruit?

I have other suggestions for healing too - if you want anymore just ask :D

At the risk of being redundant...

Truthfully, Alysia... I've put off chiming in on this one because I've never thoroughly questioned the process. As usual, I've tried to think it down to the most base explanation I can come to with my limited human understanding. Here goes...
First, let me say, I completely agree with what has been stated previously. I very rarely use my own life energy for healing and then only with someone I am VERY familiar with... Will or my children/grandchildren for example. But even then there are limits and rules. My youngest child could suck the very life from me if I allowed it.... and Jodi's right (CS comment)... the recipient can suffer adverse effects from large doses of another's energy, no matter how well intended. When I send out healing energy I do it in a variety of ways (heat, vibration, wind, etc...) but most always using the Universal's infinite energy supply.
That's right, infinite. Just ask Tesla :P Ha! Is it obvious I don't accept the 'big bang' theory? Honestly, you'll get a different answer no matter what physicist you ask... astro, particle or otherwise. (I have one of each at my disposal) Scientifically, I don't believe we will ever prove one way or the other. At any rate, I am firmly convinced that it is infinite and not depleted by our manipulation.
I connect to Universal energy (a misnomer, we are connected at all times!), generally through meditation, and either pull it to me, charge it with my request, then direct it to the person in need (assuming they are open to receiving it) or send my request directly out into it... either way, it will then manifest in whatever way the Universal sees fit to best aid them. I’m never specific… I’m not that presumptuous. I know nothing.
xxx ooo

Okay, being a newbie I thought about whether or not I should answer here. I too would "give" out my energies unwittingly a lot, and also intentionally as well.

(Remember the blog about the "dream", same thing. I woke up SO tired and drained)

I usually program something, a piece of jewelry, a card/picture, a stone, whatever you see as befitting that person. I have even done a knit hat that I knit myself. I do a simple "asking the Goddess (or whomever) to aid me in....." to lend their energies as well to whatever it is I am doing.

I find that putting my energies into an object, I can just replenish it if the energies are low or old. It is also easier on my energies when I do it this way. I don't know how to do shields to protect myself, so when I think about it, I try to strengthen my outer aura to do it.

If I do use my energies as is, I usually do it with my hands and I am with that person. I find it hard to do distance healing.