Incredible Benefits of Relaxation for The Empath

Posted in Body, Grounding for Empaths, Help for Empaths, Mind, Mind, Body and Spirit, Tools by Diane Kathrine

The majority of us have no idea how much tension we hold within our body. Even without exercise and sports, our muscles are constantly stimulated, either through the stresses of modern life or from taking on the emotional energy of others. All of which impacts our emotional wellbeing.

Even the TV programs we watch of an evening for entertainment can have an effect of firing up the mind which then stimulates the muscles, further tensing them.

Any painful emotions, whether our own or those we pick up from others, are stored within the muscles which leads to greater muscle fatigue and stress.

When our muscles are constantly contracted and stressed they fuel the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight).

Stressed Muscles Leads to a Stressed Empath Mind!

Did you know even now, whilst reading this, you are holding tension somewhere in your body?

If you take your awareness to your face you may notice that your forehead, jaw or eyes are not relaxed. If you travel further into the body you may find your shoulders hunched or your wrists extended back, your legs, hips or back might be in an awkward or unnatural position, all creating pressure in the muscles and joints. But, until this was pointed out, you were unaware you were holding any tension.

We could go through the entire body, but I think it’s safe to say you will be unwittingly holding tension somewhere. Not only is this depleting the body of vital energy that most can ill-afford to lose but it causes many other problems: It is prematurely ageing, it raises blood pressure, lowers the immune system and unnecessarily heightens Empath stress.

What To Do About It

Relax! In yoga, it is known that the relaxation, at the end of a class, is the most beneficial part of the practice. Not only is it time for the body to rest but it’s the time the muscles can let go of any tension they are holding.

One of the best and easiest ways to get the muscles to relax and soften is to tense them first.

By training the muscles to soften and loosen, through relaxation, it switches on the parasympathetic nervous system. This in turn slows the breathing, lowers blood pressure, initiates deep relaxation of body and mind, and allows healing to occur.

Here are some more of the benefits:

Muscle Relaxation Benefits

Reduces fatigue
Anti-ageing
Lowers blood pressure
Boosts immune system
Induces restful sleep
Allows for muscle regeneration
Switches on parasympathetic nervous system
Promotes mind stillness
Aides in general well-being.

Here’s a quick and easy relaxation technique:

Muscle relaxation technique:

Lie on the floor or a bed (for anyone suffering back problems: a bolster or cushion under knees is helpful).
Starting at the feet, tense the both feet at the same time for five to ten seconds, then release.
Work up through legs, torso, arms, shoulders, head and face, tensing and relaxing each body part in turn (If time is short, you could tense the lower part of body first, then the upper half, finishing on the face.).
When you’ve tensed each body part, focus on the whole body and allow it to relax and go floppy. Feel it melting into the floor and let go.
Close your eyes and stay for a while in this deep state of relaxation.

Not only does the above exercise promote relaxation but it also aids in stilling the mind. Relaxation can be done at any time of day but it is great to do at bedtime or after exercise.

If, as an Empath, you suffer any kind of stress conditions or chronic fatigue, doing full-body muscle tensing and relaxation is a great help to your overall well-being.

Also, if you are suffering a lot of emotional stress, you may find this post on Essential Oils for the Empath beneficial. Or visit this post to discover how yoga can help you as an Empath.

Hope this helps on your journey…

Until next time

Diane

©Diane Kathrine at Empaths Empowered

If you are looking for a book with the best ways to find balance as an Empath, why not read an excerpt to see if this one is for you?

29Apr2013

Breathing Techniques to Empower the Empath Mind

Posted in Ascension Related, Balancing Empath Emotion, Balancing Empath Thought, Clearing Negative Energy, Grounding for Empaths, Healing Technque, Help for Empaths, Mind, Mind, Body and Spirit, Protection for the Empath, Tools by Diane Kathrine

When you don’t have control of your thoughts, your thoughts can shape your life into something you don’t want. In other words, your thoughts create your reality.

Thoughts are so powerful that they can be the root cause of illness. And because Empaths are ‘big thinkers’ they tend to be at a higher risk of developing stress-related illnesses due to overthinking.

Thoughts feed emotions and emotions feed thoughts. Negative thought patterns become a dangerous repetitive cycle. Due to the fact an Empath picks up the emotions from those around them, which they may claim as their own, their thoughts can be influenced by the energy of others.

If negative emotions are stirred up by your overbearing thoughts, your emotions and thoughts are ruling your life in a very unproductive way. But, never fear, there is a way to take back control:

Yogic Breathing…

For all the many benefits yoga has to offer the body, it was primarily designed to still the mind. Which makes sense, for it is only when the mind is calm and quiet that we truly find peace.

Ancient yogis knew that whilst the body or mind was in pain or discomfort, negative thoughts would remain dominant.

One of the quickest ways to still disruptive thoughts, and help calm the emotions that caused them, is through yogic breathing techniques.

Not only are the different yogic breathing techniques energizing and uplifting, they are also calming, relaxing and rejuvenating.

For an Empath, yoga breathing (pranayama) also helps lessen the impact of negative energy picked up from others. Their practice also helps keep a strong aura. Having a strong aura will protect you against psychic attack and leaky aura syndrome.

In challenging times, yoga and the yogic breathing systems are a blessing and should be part of every Empath’s life.

Below is a list of easy breathing exercises, and links to their demonstrations on YouTube, that you can use to calm the body and mind.

Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing) is a technique that quietens the mind and blisses you out. It is brilliant to do before bedtime, especially if you have a wired monkey mind. It is also perfect for balancing masculine and feminine energies within the body.

For an instructional video click here. or to learn more about balancing masculine and feminine energy click here.

Kapalbhati (bellows breath) is a fantastic energizing breathing technique that also works and strengthens the core stomach muscles. It is best to do this in the morning (always on an empty stomach), or when one needs a quick energy boost. It is perfect for eliminating raging emotions that linger around the solar plexus area (seat of emotions). A few rounds of kapalbhati, will leave you with a quiet, yet energised, mind. For an instructional video click here.

Ujayi (victorious breath) is commonly used within yogic asana practise to create heat within the body. It keeps the mind focused and helps remove toxins. I find this technique great to use when in places such as supermarkets, where there are lots of different ‘people’ energies swirling round. Ujayi helps keep you centred and helps prevent emotional overwhelm . For instructional video click here

Dynamic Asana Practice: This is a flowing yoga practice that moves with the breath. Instead of holding poses static, for a certain length of time, you move in and out of the postures with the rhythm of your breath. Again, brilliant for quietening a busy Empath mind, but also great for alleviating tension, and building strength and flexibility within the body. (I have not attached a link to this as it’s best to learn under a qualified instructor).

To reap the greatest benefits of any yoga breathing techniques you should try to practise every day, if only for 5 minutes.

Any yogic breathing system should be approached gradually. When first attempted they may cause dizziness or sometimes anxiety. This, however, quickly passes, so don’t be put off.

Alternatively, if you want an incredibly easy relaxation technique click here to learn more.

Hope this helps on your Empath journey.

Are you ready to transfor

If you want to discover more about being an Empath click here.

Until next time…

©Diane Kathrine at Empaths Empowered

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13Feb2013

Clear Your Empath Clutter Transform Your Life!

Posted in Alternative, Balancing Empath Emotion, Balancing Empath Thought, Clearing Negative Energy, Empath's Work, Grounding for Empaths, Help for Empaths, Highly Sensitive Person HSP, Mind, Protection for the Empath, Tools by Diane Kathrine

It is incredible how quickly clutter builds within the home and the mind. How many of us hold onto things long after they’ve outlived their use?

