The Empathic Process

1. The Empath picks up on someone who has an issue or a problem, through the emotional energy they are expressing, even if they are not saying anything, because they are a highly tuned receiver of this type of energy. This is a form of absorption on the Empath’s part and projection on the other person’s part.

2. The Empath naturally reacts in a compassionate way, in order to set the person at ease in the Empath’s presence. This is a form of projection. And by copying their mannerisms, facial movements, hand gestures, posture, and what not, it also becomes a form of introjection, in that the Empath takes on the characteristics of the other person.

3. The Empath then sets about finding the cause of the negative emotional energy. And the person, sensing someone who is willing to listen and help, opens up and shares their issues or problems. This is again, the Empath projecting to the other person that they are interested in listening and willing to help. And the projection of the issue, verbally, by the other person.

4. And as the other person speaks, the Empath begins to connect the dots, in that the emotion connects with the issue or problem. Thus they begin to absorb the other person’s problems, emotional energy, and see through the other person’s eyes.

5. The Empath begins to identify with this issue as though it were their own, based on their own experiences that closely relate to the other person’s issue or problem, and help to find a resolution to the problem. And as they share this resolution, even if it is only calming words of comfort, emotional energy transmutation occurs, because the energy that was absorbed by the Empath is being transmuted into something much lighter, loving, and caring, which leaves the other person, if not with a resolution, then feeling like they are not alone and their feelings have been validated.

This is a multilayered process that is done on many different levels such as energy, verbal, non-verbal, physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual. And its all based on the sharing and interaction of energy, Emotional Energy. 

Empaths

The trademark of an empath is feeling and absorbing other people’s emotions and/or physical symptoms because of their high sensitivities. These people filter the world through their intuition and have a difficult time intellectualizing their feelings. .

When overwhelmed with the impact of stressful emotions, empaths may experience panic attacks, depression, chronic fatigue, food, sex, and drug binges, or exhibit many other physical symptoms that defy traditional diagnosis.

But empaths can also learn how to center themselves so that they don’t feel too much or become overloaded. The first step is to acknowledge that you are an empath.

1. Empaths are highly sensitive.

Empaths are naturally giving, spiritually open, and good listeners. If you want heart, empaths have got it. Through thick and thin, these world-class nurturers will be there for you. But they can easily have their feelings hurt, too: Empaths are often told that they are “too sensitive” and need to “toughen up.”

2. Empaths absorb other people’s emotions.

Empaths are highly attuned to other people’s moods, good and bad. They feel everything, sometimes to an extreme. They take on negativity such as anger or anxiety, which can be exhausting for them. If they are around peace and love, though, their bodies take these on and flourish.

3. Many empaths are introverted.

Empaths become overwhelmed in crowds, which can amplify their empathy. They tend to be introverted and prefer one-to-one contact or small groups. Even if an empath is more extroverted they may prefer to limit how much time they spend in a crowd or at a party.

4. Empaths are highly intuitive.

Empaths experience the world through their intuition. It is important for them to develop their intuition and listen to their gut feelings about people. This helps empaths find positive relationships and avoid energy vampires.

5. Empaths need alone time.

As super-responders, empaths find being around people can be draining, so they periodically need time alone to recharge. Even a brief escape prevents emotional overload. For example, empaths like to take their own cars when they go places so they can leave when they please.

6. Empaths can become overwhelmed in intimate relationships. Too much togetherness can be difficult for an empath so they may avoid intimate relationships. Deep down they are afraid of being engulfed and losing their identity. For empaths to be at ease in a relationship, the traditional paradigm for being a couple must be redefined.

7. Empaths are targets for energy vampires.

An empath’s sensitivity makes them particularly easy marks for energy vampires, whose fear or rage can sap their energy and peace of mind. These vampires may do more than drain an empath’s physical energy. Especially dangerous ones such as narcissists (who lack empathy and are only concerned with themselves) can make empaths believe they’re unworthy and unlovable. Other vampires include The Victim, The Chronic Talker, The Drama Queen and more.

8. Empaths become replenished in nature.

The busyness of everyday life can be too much for an empath. The natural world nourishes and restores them. It helps them release their burdens and they can take refuge in the presence of green wild things, the ocean, or other bodies of water.

9. Empaths have highly tuned senses.

An empath’s nerves can get frayed by noise, smells, or excessive talking.

10. Empaths have huge hearts but sometimes give too much.

Empaths are big-hearted people and try to relieve the pain of others: a homeless person holding a cardboard “I’m hungry” sign at a busy intersection, a hurt child, a distraught friend. It’s natural to want to reach out to these people and ease their pain. But empaths don’t stop there. Instead, they take it on—suddenly they’re the one feeling drained or upset when they felt fine before.

