Recently I have been thinking about all of those empathic witches I meet every day. I even considered what it means to be an Empath. I don’t know if you have seen or know about Star Trek the Next Generation, but on this show there was a counselor named Deana Troy. She was half Betazoid and half human. She had the skill of Empathy. She could share the feelings or feel what others were feeling at great distances. Sometimes, she would be overcome with others feelings depending on how strong they were and sometimes she could simply explain what others are feeling without being overwhelmed.
I hear so often from other Witches that are emotionally sensitive to the feelings of others that they can’t seem to separate from others feelings and it is affecting them in a way that is causing them to feel dysfunctional because they can’t get past it. A lot of advice is to shield and yes I practice this as I am expecting to go into places where I expect it to be high in emotions. I sort of prepare myself for the experience. The best advice I have heard recently given is something that works very well whenever I am caught off guard and even as I prepare for an emotional situation.
The best advice was to ground. Grounding is a technique that is used to level or balance energy and emotions. It is used often when chaos seems to be overwhelming and the practitioner is feeling unstable. There are many different techniques for grounding and I have given one good example of how to practice one technique in this post, Working with energy.
I don’t get out much. Most of the time I can usually brace myself with shields and for the most part people in public are fairly balanced unless poor customer service is annoying someone so it is usually ok. There are several occasions that I wasn’t able to control the overwhelming feelings and I am usually not prepared on these occasions since I have been studying Witchcraft. These occasions are when I am emotionally involved with the person such as a close friend, family member or partner. Another occasion was when I was beginning and I didn’t know how to ground or shield and I got caught by surprise at work. It happened so fast I was balling my eyes out before I knew what was happening and it was unexpected because I was at work. (a co-worker got some bad news and collapsed deep into emotions – was heart-breaking).
One thing t
hat is important for any Empathic Witch to consider is the difference between empathy and compassion. I believe these two things go together. So, according to the internet, the definition for empathy is “the ability to understand and share the feelings of another“. Isn’t this a human trait? A normal human trait that many of us share. Granted we can’t really hear the thoughts of others like the Star Trek Betazoid but isn’t empathy naturally occurring. I mean, unless you genuinely don’t care about others or don’t have compassion you should share their feelings.
So what is compassion defined as? According to the internet, compassion is defined as, sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. Compassion is also a trait that I hope is possessed by every human being on the planet. The misfortune in society is that although these traits are normal and human, not all humans possess them. Obviously people like Hitler and other sociopaths are not capable of these things. But, if we consider society as a whole, not possessing these traits is actually against the norm. At least from my point of view.
Recently at Pagan Pride in my area, I had someone offer a psychic reading of me. The reading could fit anyone and everyone who were present at the event. It was stated that I am an empath, a healer and I have two pets. I don’t really have any pets and I am not actually a healer although I focus on self-healing and I, like everyone else who is connected to the human race, I do possess empathy. I’m not saying that empathy isn’t a gift. I am merely suggesting that it is a gift that the majority of the human race possess, just like the gift of love and compassion.
Recently I went to a public establishment. This is one of my favorite places because I can purchase books, magazines, beverages and even food if I want while I sit and visit with someone. My first date with my current boyfriend was at this location. Usually, I meet the average impatient, sometimes attempting to be courteous average consumer. It is a public place and I expect everyone to display their public face. Pretty average and rarely in need of serious grounding or maximum shielding. Unlike a funeral or even a courthouse.
I met a very pleasant woman. She was very nice. My date went to find a tarot set he was looking to buy. I sat at the table with my very hot cup of coffee and this very pleasant woman struck up a conversation with me. It started out to be the average conversation. Then she told me why she was there and why she was alone. She told me about the loss of her dear friend and how they shared the loss of each of their sons to different causes of death. Emotions began to surface for her very quickly and in turn very quickly for me. I was soon overwhelmed with the sorrow of loss.
I had to take a deep breath and ground to regain control of my own emotions as she told her story. I saw the beauty of her spirit within her at that moment and I am thankful that I was able to connect with her emotionally. It not only reminded me that I am a human being but an imperfect human being who is connected to everything and everyone in this universe. Some call it the web of life. When we, as the Empathic Witch finds that we are overwhelmed in the connection of human emotion, you and I will know we are alive and connected to something greater than ourselves.
I know someone who struggles with making “the connection” with whatever is on the other side. I see this person as a very compassionate person. Sometimes I think when we feel disconnected we are simply looking for the connection from the wrong perspective. I believe that our emotions are the connection to our spirit which is the connection to everything else in existence. Connected like a cable or strands of the web. Our Empathic abilities are the result of that connection. If you are feeling disconnected maybe what you are truly disconnected from are your own feelings.
Is it possible that the stronger your empathic gift, the more in touch with the spirit you are? Or maybe your gift is for you and to you in the way that the universe allows you to find your compassion for others. We don’t only feel the negative bad stuff, we also feel the good and happy stuff too. Or maybe I take my gift for granted although I appreciate it too. Although I believe some possess the gift of empathy more than others, life as we know it is experienced through our own perceptions.
PS, If you are an Empathic Witch, What are your thoughts on empathy? How do you perceive your gift? Leave a comment below.
Being a healer myself, I find that my feeling of empathy is a wonderful gift.my whole career revolves around helping others and I have found that a lot of people supress their emotions and shut down.
When they finally do open up, it can be an emotional rollercoaster. If not properly shielded, I would be going along for a ride as well.
It took me a very long time to understand that. As an empath, you can be that rock to lean on, or that shoulder to cry on. Just don’t let it absorb into you. Remember energy transfers, whether positive or negative.