Have you kept old clothes for when you lose weight or hope they may come back in fashion one day?

Or have you been given a gift you didn’t really like, but kept to avoid hurting another’s feelings?

I think it’s safe to say most could answer yes to the above questions. But hoarding, even just a bit, soon sees your home overloaded with junk. Bad news for Empaths or those of a Sensitive nature.

An overly cluttered house leads to an overly cluttered energy field.

Clutter equates to stagnated energy and is extremely draining to the body and mind. Even clutter the eye cannot see has a debilitating effect on the psyche and creates an overcrowded feeling.

If you have a crowded house (and I don’t mean with people) you may not realize how much it depletes your energy. Clutter causes sluggishness, apathy and an uninspired Empath mind.

Empaths tend to have an inbuilt loathing of clutter, whether they are aware of their gift or not, and this is because they feel ‘clutter energy’ dragging them down. They may opt for an uncomplicated decor, without too much fuss, for the simple reason all objects hold energy. But over the years clutter unintentionally builds.

Many years ago, I read a book by Karen Kingston called: ‘Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui, it really resonated with me and inspired me to have a full-on house detox.

I hatched a plan to rid the home of all unwanted, unused and unhelpful items we had hoarded. My husband and I ploughed through the house, room by room, and cleared tonnes of stuff (slight exaggeration, but you will be surprised how much is crammed into the smallest draw). I have a minimalistic décor style and have never liked visual clutter. So everything removed came out of cupboards, draws and wardrobes.

It was amazing how clean, fresh and liberated we both felt afterwards. Removing the clutter also cleared energetic debris held within the unused items.

Where to start

The first thing you need to summon when de-cluttering is bravery. Yes, it may sound silly to suggest being brave when it comes to house-clearing, but it’s often exactly what you need. Letting anything go causes discomfort. Fear always rear its ugly head when making any changes in life. When de-cluttering, fear likes to perch on your shoulder and whisper in your ear, telling you how much you need those unneeded items.

Hoarding is born from the fear of lack. By clearing your clutter you face this fear. When your home is full there is no room for anything new to come into your life. In making space, you send out a message to the universe that you are open to receive (but hopefully not to more clutter).

To find out whether you really need something in your life simply ask this question: How will this item improve my life? If you can’t come up with an answer (other than it won’t) it’s probably time to ditch or give it to charity.

Mental Clutter

Clearing the clutter doesn’t just have to be of your home, you can have an internal-clutter-clearing session.

Disposing of old beliefs, traits or thought patterns is both liberating and rejuvenating. Granted, they’re not as easy to be rid of as belongings, but probably ten times more beneficial.

A trait that will serve you no-end in eliminating is overly judgemental behaviour.

Judgemental behaviour carries a dark, cluttering energy

Although Empaths may dislike judging others it doesn’t mean they won’t harshly judge themselves. Being judgemental is imprisoning and causes untold harm. And it doesn’t have to be vindictive to be damaging: Believing you are not good enough, or another is more worthy is destructive. Self-judgements shrinks your self-worth and clutters your mind with insecurities.

Being judgemental catches all Empaths unaware. But when you work to clear it you become more conscious and automatically disengage from judgemental musings before they have chance to do damage.

Clutter Clearing Check List for the Internal and External

If you are in doubt of what you should or shouldn’t keep in your life, see the following questions:

Does this serve me today?
Will this serve me in the foreseeable future?
Can this serve anyone else?
Why am I holding onto this?
Will keeping/holding onto this make me happy?

A word of warning: Within days of having a clear-out your mind will play tricks on you. You will suddenly find use for everything you de-cluttered. You may not have used an item for 5 years but your mind will find a job for it once you’ve binned it. Just know that this is part of the de-cluttering process and it will pass.

Hope this post helps you on your Empath journey.

Until next time

Diane

Donations can be made here. Thank You for your kind support.

©Diane Kathrine at Empaths Empowered

2Feb2013

Is There More to an Empath Than Just Feeling Others’ Emotions?

Posted in Balancing Empath Emotion, Empath's Emotions, Grounding for Empaths, Help for Empaths, Mind, Mind, Body and Spirit, Protection for the Empath, Tools by Diane Kathrine

The main aspect of being an Empath is feeling and experiencing the emotions of others. For example, an Empath can tell when another is nervous, when one is angry or sad. They may enter shopping centres, or busy peopled places, and feel an array of strange sensations wash over them like a tidal wave. This is due to the gift of being able to feel…

Granted, not all Empaths consider the ability to experience other people’s emotional energy as a gift. In fact, some would say the opposite. But that is often because they have emotional or physical imbalances to work through (which may take some time), and this makes feeling the emotions of others as intrusive and ‘just too much!’

Before they become aware of their birthright, some Empaths may not give much thought to all they experience, energetically, because what they feel happens so naturally. It is not something they force, nor do they have to work at it. They may go through life assuming everyone experiences the same, not realizing that what they ‘feel’ is a unique part of Empath life.

But once the Empath’s eyes are open to their incredible traits and abilities they have, they can’t unsee them. All those ‘feelings’ finally have an explanation.

Other than their ability to sense the emotions of others, most Empaths also have incredible intuition…

Empath intuition comes in many forms, but for most it comes as strong gut sensations, having the ability to read others, or just having a ‘Knowing’ about future outcomes.

Intuition can be developed (see this post for more details), if that’s what one wants, but most Empaths already have very dependable intuition (in the way of gut-feelings) without having to try at it.

Some ignore their gut-feelings for their own reasons: Maybe they want to see the best in others, or perhaps they don’t believe in their intuition as much as they should. But every Empath’s gut-feelings are there to warn, serve and protect them from experiencing anything they don’t need to.

The strong sense of intuition an Empath has is both their guide and their best friend.

They may question their intuition, especially if it does not fit in with what their mind or ego wants, but they would be wise to listen to it.

Strong urges, feelings, premonitions or notions in any shape or form, happen for a reason and it is in one’s best interest to take heed of them.

The reason behind them may not be revealed for days, weeks, months or even years but they will have a purpose that will eventually reveal itself. For more information on tuning into Empath intuition see this post.

Another one of the many traits an Empath has is the ability to feel the energy of the days of the week.

Many love the vibe of a Saturday morning, because it feels calm, peaceful and uplifting, but are not so keen on the energy of Sunday evening, there’s a reason for that too…

Empaths pick up on collective energy.

The start of the weekend, when the majority are off work, can feel deliciously freeing. Late weekend evenings (Sunday evening for example), can carry that heavy vibe, as people prepare to return to jobs they dislike or even dread.

Some Empaths blame their workday feelings on their own job dissatisfaction, not realizing they are picking up on the energy of those around them.

But not only do Empaths have the ability to feel energy, some can also see it.

I remember, from an early age, seeing energy fields (auras), around the animate and inanimate, without even trying.

I loved lying on the grass, on a warm summer’s day, and watching the hazy energy around the trees as they swayed gently in the breeze. I assumed this was something everyone could see/do.

It was only in adulthood, that I discovered not everyone could see energy fields. I realized it was just another trait of being an Empath and Sensitive to energy… There are many more.

An Empath’s traits may strengthen or weaken with passing years, depending on life circumstances. But they have these traits for a reason, and a great part of Empath life is figuring them out and learning how they can guide them towards the life they were born to lead.