As an empath myself, I use many strategies to protect my sensitivities, such as fierce time management, setting limits and boundaries with draining people, meditation to calm and center myself, and going out into nature. I find being an empath a gift, but I had to learn to take care of myself.

Quick Grounding Techniques For The Busy Empath

As empaths and sensitives it’s very important for us to stay grounded. Many of us lead very busy lives and don’t always have time to meditate for a certain amount of time each day, cleanse our chakras, or participate in other activities that can take a bit of time to help ground our self. 1. Walk barefoot – One of the quickest ways to ground is to connect your tootsies right up to Mother Earth. Even if you just take 5 minutes on your lunch break to wiggle your toes in the grass you will be amazed at how much it will help. smile emoticon   2. Drink water – Water is naturally grounding for all of us. One of the biggest things I do is carry a water bottle with me always. Just drinking it helps me to remain grounded. You can add the visualization of the water cooling your core as you drink it.   3. Wash Your Hands – Each time you wash your hands, envision that water washing any negativity out of your body and right down the drain. You can do this in your morning shower as well or your evening bath. Let the water wash that negativity away.   4. Breathe – Such a basic skill but so often overlooked. Breathe in positive energy, breathe out negative energy. Easy right?   5. Sunshine – Let the SunLord bathe you in his loving positive energy. Even a couple minutes will help.   6. Dance In The Rain – You get extra points for splashing in the puddles barefoot smile emoticon Why do we stay inside when it rains? Unless it’s freezing get out there! You’re washable   7. Tabletop fountains – Water is naturally grounding if you can put tabletop fountains around you would be amazed how much they can help.   8. Incense – I will run lavender in my home when I need extra grounding. White Sage works for me as well. Experiment with scents, there may be others that appeal to you and provide that instant calm. Oh! I also love the Clean Cotton smell from Yankee Candle! smile emoticon   9. Affirmations – Tell yourself to ground. “Negative Energy Be Gone.” Say it like ya mean it smile emoticon You’d be amazed how quickly it works. You are in control so take it.   10. Gemstones – Charge a gemstone to keep on you to help with grounding. Obsidian is an excellent choice, hematite, or charge a smoky quartz or plain quartz crystal.   These are just a few of the many many ways. Bottom line is you are in control and you know what makes you tick best. Find those things that can calm you instantly and work well with you and start using them. Yes it may take you an extra 10 seconds here and there but it will save you several minutes on anything you are doing if you are calm. Ever notice how much faster things roll when you’re calm? smile emoticon

Ten Types Of Empaths

While being an Empath can have its many positives and benefits, it can also weigh us down heavily with confusion, disorientation and anxiety. That is why it’s important to put a name to what we individually experience to better understand ourselves, and identify others who share the same abilities as us.

For this reason, I have included below a list, and small description, of each type of Empath. By understanding who you are, what gifts you possess and where you stand in life, you will be able to begin the path of Involution.

Claircognizant Empath

This is usually defined by the ability to simply know something needs to be done, or is true or misleading, without having any basis in logic or reason. Often this type of Empath will just “know” when something is right to do, or not, or when someone is lying or hiding something.

Emotionally Receptive Empath

Most Empaths are emotionally receptive, and can physically and emotionally feel the emotions from other people before they are even expressed.

Physically Receptive Empath

Many Empaths are also physically receptive to other people’s illnesses and bodily pains. This often manifests itself in the Empath’s own body, and can be an especially useful skill in healing.

Fauna Empath

This type of Empath can hear, feel and interact with animals.

Flora Empath

This type of Empath can communicate with plants, being able to receive physical and emotional signals.

Geomantic Empath

The Geomantic Empath can read the energy and signals transmitted by the earth. Many are able to feel/predict natural disasters before they occur.

Medium Empath

This type of Empath can either see, hear, feel (or a combination of these elements) spirits, usually from deceased individuals.

Psychometric Empath

This manifests itself as the ability to receive information, energy and impressions from physical objects, e.g. photographs, clothing, jewelry, utensils, etc.

Precognitive Empath

This type of Empath can feel the occurrence of an event or situation before it actually happens. This is usually manifested in dreams, or as physical/emotional sensations, for instance: dread, anxiety, or excitement.

Telepathic Empath

The ability to accurately read a person’s unexpressed thoughts is the main defining feature of the Telepathic Empath.

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Being an Empath can be difficult and confusing, but with awareness of your gifts and abilities, you can refine them and use them to guide, heal and protect yourself and the people you love.

