What It Means To Be An Empath

I didn't grow up knowing I was an empath. I knew I understood what other people were feeling--so much so that when someone around me was feeling sad or angry I would do what I could to make them feel better. Often this included playing the role of defender when I saw someone getting bullied. There were times when I felt other's feelings so well I could pretty much tell what they were thinking. I always knew when someone had a crush on me, which usually resulted in me turning distant in order to keep would-be boyfriends away. I just knew I did not want to engage with people in that casual way.

I didn't know there was such a thing as an empath until I had a very unusual experience. I was working as a Pre-K teacher at the time. It was a normal day in my classroom and I was supervising my class during their free choice time. As I stood there watching the kids at play, I heard words form in my mind. The words were, "You are an empath." My first thought was, "I'm a what?" I didn't have the first clue as to what the word meant, although I assumed it had something to do with empathy. The voice was comforting and familiar, as I had heard it many times throughout my life when I really needed something extra. I know now that voice belongs to my main guardian angel. I'm still not sure why he chose that particular time to give me that information. I just know he did.

When I got home, I did a quick computer search and asked, "What is an empath?" As I began reading articles on empaths, several light bulbs went off. This is why I hated being in large crowds and needed lots of alone time! (Emotional overload.) This is why I can't stand horror movies or movies involving human tragedy. (Too much suffering.) I adore spending time hiking in nature because of the calming energies I am able to absorb. There were quite a few different traits that seemed to fit this description of empath. Considering I didn't even know what the word meant when I first heard it in my head (and that it turned out to be a real word), I thought it was quite significant.

It has taken me a long time to be able to shield myself from certain emotional situations. Some of my shielding comes from my gifts themselves. Because I understand others' emotional needs in a very intimate way, I can often find ways to help them feel better quickly, which in turn helps me feel better. Other parts of my shielding involves life lessons where I have learned to understand that others poor treatment of myself and others usually stems from pain that is part of their BEing. I am able to understand it is theirs and not take it personally.

On the flip side, it has taken me a long time to appreciate what I can do. It has only been the past couple of years that I realized I am very good at my customer service job because I can read people well. I know what they need and can sense small problems before they become bigger problems, Over the years, I have found that I can talk to hurting people for just a little while and help them find solutions to the problems they encounter. I used to take this ability for granted, but no more. It is a blessing to be a spiritual/emotional healer.

The more we begin to tap into the wisdom and guidance of our hearts, the more empathic we become. Like all muscles, empathy must be practiced. It is not for the faint of heart. Courage is required when you allow your heart to be opened to others. After all, you are allowing yourself to be opened to pain. Harnessing empathic power gives one the ability to heal whatever is focused on, whether self, others or the planet. Empaths are here to help heal the world.

~CSE

 

The Gifts We Receive From Our Mothers

From the moment our spirits materialize into physical form in our mothers' wombs, we become intimately connected to that part of us that is the divine feminine. Sometimes that womb experience is the only experience we have with our biological mothers as other people step in to take on the role of mother. Mothers are all those who take a hand in nurturing us, protecting us, and raising us as we grow (whether female or male). What is it that makes "mothering" such a valuable part of our life process?

The divine feminine part of ourselves is the place of heart--that intuitive, all-knowing, "connected" place. It is the place that hears all, sees all, feels all, knows all (even when we choose to overlook the information). The divine feminine is intimately connected to our emotions and derives its strength and power from that place. It is the place of divine love.

Mothers are the people in our lives who make sure our physical needs are met. They do their best to see we have a warm place to sleep and food in our tummies (sometimes going hungry themselves so we can eat). They teach us all those things we need to know to cope with and even survive in our society.

Mothers are the first people who know when something is wrong. Intuitively, they pick up on the information that something is not right in our world. They know when we are sad or angry and provide us with the tools necessary to overcome those things. They pick up on when we are sick and do those things necessary to pinpoint exactly what is needed to make us feel better. They also magnify our joys by allowing our joys to become theirs.

In very real ways, mothers are our first connections to God in physical form. Mothers teach us how to observe those things felt with the heart and use that wisdom and guidance to make better decisions and create positive change in the world. Their unconditional love gives us the power overcome those obstacles we inevitably face. The gifts mothers give us enable us to stay grounded and connected to all that IS through the power of divine love.

~CSE

Giftedness

I spent many years working with young children as a preschool teacher. While there are things I loved about it, the job was not always easy and I had to learn a lot to be good at it. The whole process changed my life in substantial ways--especially the way I view the world.

One of the most important ideas I learned in the process of teaching small children is that we all have different styles of learning. Some children learn best through using their vision. Some kids remember what they hear. Others absorb information by performing the process in a physical action. (I usually call them hands-on learners.) The kids who typically do best in school are the ones who pick up most of their information through visual or auditory means. This is because words and pictures are most often used in school to convey thoughts and ideas. Children who learn things through "doing" have a more difficult time because their brains just don't process the visual or auditory well. Although most of us do not learn exclusively through one sense, we are prone to use one most often.

As adults, we continue to learn through these same processes we used as children. People who learn best through visual means typically focus on the visual. Auditory people focus on sound. Hands on people focus on doing and feeling. It's simple to assess once you know what to look for.

I believe these patterns also transfer to spiritual learning and awakening. I know several friends who can see spiritual entities. Some see angels and demons. Others see orbs or other objects. I have auditory friends who sometimes hear voices or even heavenly music. Still other friends are in tune with their "gut" feelings and can accurately predict things by feeling them.

My personal spiritual information comes several ways. While I cannot see spiritual things with my physical eyes (like some of my friends can), I do occasionally see visions in my mind's eye, especially when I ask specific questions. I am a singer so I have pretty decent auditory memory. There are occasions when I can sing beautiful harmonies that I can actually hear coming from elsewhere. My best skill though, is my ability to feel what other people are feeling. I know exactly when others are happy or upset with me and why. I can feel the tension or ease in relationships. I also occasionally get really strong "gut" reactions that I know I need to pay attention to because the outcome could be dire if not acted upon.

As part of your spiritual awakening, it is important to look at your own particular brand of giftedness. Lamenting the fact you can't see spiritual entities with your physical eyes will not help you use the spiritual senses you do have. By looking at the subtle information you receive, you can learn to pay better attention to the spiritual information that comes to you.

Look back at your life and remember the times you received information from your spiritual senses that you either acted on or did not. What was the outcome? Have you used these experiences to help you gain better access to the spiritual side of things? If not, don't you think it's time you began paying attention?

Your life can be much better and easier in profound ways when you learn to focus on the gifts and talents you do have! Make it a point to assess your giftedness today, and turn an ordinary life into an extraordinary one!!!

~CSE