Want to learn more about Empath traits? Click here.

Hope this helps on your Empath journey.

Until next time

Diane

©Diane Kathrine at Empaths Empowered

24Jan2013

Developing the Traits of an Empath

Posted in Alternative, Balancing Empath Emotion, Balancing Empath Thought, Empath Intuition, Empath Power, Grounding for Empaths, Protection for the Empath by Diane Kathrine

In recent months, I have had many comments asking how to develop the traits of an Empath.

What does it mean to develop the traits of an Empath? Basically, it means being able to discern the emotional energy of others and better understand what it represents. It also means to transmute negative energy, build intuition and learn how to stay protected.

Although we came into the world ready to do our job of transmuting the dense and dark energies of the world, many Empaths find the emotional energy of people toxic, which quickly takes them out of balance and prevents them from developing their traits.

Quite often this is caused when the aura becomes compromised.

The Hazards of Modern Life

There are many things about modern life that weaken an Empath, making life difficult and sometimes painful. But when the aura weakens, the energy of people has a negative impact.

Whether they are aware of it or not, Empaths are constantly at work in the unseen realms mopping up negative emotional energy.

It is part of an Empath’s life-path to help bring balance into this chaotic world, which involves transmuting emotional energy.

But it is too easy for an Empath to take on another person’s pain and mistake it as their own. This causes the type of stress that can lead to unnecessary illness and a leaky aura.

By building a powerful energy field (aura) , it helps prevent other people’s emotions from having a ‘destructive impact.’ This is an essential step in developing your Empath traits. (If your aura is leaky, you may need to take some further steps. Read more here.) One easy way to do this is crank up your endorphins.

I recently watched a program about solar flares (coronal mass ejections) and how power plants protect themselves from their impact. When a solar flare is expected to hit, the power station cranks up the electricity in the grid to full blast. This gives a protective shield and diffuses the energy of the flare through the grid. By doing this, the Sun’s energy cannot destroy the grid.

This reminds me of what happens when we do vigorous exercise: we crank up our feel good endorphins, which in turn raises our vibration and builds a stronger energy field, so that when the external energies hit, they simply get diffused. Even just 5 minutes of working-out to your max reaps huge benefits.

Another way is by stilling the mind.

Thoughts become destructive if repetitive and bleak. Negative thoughts weaken the mind and body, and greatly compromise the immune system. They also make discerning other’s emotional energy more challenging.

When the mind is quiet, we are better able to discern between whose emotion belongs to whom. This not only means we can switch off from another person’s emotions but we are better in control of our own.

Meditation is the best way to still the mind.

For some Empaths, switching off the mind can be quite torturous. But there are many mind-stilling forms to try. Yoga, for example, works as a moving meditation and is a better choice for those who find meditation alone difficult. See this post for more details.

Meditation also builds intuition. Stronger intuition helps us navigate our way through life and prevents us from making bad decisions. (see this post)

At a higher level, it also opens us up to the invisible realms of healing or clairvoyance. However, developing as a healer or clairvoyant should always be done under the guidance of a good teacher (who knows about Empath abilities).

Hope this helps on your journey as an Empath.

Until next time.

Diane

©Diane Kathrine at Empaths Empowered

17Sep2012

The Ways of an Introvert Empath

Posted in Ascension Related, Grounding for Empaths, Help for Empaths, Mind, Body and Spirit, Spirit by Diane Kathrine

If you are an Empath, chances are you will carry many introvert tendencies, even if you consider yourself to be extrovert.

The fact is introversion is something that tends to go hand-in-hand with life as a Sensitive. Even if one started life exhibiting more extrovert ways, the way the world makes an Empath ‘feel’ can trigger or build introvert tendencies such as: a regular need for solitude, not enjoying spending time around people, experiencing social anxiety when around crowds, etc.

Being an introvert in this extrovert-driven world can bring many challenges and hurdles to overcome. So much so, it can leave many Empaths completely out of place and lost. It’s as though they’ve been dumped into a reality that is not a fit, and one has to live a lie just to show up in society.

However, when you come to accept and understand ‘your ways’ and the unique ways of being an introvert Empath, life not only makes more sense but you recognise it’s ok to be who you are. You no longer feel you have to change your behaviour in order to ‘fit in’.

Below is an interesting post, written by Gregg Prescott, of in5d.com, that throws more light on some of the interesting ways of an introvert: (Copyright in5d and Gregg Prescott, M.S.. The following content may be freely reproduced in full or in part in digital form.)

Why do introverts tend to be highly spiritual?

Society dictates that we follow specific images projected by the main stream media, so why do introverts tend to rebel from these stereotypes?

Introverts tend to look within for answers versus having the need for societal approval. Often, extroverts will view the introvert as being antisocial, stuck up or as loners, but even with these labels, the introvert will stand his or her ground with complete disregard for how others perceive him or her.

If you are an introvert, then you will find complete comfort in solitude. You often find yourself immersed in deep thought and contemplation. Your need for approval by others is significantly less than the extrovert as you realize that all answers come from within.

While you may partake on social occasions, you often enjoy simply watching the environment around you versus being the center of attention, which many introverts try to avoid. On a metaphysical level, the introvert realizes how we are all connected and does not need the external approval and attention that is often sought after by the extrovert.

Approximately 75% of the world are extroverts, which makes the introvert the minority, yet the introvert will not succumb to societal pressure in order to conform.

While some introverts may be shy, there is a big difference between shyness and being introverted. Shyness is a facet of social anxiety and the fear of rejection while being introverted is the ability to be at social function without the need for complete social interaction. For example, if the introvert was at a party, he or she can easily have conversations with many people, but often chooses not to.

The introvert can have extroverted tendencies while still remaining to be an introvert. Many introverts will pick and choose the time and place to be extroverted, such as waiting in line at the grocery store. In this situation, the conversation is limited and there is no long term commitment to continue the conversation, allowing the introvert to have social interaction without being forced into it. Within minutes, the introvert will once again find the tranquility of being the observer.

Within the solitude, the introvert finds much time to reflect on life. He or she will have a small group of close friends and will feel comfortable being themselves around these people.

The extrovert will feel uncomfortable when there is a small break in the conversation while the introvert understands that sometimes words do not need to be spoken to appreciate the company of the person they’re with. A hug and a smile speak louder than words for the introvert.

The introvert is amused by the extrovert and will observe their mannerisms. An introvert will tend to be on the outside of a group, looking within.

Introverts prefer to watch, listen and observe and don’t talk very much but when they’re with people they feel close to, they will openly talk about things that they’re passionate about.

Many people within the spiritual and metaphysical genres are introverts and often look within for answers. They are more apt to understand the principle of oneness and how we are all connected on a deeper level than the extrovert, who looks for physical approval.

Introverts tend to use the right side of their brain and often are often musically or artistically inclined. They may also be poets or philosophers and can easily see outside the box.

The introvert will question the origins of what society has told us to be the truth and unlike a scientist, he or she does not need empirical data to maintain his or her own beliefs. The metaphysical fields often attract the introvert because of this.

Inner reflection is commonly used by the introvert as he or she will look within for answers versus what he or she may have been taught. The introvert will use discernment as he or she weighs what has been learned externally versus what he or she feels resonates as the truth within.

Introverts are often Empaths as well. Their sensitivity to how other people feel tends to be heightened as opposed to the extrovert who is more consumed with how others are perceiving himself or herself.