Types of Empaths

Emotional empath

One of the more common types of empaths, an emotional empath can easily pick up on—and even take on themselves—the emotions of others. If a friend or family member is upset or sad, they may soon find themselves upset or sad. Emotional empaths are particularly susceptible to narcissists and energy vampires and may feel particularly exhausted around such people.
A mantra for emotional empaths.
If you find yourself picking up on the emotions of others, Dr. Judith Orloff recommends this mantra: “Return to sender.” This will “immediately channel the energy out of your body and back to the source,” she says. “This doesn’t harm the source; it just gets the energy out of your body.”

Physical empath

Similar to emotional empaths, this kind of empath deals with physical symptoms, as they’re able to “pick up physical symptoms from other people and absorb them in their own bodies,” Orloff says. “Physical empaths have to be very careful they aren’t being martyrs and taking on other people’s pain.” Not only can physical empaths often feel symptoms themselves, but they may also be able to see where someone is experiencing a symptom.
A breathing exercise for physical empaths.
Orloff recommends physical empaths breathe symptoms out as soon as they notice them, to recirculate that energy out of the body. “If you suddenly get a backache when you are next to a friend,” she says, for example, “relax, take a few deep breaths, and breathe the symptom out of the spaces in your spine. Keep breathing it out until it is gone.”

Intuitive empath

Intuitive empaths have very strong intuition and may pick up what other people are feeling and thinking or take on the negative energy in a room, Orloff explains. As such, it’s important to have ways of avoiding taking on toxic energy. This is also sometimes referred to as “claircognizance,” where the person is almost psychically attuned to others with just a look.
In her book, Orloff details a shielding technique that’s helpful to keep negative energy away, whereby you picture a shield of white or pink light around your body, “protecting you from stress and negativity but allowing positive energy in.”

Plant empath

Plant empaths are those who are attuned to the needs of plants. They make excellent gardeners or landscapers because they intuitively know exactly what a plant needs, giving them quite the green thumb. Plant empaths of course, love to be around plants, especially those they can tend to (like houseplants or a garden).
Foster your connection to plants.
Luckily, plant empaths don’t have to worry so much about taking on negative energy from plants. In fact, plant empaths would do well to spend intentional time with their own plants, allowing the energy exchange to be mutually beneficial; you help the plant, which gives you a feeling of contentedness.

Animal empath

You guessed it—animal empaths can pick up on the needs and feelings of animals. It may feel like a somewhat telepathic connection, where the empath senses what an animal wants. These people are naturally inclined to go into work with animals, particularly where they’re directly caring for the animal.
Spend time with animals.
If you’re an animal empath, you likely already know that being around/helping animals brings you joy. Think about using more of your time to foster this part of your life, by volunteering with a local shelter or picking up a hobby like birdwatching. You could even take it one step further by practicing energy healing, such as reiki, on the animals in your life.

Earth empath

And lastly, an Earth empath feels a very deep connection to the Earth. Think of this trait as the macro-level of being a plant empath, where plant empaths are tuned to individual plants, and Earth empaths are tuned to all of nature and the Earth at large. As such, they can be strongly affected energetically by natural disasters, weather, and the environment being harmed.
Connect with nature.
For Earth empaths, connecting with nature works restorative wonders. This could be as simple as meditating under a tree, “earthing,” or prioritizing enough outdoor time. There is a strong need to feel close to nature, so honoring that is important.

Types of Empaths: Emotional empath

One of the more common types of empaths, an emotional empath can easily pick up on—and even take on themselves—the emotions of others.

If a friend or family member is upset or sad, they may soon find themselves upset or sad.

Emotional empaths are particularly susceptible to narcissists and energy vampires and may feel particularly exhausted around such people.

A mantra for emotional empaths.

If you find yourself picking up on the emotions of others, Dr. Judith Orloff recommends this mantra:

“Return to sender.” This will “immediately channel the energy out of your body and back to the source,” she says.

“This doesn’t harm the source; it just gets the energy out of your body.”

Types of Empaths: Physical empath

Similar to emotional empaths, this kind of empath deals with physical symptoms, as they’re able to “pick up physical symptoms from other people and absorb them in their own bodies,” Orloff says.

“Physical empaths have to be very careful they aren’t being martyrs and taking on other people’s pain.”

Not only can physical empaths often feel symptoms themselves, but they may also be able to see where someone is experiencing a symptom.

A breathing exercise for physical empaths.

Orloff recommends physical empaths breathe symptoms out as soon as they notice them, to recirculate that energy out of the body.

“If you suddenly get a backache when you are next to a friend,” she says, for example, “relax, take a few deep breaths, and breathe the symptom out of the spaces in your spine.

Keep breathing it out until it is gone.”