Extroverts may also be highly spiritual and will display their spirituality more openly than the introvert. They are easily able to talk to anyone about spiritual and metaphysical topics while the introvert will pick and choose who he or she will talk to about these issues.

The bottom line: despite being only 25% of the population, the introvert will rarely change their attitude or personality to appease others, with the exception of their employment. Many introverts have learned how to be “temporary extroverts” but in the end, their comfort zone brings them back to be an introvert. While society will continue to make the introvert feel like an outcast, the introvert will not be persuaded by peer pressure or conformity in order to appease others because he or she already knows that the truth is within.

Find Out if You are an Introvert Empath

If you are looking for simple ways to transform your life as an Empath or just ways to stay in control of how you feel, click here or on the image opposite.

1Aug2012

How the Empath Benefits from Taking Supplements

Posted in Body, Empath's Diet, Grounding for Empaths, Help for Empaths, Tools by Diane Kathrine

If you are an Empath, you will know, only too well, how easy it is to pick up coughs, colds and other ailments off those we spend time with.

Empaths often get twice as many ailments as those who do not pick up the energy of others. So, why is that?

An out of balance Empath, especially one who has absorbed the stresses of others, as well as having their own to deal with, need only briefly be in the presence of someone with the beginnings of a sniffle to pick up a full-blown dose. Of which, the ensuing symptoms tend to be worse than the original carrier.

The problem is, many Empaths are not aware of their own imbalances. Some become so used to feeling ‘out-of-sorts’, after picking up stress from others, they do not notice their body becoming weaker and their immune system less resilient.

I have discovered the best way to stay in balance, as an Empath, is to have all bases covered. And what I mean by that is to take care of our physical, mental and energetic bodies (body, mind and spirit).

In this post I am focusing on balance of the body (immune system) in the way of supplements.

Heard of the saying: ‘like attracts like’ or ‘like increases like?’ Well, it works in all areas of life. Generally those who regularly pick up the negative emotions of others, often feel like crap. When you feel crap you want to eat crap: fast food, stodgy and sugary food. Basically the type of food that has little in the way of nutritional value. So you feel rubbish, eat rubbish, feel more rubbish… and get no nutrients.

Nutrients are our safeguard against illness because they help keep the immune system strong.

I came to realise, first-hand, the importance of supplements, through unintentional trial and error over the years. In my haphazard approach to taking vitamins and minerals (taking them for 6 months then non for the next), I found that when taking supplements I had far less immune-system-related illnesses than when not taking them.

There is much controversy over the effectiveness of supplements, especially synthetic ones, and whether they actually work. Many experts argue that a healthy, balanced diet is all we need for optimum nutrition levels. But, even with the healthiest of diets, do we really know how nutritiously balanced our food is?

It is known that our soil is no longer rich in minerals, as it once was, which ultimately affects the mineral content of the fruit and vegetables grown in it. The ripe and brightly coloured fruits on our supermarket shelves may have travelled half-way around the world, and are already months old, before they get to our kitchens. Meaning a much lower vitamin count than if delivered to the supermarkets within hours of being harvested.

It is easy to get reliable information on the web regarding supplements and their benefits. And it is well worth doing the research.

Depending on your areas of weakness will depend on which supplement you should be taking, but I have found the following to be a good all-round elixir:

A Good Multi-Vitamin.
Extra Vitamin C (especially if you get many colds).
Omega 3, found, for example, in fish oils or organic coconut oil (a diet consisting of a ratio 3-1 of Omega 6 to Omega 3 is a good balance. However, the average Western diet consists of a ratio of about 15-1 or more, through the high usage of vegetable oils in processed foods).
A Good Multi-B Vitamin.
A Good Probiotic (especially if you suffer from a sensitive digestive tract).
Vitamin D3 with K2 (more for the darker, winter months).
Digestive Enzymes (to be taken with meals) which help break down food and extract the nutrients. Especially beneficial to those who suffer with indigestion or low stomach acid.
A Good Multi-Mineral.

The reason I recommend multi-vitamins and minerals combined, as opposed to individual supplements, is because many vitamins and minerals work together. For example, magnesium and calcium work together. If you take high doses of only magnesium, your calcium levels could become unbalanced, which might lead to other health problems.

If you have any underlying health conditions, speak to a health practitioner before using supplements.

I write these posts with the intention of helping Empaths help themselves. But we need to take responsibility for self. What works for one won’t always work for another. So in that respect take what feels right to you and discard the rest. Empaths tend to get that ‘gut feeling’ (the knowing) when something is not right.

Also, if you want to learn more about how changing your diet can transform your life as an Empath click here

Or if you would like to support me and my work please donate here.

Hope this helps on your Empath journey.

Until next time.

©Diane Kathrine at Empaths Empowered

Click on the picture opposite if you want to discover how your diet affects your Empath life and how, by making some simple changes, you can transform your life.

13Jul2012

What is Your Empath Dosha Type?

Posted in Alternative, Balancing Empath Emotion, Balancing Empath Thought, Body, Empath's Diet, Grounding for Empaths, Help for Empaths, Mind, Mind, Body and Spirit, Spirit, Tools by Diane Kathrine

Empaths tend to be hardwired for learning and are often on the lookout for new ways to help them find balance. By discovering your unique dosha type it could be that last piece of the puzzle you were looking for.

I have long been an advocate of the healing powers of yoga on the body and mind. So much so, I trained as a yoga teacher.

A part of my yoga teacher-training was devoted to the study of Ayurveda: an ancient healing practice and sister science to yoga, in which we discovered how our body constitutions, known as the doshas, affect our lives.

The meaning of Ayurveda roughly translates to ‘the science of life’. Its aim is to bring balance and health to both body and mind. This is achieved through various Ayurvedic methods. But one essential element is discovering what our dosha type is.

Each individual dosha type determines how and what we should eat, what type of exercise is more beneficial, it even determines our temperments and the emotions we are more prone to experience. Each of which can affect how we show up in the world as Empaths!

It is said we are all born with one basic constitution (dosha) which are known as either: Kapha, Pitta, or Vata.

80% of us are born with one primary dosha and the other 20% will have a dual-dosha or even tri-doshic type.

Dependant on your type will depend on what you experience in life and even what diet you should consume:

For example, a Kapha type who:

Tends to be on the heavier side
Dislikes the cold
Puts weight on easily
Is sluggish
Can have oily skin
Suffers with excess mucus
Tends to be laid back

A diet consisting of lower-fat, low-sugar, no-wheat products and plenty of spicy food is recommended.

Then for a Vata type who:

Tends to have dry skin,
Fluctuating energy levels,
Suffers an ever whirring, restless mind,
Is of slim build
Quick to anger

A diet consisting of sweet, warm, moist and oily foods is recommended (not processed food though).

Pitta types tend to be:

Medium size and weight
Can eat a lot without weight-gain
Often suffers with thinning or fine hair
Are good decision makers
Can be short-tempered
Witty and often outspoken
Have high energy levels

Foods good to balance pitta are coconut oil, olive oil, rice, barley, oats, sweet fruits, asparagus, cucumber, courgette, cooling herbs and spices, and organic chicken

What Works for One Type Doesn’t Work for Another

It goes against the grain of what the Western world promotes, in that the same healthy diet is beneficial to all.

A food which is incredibly healthy for one dosha type, may not be so good for another.

I have included a link further down for you to discover your own unique dosha type.

So how does this information help an Empath?

Finding your dosha certainly won’t take away your Empath woes. But when we discover what is best for our individual doshas it is another step towards overall balance.

Empaths take on so much and can spend much of the time feeling exhausted just from dealing with external energy. But if we know that we have balanced our body, mind and spirit through eating, drinking and exercising according to our type it will make life easier and happier.

Also by finding your dosha type it will help you understand to which emotions you are more prone. Which will ultimately help you navigate your way through life!

These days we can not afford to get ourselves any more out of balance than we already are. If we are not physically in shape and are not doing what is best for our type then it leaves us vulnerable.

If you would like to uncover many more amazing ways to find balance as an Empath Click here

If you are keen to discover your unique dosha type you can visit:

Chopra Dosha Quiz A questionnaire which will determine which type you are.

When answering the questions it is best to cast your mind back to late childhood and early adulthood, because this is when you were most likely your true dosha type: before you got imbalanced from a stressful lifestyle, wrong diet and exercise et-cetera.

There is a wealth of information on both websites about your dosha type and what foods to eat, or to avoid, to balance it/them. You can also discover how much exercise is beneficial to your type and whether eating your food hot or cold should be a consideration.

If you get chance, visit an Ayurvedic practitioner who will give you a reliable diagnosis of your dosha type.

Hope all is keeping amazing in your world!

Until next time.

Diane

©Diane Kathrine

16Feb2012

A Note to Empaths

Posted in Ascension Related, Grounding for Empaths, Uncategorized by Diane Kathrine

I decided to write this short post for all you Empaths out there suffering and struggling with all these crazy, painful, bi-polar emotions, day-in, day-out. It’s been tough for us in recent months because not only have we got our own stuff coming up (made all the worse by solar activity), but we’ve also got all the emotional pain coming from outside of us, from family, neighbours, colleagues etc, which has also intensified and there is, seemingly, no escaping it.

It’s certainly not an easy time to be an Empath.

At this time, you maybe experiencing many more physical maladies than usual, because you are picking up and absorbing them unintentionally, from those you spend time with or near. And because so many more people are suffering with different ascension/solar related symptoms, emotionally and physically, it’s double whammy for us. The other week I spent a day with a close friend who had sore, swollen eyelids. Guess what I got the very next day after being with her? Yes, sore, swollen eyelids, whilst my friend’s own swollen eyelids, quickly healed.

It can be difficult to tell what emotional/physical symptoms belongs to us and what doesn’t because we are constantly being bombarded from all directions. It is, however, still easy for us to gauge how bad another is feeling, especially when we enter their energy field, because we will immediately pick up on their pain body. It can make being round those we love difficult, especially if they are suffering. And it is so easy for us to interpret their pain as ours, which can, in turn, set off a whole host of other bad feelings within.You might be at a stage where you’re not particularly liking yourself, and that will be because you are identifying with all the stuff coming up/in, emotional-wise, and taking it on as either being part of your personality or as your own. And it would be easy for me to say, ‘It’s not yours, don’t take it on board.’ But as I know on some days it is almost impossible not to, I won’t say it.

So, this post is just a note to say you’re not on your own in this seemingly never-ending onslaught. Each day will pose a new challenge for us, in some which way. Keep trying different remedies and see what helps (especially salt remedies) in lifting the dark, incoming energy. If an Empath were to go to the doctors in these ‘trying times’ we would surely be diagnosed with some kind of depressive illness, but at least we know the truth!

There is no way we would be going through all this stuff if it wasn’t for a reason…a very good reason. And if screaming into a cushion doesn’t help get some of the debris out, try smiling… because if nothing else, it will make you look (and hopefully feel) happier!

10Feb2012

Balancing of Masculine and Feminine Energy… Notes for The Empath

Posted in Ascension Related, Grounding for Empaths, Help for Empaths by Diane Kathrine

Did you know that random, or unexplained, sinus pressure or blocked sinuses can be an indication of an imbalance within one’s masculine and feminine energy?

There is clear evidence that a sift is happening within the balance of, what was, an overly dominant masculine world. The feminine certainly seems to be rising. So, it is hardly surprising that we are seeing many people suffering with nasal problems such as a blocked or runny nose, sinus headaches and nasal pressure (even out of the hay fever season).

All this nasal pressure, amongst the Sensitives of the world, could be a sign that a re-balance is indeed in the process of happening. But let me explain why…

Whilst studying in India for my yoga teaching, we learnt how pranayama (ancient breathing techniques) rebalances the physical and energetic bodies, which includes the chakras and nadis. And how, by regular practise, one could balance their masculine and feminine energy.

Before we go any further, for those of you who are not familiar with chakras and nadis, I shall give a brief overview of the energy body:

As well as the physical body, we have an energy body known as the pranic sheath. Within our pranic sheath there are over 72,000 spiritual currents or energy nerves called the nadis which correlate with the nerves in the physical body (in acupuncture they are known as meridians). To get an idea of what the nadis look like visualise a huge plate of cooked spaghetti, with strands running in and out and overlapping.

A point where many nadis accumulate is known as a chakra.

It is said, we have 14 main nadis, of which I’m going to cover 2: the Ida nadi and the Pingala nadi.

The Ida nadi governs the feminine, left side of the body, which in turn activates the right (visual, intuitive and creative) side of the brain.

The Pingala nadi governs the masculine, right side of the body and activates the left (logical) side of the brain.

Signs you have a poor functioning Ida nadi (femine energy) are: extreme coldness, depression, low mental energy, sluggish digestion, and a blocked left nostril.

Signs of a poor functioning Pingala nadi (masculine energy): excessive body heat, quick temper, itching body, dry skin and throat, excessive appetite, excessive physical or sexual energy, blocked right nostril.

When the left nostril is dominant (more airflow passing through nostril) it means the right side of the brain is more active and when the right nostril is dominant, the left side of the brain is more active. The dominance of each nostril should change throughout the day.

Now, here is where things get confusing: Although the left hemisphere of the brain is masculine the left side of the body is feminine, and the right hemisphere of the brain is feminine but the right side of the body is masculine. So when you are classed as being left-brained the right side of your body is usually dominant and vice versa… Phew! Explaining that just gave me brain-ache!

You may have heard the saying that when someone is known to be left-brained (masculine) they tend to be logical, driven, analytical and fast-paced. The left side of the brain is associated with aggression, physical strength, control and ego.

And with the right brain being associated with creativity, inner-strength and intuition, those who are right-brained (feminine) tend to be are artsy, sensitive, nurturing and easy-going.

Empaths and Highly Sensitive People tend to be right-brained.

Here’s a quick check to see which side of your brain is more dominant:

Block your right nostril with your thumb and breath through the left, now swap over and block the the left nostril and breath through the right.

Which side was the dominant?

If your left nostril was dominant it means the right hemisphere of your brain is more active.

If it was the right nostril, that was dominant, then your left brain is more active.

Dependant on which side is active/dominant will depend on how well you fare in certain tasks.

If your right nostril is dominant it’s a good time to do physically challenging activities, when the left nostril is activated it’s a good time to be creative, meditate or reflective.

If you find your nostrils are often blocked or painful, without any apparent cause (i.e. cold, allergies or other irritants), it could be a sign that your masculine and feminine energy is off-balance or that you are reacting to the ‘shifting energy of the world’. It might also indicate that you have problems within your energy body (read more here to see if your energy body is weak or damaged).

As an Empath, it is interesting to observe how the sinuses are affected by those around you. Because Empaths are often overly-affected by other people’s energy it can also affect their masculine and feminine energies. Notice what happens to your sinuses when around certain people, especially those who are overly masculine or feminine.

To help balance your masculine and feminine energy, there is an excellent breathing technique you can use, called Nadi Shodhana. Otherwise known as alternate-nostril breathing, when practised regularly this breathing technique helps balance the ida and pingala nadis : Click here for instructions

If you have an imbalance within your masculine and feminine energy you may also be suffering with a damaged energy field and leaky aura. Learn more about this condition here. If this is the case, you will always struggle to spend time around others, until you work to repair it.

Hope this post may help you on your Empath journey.

Until next time.

Diane

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©Diane Kathrine

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8Jul2011

Simple Grounding Techniques for Empaths

Posted in Grounding for Empaths, Help for Empaths, Tools by Diane Kathrine

For Empaths and Sensitives, it is a challenge to stay grounded as we are constantly being bombarded with negative, external, emotions. Even if we stay home and don’t venture out of our personal sanctuaries, our empathic antennas are picking up pain from the outside world. Because of this we can easily become consumed with depression, listlessness and apathy and lose sight of what our roles here are to do.

What will help with that?

Staying grounded!

All of the following grounding techniques have been tried and tested by yours truly. I can attest to the benefits of them. Try them out and see what works best for you.

To see maximum benefits, remember to swap and change your grounding techniques regularly. We are constantly shifting and changing and this means our grounding techniques should too.

Here we go:

Change your thoughts:

Many of us help create our life situations with the thoughts we keep, especially dark, repetitive ones. From the second a negative thought pops into our head we only have a matter of moments before its settles in and changes our mindset from positive to negative, once this happens, one bad thought after another keeps rolling in.

The best way to avoid repetitive thoughts is not to indulge in them in the first place. When a dark thought pounces, change it, immediately, to a good one. Sounds simple, it’s not. It can be difficult, but we do have a choice about what we think. We can allow our thoughts to rule us or we can rule our thoughts… Change your thoughts change your life! See meditation below…

Water:

The body is made up of 75% water (some body tissue even contains 95%), so it will come as no surprise that this is way up there on the self-healing scale. Many of us are unaware of just how dehydrated we are. An insufficient supply of water creates problems with the functioning of our body, affects our well-being, appearance and accelerates the ageing process.

Most of us should be drinking at least 8 glasses of pure water a day, just to replenish what our body loses naturally through sweating, urination etc. The heavier we are the more water we need.

If you type, ‘the healing powers of water,’ into any search engine you will get hundreds of pages worth of information on the subject, but by far the best I have so far come across is the site of Dr F. Batmanghelidj M.D. who is a pioneer in the discoveries of the healing power of water. He has written many books on the subject, the most renowned being, The Body’s Many Cries for Water. He reveals many of his findings on his website www.watercure.com. Here you will find an abundance of well-researched-data on how water can heal the body and how to consume it safely, without flushing our necessary minerals from the body. And, unlike many other sites, he does not charge for the information.

His mantra is, ‘You’re not sick; you’re thirsty. Don’t treat thirst with medication’. And it has been his life’s mission to get this word out to the world.

There is an old religious saying (or at least it was used by many God-fearing Christians in yesteryear), ‘Cleanliness is second to godliness.’ I used to believe the saying was a ridiculous, bully-tactic for making young children clean behind their ears (which in those days it probably was), but now I can see it from another point of view. Water washes more than just dirt away; it has the power to cleanse our energetic body and clear negative energies. If you’re sceptical, try this when you come home from a hard day at work: Instead of reaching for the wine, jump straight in the shower and see what a lifting effect it has on you. Combine it with the healing power of salt and you’re onto a winner.

To find out more on how you can get medicinal benefits from taking sea salt with water (the correct quantities), please refer to Dr F Bamaghelidji’s website www.watercure.com

Sea Salt:

It is said that the ‘father of medicine,’ Hippocrates, was amongst the first to discover the, almost magical, healing ability of sea salt, after noticing how quickly seawater would heal wounded fishermen’s hands.

Not only is sea salt a great medicinal healer, it is deeply purifying. It has the power to draw out and dissolve negative energies from the emotional and physical body. This is especially helpful if your day involves interacting with others, where too often you end up picking their stressed or anxious energy.

The best way to get an external, daily, salt cleanse (if you don’t live near the ocean) is in a salt bath. Immersing the body for at least 20 minutes in salt water will get rid of any negative emotions picked up during the day. This is especially important for empaths who absorb negative energies like a sponge. For best results add 1 to 2 cups of sea salt to a warm bath (along with your favourite essential oil or a crystal. See below). If you don’t have time for a soak then another great option is a salt-scrub prior to showering. (You can easily make this from fine milled sea salt and oil). Not only will the salt clear unwanted energies, it will also leave your skin silky smooth and glowing.

Nadi Shodhana/Alternate Nostril Breathing:

Balance your inner masculine and feminine energy (which easily gets out of balance in these times) by doing alternate nostril breathing:

Sit comfortably with your back straight and eyes closed. Place the tip of the right thumb on the edge of the right nostril and the right, ring finger hovering over the left nostril. Closing off the right nostril inhale through the left for a count of 3. Close the left nostril then exhale through the right for a count of 3, inhale through the right for a count of 3. Close the right nostril and exhale through the left… this was 1 round of Nadi Shodhana, do 9 more then build up to at least 20. (If you are more of a visual learner there are lots of videos on Youtube for alternate-nostril breathing)

It is normal when beginning Pranyama (breathing exercises) to get a little dizzy, if this happens just resume normal breathing until it passes.

Exercise and play:

In the western world many of us turn to exercise for the benefits of weight loss and a toned body. However, exercise offers so much more: it can release pent-up emotions, remove impurities through sweat, enhances and uplifts moods, energizes and allows us to have fun. Instead of referring to it as workout-time, we should call it playtime.

When it comes to playtime do what you love. Some of you maybe stuck in a boring exercise routine that you do out of necessity rather than play. If this is the case, find something you love. What did you love to do as a child? Being out on your bike? Skipping? Hula-Hooping? Bouncing up and down on a trampoline? Horse-riding? All excellent forms of play (exercise). If you detested running and were no good at it, chances are it will probably be the same now. If you loved gymnastics then yoga will definitely be a great one for you to try.

If you don’t like rules, routines or set times then go freestyle. Make the rules yourself. Get the music cranked up and dance like nobody’s watching (which it’s probably best if no one is whilst throwing your shapes out). Dance, stretch and jump your cares away and get a sweat on. All you need is 10 minutes a day, but I guarantee if you’re doing something you love those 10 minutes will easily turn into 20, 30 or 40… Who needs a gym or a class?

Meditation:

This is a must if you have a busy head with endless mind-chatter and fearful thoughts. It will help you deal with stressful situations and give you clearer insight. There are many forms of meditation out there; it’s just a case of finding what suits you. If you’ve never attempted it here’s one to try:

Sit in a comfortable position with your back straight, close your eyes and, breathing through your nose, focus on your breath. Inhale for 3 seconds and exhale for 3 seconds. On the inhale feel your tummy expand and on the exhale feel it deflate (Note: when you first try this it is common to get dizzy or feel anxious). You will find, at first, your mind turns into a monkey and starts jumping all over the place, from one thought to the next, but just keep coming back to your breath. Start with a few minutes and build up. Between 10 to twenty minutes is usually good.

Creativity:

In a world of rules and routine, we seldom get time to be creative, but this is one of the easiest ways to revel in the feel-good-factor. When we create, from our passions or interests, it has an uplifting effect on our psyche and because we’re engaging in something we love, it keeps our minds away from dark thoughts and feelings.

Many will say that they’re not creative because they don’t see themselves as artistic. But you don’t have to be a master crafter or award-winning composer to indulge in creative outlets. Simply making a dance routine, writing a story or poem, arranging flowers or devising a menu, are forms of creativity. We all have a way to be creative, it maybe that you’ve just not discovered yours yet.

Chakra balancing:

We have 7 main chakras which are part of our energetic body. They are our centres of spiritual power that run the length of our body, from our root chakra (lower torso) to our crown chakra (crown of head). The chakras are whirling vortices of energy that are aligned with our endocrine system (organs which secrete hormones such as adrenalin, cortisone and thyroxine into the body), which if out of whack can create disease (dis-ease) within the body. The 3 best ways to self-balance our chakras is through: meditation, yoga or using crystals:

Yoga: The Five Tibetan rites is one form of yoga specifically designed to balance the chakras as well as short (10 to 20 mins max), kick-ass workout for body and mind.

Meditation: through doing either a guided, chakra meditation or just focusing positively on each one in turn will help keep them balanced. You can get guided meditation CD’s at Amazon.com

Crystals: (see below).

Yoga:

Many people say yoga is not for them, but it’s the very people who turn away from yoga that are the ones who need it most. Yoga serves anyone and everyone no matter what age or ability and it should be a staple in every person’s life.

There is a yogic saying that, ‘We’re only young as the spine is flexible.’ And because yoga works to create a supple spine it could be classed as an elixir of youth.

The very core of yoga is built on our breath. We breathe our way in and out of postures and for this reason yoga can be classed as a moving meditation. It stills and calms an overworked mind (which is why many will say it’s not for them because they fear the stillness) and creates a strong supple body.

There are many forms of yoga and there will be a fit for everyone. For those sporty types who love to work hard and build a sweat there’s Ashtanga or Bikram yoga. For those who need a gentler pace there’s Iyengar or Dru yoga.

The hardest part of yoga is getting on the mat, but once there your body will flow gracefully through the poses and thank you for it after.

Nature:

Being outdoors in nature has a healing and uplifting effect on all. If you work in a city with no access to parkland make sure you get out at weekends away from cars and air pollution.

Laughter:

As grown-ups we spend too much time being solemn and serious, and too little time having fun (especially in the current times). Do you remember the last time you had a proper belly laugh?

‘You don’t stop playing because you grow old; you grow old because you stop playing!’

We hear children laugh all the time. They don’t know how to take life seriously, it’s all about play and fun. We should all strive to stay childlike. To see the world in wonder and above all have fun and laugh. Anything that makes us laugh will make our spirits soar. It really is a therapy.

Crystals:

The healing power of crystals has long been known in many cultures, from Atlantis to ancient Egypt. Many ancients had crystal chambers that would be used to heal many an ailment.

Crystals can be used in conjunction with the chakras to help balance them and remove blockages. This can be done by matching the colour of the chakra with the colour of a crystal. For example: the solar plexus chakra is yellow so a good choice would be Citrine. The sacral chakra is orange so Amber could be used. And the throat chakra is blue so Blue-Lace Agate would work to balance it.

Place the crystal on the body, inline with the chakra. It is best to do this whilst lying down (crystals fall off otherwise) and perhaps do a meditation or listen to soothing music for as long as you need. (Click here for best grounding stone)

Red Base/root chakra: Red Jasper

Orange Sacral chakra: Amber

Yellow Solar Plexus chakra: Citrine

Green/pink Heart chakra: Rose quartz/Aventurine

Blue Throat Chakra: Blue-Lace Agate

Indigo Third eye chakra: Sodalite

Violet Crown chakra: Amethyst

Depending on your need (and on the crystal), you can put crystals in your bath, under your pillow, in your socks and use them in your meditations or just as a visual aide.

Essential oils:

As with crystals the healing power of essential oils has been known through the ages. It is through the olfactory senses that much benefit is derived from the oils. The best all round essential oil is Lavender because, unlike other oils, it can be used without a carrier-oil and applied directly to the skin or put straight into your bath water (other oils can irritate the skin if used neat). Amongst its many benefits, Lavender is an antidepressant antiseptic, antifungal, it can even be used as a sleep aid. See the best oils for the Empath here

Love:

The most important self-healing tool we have is love… it makes the world go round. Doing what you love will uplift you more than anything else. The Beatles were onto something when they sang, ‘All you need is love!’ Unfortunately, we are humans, having a human experience, in a human body and love is often the last gift we tend to give ourselves.

Truth:

Truth is an all encompassing liberator and once you become an advocate your eyes will be opened to another world. Read this post to discover how to get to the truth of who you are as an Empath.

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1Jul2011

30 Traits of an Empath

Posted in Empath Intuition, Empath's Emotions, Empath's Life Purpose, Grounding for Empaths, Help for Empaths by Diane Kathrine

By Diane Kathrine

1. Knowing: Empaths just know stuff, without being told. It’s a knowing that goes way beyond intuition or gut feelings, even though that is how many would describe the knowing. The more attuned they are the stronger this gift becomes.

2. Being in public places can be overwhelming: Places like shopping malls, supermarkets or stadiums, where there are lots of people around, can fill the Empath with turbulently vexed emotions that are coming from others.

3. Feeling others emotions and taking them on as your own: This is a huge one for Empaths. To some, they will feel emotions off those near by and with others they will feel emotions from those a vast distance away, or both. The more adept Empath will know if someone is having bad thoughts about them, even from a great distance.

4. Watching violence, cruelty or tragedy on the TV is unbearable: The more attuned an Empath becomes the worse it is and may make it so they eventually have to stop watching TV and reading newspapers altogether.

5. You know when someone is not being honest: If a friend or a loved one is telling you lies you know it (although many Empaths try not to focus on this because knowing a loved one is lying can be painful). Or if someone is saying one thing but feeling/thinking another, you know.

6. Picking up physical symptoms off another: An Empath will almost always develop the ailments off another (colds, eye infections, body aches and pains), especially those who they’re closest to, somewhat like sympathy pains.

7. Digestive disorders and lower back problems: The solar plexus chakra is based in the centre of the abdomen and it’s known as the seat of emotions. This is where Empaths feel the incoming emotion of another, which can weaken the area and eventually lead to anything from stomach ulcers to IBS (too many other conditions to list here). Lower back problems can develop from being ungrounded (amongst other things) and one, who has no knowledge of them being an Empath, will almost always be ungrounded.

8. Always looking out for the underdog: Anyone whose suffering, in emotional pain or being bullied draws an Empath’s attention and compassion.

9. Others will want to offload their problems on you, even strangers: An Empath can become a dumping ground for everyone else’s issues and problems, which, if they’re not careful can end up as their own.

10. Constant fatigue: Empaths often get drained of energy, either from energy vampires or just taking on too much from others, which even sleep will not cure. Many get diagnosed with ME.

11. Addictive personality: Alcohol, drugs, sex, are to name but a few addictions Empaths turn to, to block out the emotions of others. It can be a form of self-protection in order to hide from someone or something (external emotions).

12. Drawn to healing, holistic therapies and all things metaphysical: Although many Empaths would love to heal others, they can end up turning away from healing (even though they have a natural ability for it), after they’ve studied and qualified, because they take on too much from the one they are trying to heal. Especially if they are unaware of their empathy. Anything of a supernatural nature is of interest to Empaths and they don’t surprise or get shocked easily.

13. Creative: From singing, dancing, acting, drawing or writing an Empath will have a strong creative streak and a vivid imagination.

14. Love of nature and animals: Being outdoors in nature is a must for Empaths and pets are an essential part of their life.

15. Need for solitude: An Empath will go stir-crazy if they don’t get quiet time. This is even obvious in empathic children.

16. Gets bored or distracted easily if not stimulated: Work, school and home life has to be kept interesting for an Empath or they switch off from it and end up daydreaming or doodling.

17. Finds it impossible to do things they don’t enjoy: As above. Feels like they are living a lie by doing so. To force an Empath to do something they dislike through guilt or labelling them as idle will only serve in making them unhappy. It’s for this reason many Empaths get labelled as being lazy.

18. Strives for the truth: This becomes more prevalent when an Empath discovers his/her gifts and birthright. Anything untruthful feels plain wrong.

19. Always looking for answers and knowledge: To have unanswered questions can be frustrating for an Empath and they will endeavour to find an explanation. If they have a knowing about something they will look for confirmation. The downside to this is an information overload.

20. Likes adventure, freedom and travel: Empaths are free spirits.

21. Abhors clutter: It makes an Empath feel weighed down and blocks the flow of energy.

22. Loves to daydream: An Empath can stare into space for hours, in a world of their own and blissfully happy.

23. Finds routine, rules or control, imprisoning: Anything that takes away their freedom is debilitating to an Empath even poisoning.

24. Prone to carry weight without necessarily overeating: The excess weight, especially around the belly area, is a form of protection to stop the negative incoming energies having as much impact.

25. Excellent listener: An Empath won’t talk about themselves much unless it’s to someone they really trust. They love to learn and know about others and genuinely care.

26. Intolerance to narcissism: Although kind and often very tolerant of others, Empaths do not like to be around overly egotistical people, who put themselves first and refuse to consider anyone’s feelings or points of view, other than their own.

27. The ability to feel the days of the week: An Empath will get the ‘Friday Feeling’ if they work Fridays or not. They pick up on how the collective are feeling. The first couple of days of a long, bank holiday weekend (Easter for example) can feel, to them, like the world is smiling, calm and relaxed. Sunday evenings, Mondays and Tuesdays, of a working week, have a very heavy feeling.

28. Will not choose to buy antiques, vintage or second-hand: Anything that’s been pre-owned carries the energy of the previous owner. An Empath will even prefer to have a brand new car or house (if they are in the financial situation to do so) with no residual energy.

29. Sense the energy of food: Many Empaths don’t like to eat meat or poultry because they can feel the vibrations of the animal (especially if the animal suffered), even if they like the taste.

30. Can appear moody, shy, aloof, disconnected: Depending on how an Empath is feeling will depend on what face they show to the world. They can be prone to mood swings and if they’ve taken on too much negative will appear quiet and unsociable, even miserable. An Empath detests having to pretend to be happy when they’re sad, this only adds to their load (makes working in the service industry, when it’s service with a smile, very challenging) and can make them feel like scuttling under a stone.

Discover the secrets of an Empath and revolutionize your life!

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If you are new to discovering you are an Empath be sure to check out: Grounding Techniques for Empaths and Sensitives and Stop Empath Overwhelm Instantly

For a more in-depth look at ‘30 Traits of an Empath‘ and to discover what type of Empath you are.

There are many tried and tested techniques on this page that will help you better deal with your gift. Also, check out these 12 quick questions, you may also find the following posts helpful:

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Why Empaths Freeze around Inauthentic People

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An Empath’s Life Guide

This above list has been compiled as a guide to help the unknowing Empath recognize his/her gift.

Empaths may carry many of the same traits but not all of them. One Empath may be able to eat meat whilst another may love being around antiques… we are all different. Some can override or block certain traits and some traits will come and go over the years (strengthen or weaken) as life circumstances change.

Hope this helps you on your path.

Diane

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30Jun2011

Being an Empath

Posted in Grounding for Empaths, Help for Empaths by Diane Kathrine

When I didn’t know I was an Empath, I couldn’t understand why I felt all that I did. I know there must be hundreds of thousands of people struggling with the same ‘condition’, unaware that the bewildering, emotional ups and downs, they deal with on a daily basis, are not always their own feelings. They are picking up other people’s pain.

And I want to help with this. I want to help others understand that it is completely possible to feel another’s pain, even a stranger’s, as if their own.

If you don’t already know, an Empath is someone who is hyper-sensitive to many things, but mainly to the emotions of others. They can pick up the feelings of another and take them on.

An Empath can be perfectly happy and relaxed one minute, then enter a public place and within seconds feel anger, sadness or anxiety… emotions that are coming from others. If unaware they are Empathic, they may believe the cause of these feelings is a phobia of public places, a dislike of shopping, or even people.

Many Empaths become reclusive because it’s easier to stay away from the external stimuli than to deal with the bombardment of negative emotions they feel when in public.

Being an Empath is not something I tend to share openly with others. In the past I tried telling close friends about who I was or what I felt, but I just ended up feeling frustrated with their inability to grasp the concept. But that doesn’t mean I cannot share what I experience on here. Those who need the information will hopefully stumble across it.

When someone has not experienced something first-hand, it is difficult for them to understand it. And, as Empaths are not generally subject to discussion in common society, we may be seen as being a bit bonkers when we talk about what we feel, as opposed to having a very valid ability. This can make Empath life somewhat isolating.

Another reason I don’t tend to tell others of my abilities is because I don’t want them feeling uncomfortable around me. I’m sure they wouldn’t want to know that I know when what they’re saying is not what they are truly feeling or thinking. So, sometimes staying quiet is the best option.

Everyone who is an Empath has different empathic abilities. The two most common being: Picking up on others’ emotions and feeling the energy of places. For example: you may walk into a crowded room and sense a heavy tension, even though everyone looked happy (this is experiencing collective emotion). Or when entering a friend’s new house, which was old, but new to them, you feel a negative vibe, as if something bad has happened there (This is often residual energy. If the house was filled with arguments and angst the energy stays there. Likewise, when walking into a house that has been filled with happiness and love, to an Empath it can feel like the Sun is shining indoors).

Another unusual place Empaths experience weird feelings is on social media: I once fell into the trap of being a Facebook addict. It took me a while to understand why I always came away from a browsing session feeling flat, especially after reading posts by a people declaring their happiness and fabulous lifestyles. Then I saw it, it was the inauthenticity affecting me. As Empaths we feel fakery. When someone is stating how wonderful life is, when it’s quite the opposite, we feel that as an inauthentic vibe. Spend too long on social media outlets and it often becomes overwhelming.

The more in tune we become as Empaths the more we see the world for what it is. Reading newspapers becomes a challenge, especially the ones packed with lies, gossip and no real news. The TV can become unbearable, in particular any kind of programmes with violence or cruelty. Even watching reality-singing-shows are heart-wrenching. Seeing the judges quash the dreams of young hopefuls (whose main ambition in life is to feel special) and humiliate them, in the name of entertainment, is hideous.

There are many other ways in which Empaths find everyday life a challenge, which I intend to write more about in future posts. But if you are not sure if you could be classed as an Empath, here’s a list of 30 traits that can help you decide.

So if you’d like to find out more about being an Empath click the follow button on the sidebar.

Until next time…