I cleanse my aura and chakra after an interaction so I am not carrying the weight of the world on my shoulder.
Hi Sandman,
Unfortunately, I guess, that’s exactly what I do. I absorb everyone’s emotions that are around me. Positive, negative, it doesn’t matter. I’m like a sponge! Exactly what I said happens, I end up shutting down. I end up on that roller coaster, feeling like my head is spinning so fast I can’t slow it down. I end up feeling like screaming, (STOP THE WORLD I WANT OFF!) Eventually I end up exploding, blowing up and flashing on ppl for what seems to them( and I’m sure actually is) little to no reason. Ur also right in that, I’m everyone’s rock and/or shoulder to cry on, but when it goes to me, there’s nobody who can hold me up. Its like there’s nothing but sand around me getting deeper n deeper.
I guess the choices, at this point, have been to explode or implode. I’ve done both but imploding unintentionally hurts too many ppl. When I explode there’s colateral damage, of course, but I can usually apologize or ppl stay away from me which results in not having many, as in zero, friends OR for the most part,family, just look at me like I’m crazy, I’m in need of help, and basically feel sorry for me. I suppose I do need help but not the kind they mean. :-}
I posted a lil somethin earlier explaining a bit more regarding meditation, medication, and therapy…lol. I was relying to,Blanca, mainly bcuz I felt her post so deeply, moreso bcuz I’ve been there, where shes at emotionally… I love there most of the time. The ONLY difference is I know WHAT I am. I just don’t know how to harness it and direct it 28th intent. There’s only been once, maybe twice that I actually, with intent “worked” with the energy. It worked. It worked too well. The meaning of the phrase, “bcareful what I ask for” took on a whole new meaning!
Doing something is MUCH easier than UNdoing something.
)0(
How do you do that? Also do you think is possible to disconnect yourself so much that even though you know that strongly in your soul you’re an empathetic person you can almost shut off you’re emotions?
I don’t really enjoy being called a witch but their isn’t really any other word for it sometimes I call myself an empathetic enchantress but if u guys know anything to call a so called “witch” than please let me know
Witchcraft.
I loved reading this. I have struggled for years with anxiety. I have always felt the fear and pain of others. Always knowing. Always feeling. I want to learn the grounding and shielding. If you could only share with me I would be ever so greatful. You can email me if you like. If your busy I do understand. I would bloke to find my spirit guide…..
The link in this post takes you too another post that gives one method to ground. Meditation is very difficult and at times seems impossible. When I first began, I practiced a few minutes every evening when I was done with my day and could sit and relax so I could practice. For me, How I began was by focusing on my breath first. For the first couple of weeks, This was very difficult for me. I couldn’t seem to really focus on my breath. I couldn’t relax enough for my breath to become rhythmic. finally, after two long weeks of practicing for 15 minutes at a time I was able to do it. I sat halfway on my mattress on the floor with my legs crossed and my hands relaxed on my knees. Once I was able to do that, I began practicing with my very busy thoughts. It was very difficult and still often is difficult to allow the thoughts to go through my mind without grabbing them and lingering. Then, after weeks of this, I learned that it isn’t always possible to sit perfectly still.
To compensate for that, slow movements or simply re-positioning to allow for blood flow to my feet or just because I was restless, helped me to settle in. Meditation isn’t always about trance or blocking out everything around you but for the purpose of discovering your spirit guide, I suggest once you are relaxed and able to focus your thoughts, to concentrate on sinking in or kind of withdrawing I suppose from the distractions. Once you are at a point when you can hear the noise from the cars pass by or people talking outside or the noisy clock ticking in your ear and you let it fade into the background. Begin to visualize a comfortable and relaxed place in your mind.
For me that is always a wooded area with flowing water, sun shining while I am comfortably sitting in the shade of the trees. I practice this visualization every night until I am there in my mind and I can even smell the trees and hear the water and feel a nice breeze on my skin. It may be night and slightly dim in my room but I can see the sun shining and hear the birds.
Then, as I improve with each day, my meditations become longer and longer. For me I sit in my minds eye on a large rock under a tree and wait. I may call out if anyone is there, (in my mind’s eye) I wait for a response. I did this for a long time. It took me about six months before I was able to talk to anyone. Today, I use different techniques for different things. For grounding, I am able to do it in just a couple of minutes now but at first, I had to practice it every day. My meditations always started with that. Then I moved on to fire gazing. I found that after deep meditation sometimes I have very lucid dreams. I hope this helps.
This link may also be helpful. It is about basic meditation and this site also has some very interesting perspectives.
basic meditation
I dont know wats happening to me….. I dont even like to leave the house nemore. I feel nervous or i dont know. i cant be around to many people…i went to a parade a small town one…and i lietrrally had to walk away i filled with i dnt know i wanted to cry so bad i had no control i couldnt stop it i had to walk away before neone saw…you can forget about me walkinginto church , ill die…if i do go soemwhre friends where there r small crwod or soemthing i feel heavy…i end up wandering off soemwhere by myself…even watchng tv a certain commercial or soemhing and i bawl…am i crazy?bi polar..its out of control i cant handle it..i dont go out anymore…what do u thnk
Well, I think of first things first. Have you thought about having a psych evaluation to determine if you have a mental illness? Have you considered counseling? Sometimes counseling can help us learn how to cope with things we are having a problem with. I am not qualified to make an assessment of your situation, but I definitely recommend that you talk to a qualified professional about it. It can’t hurt, right? Don’t worry, They don’t just go around locking people up for being mentally ill anymore.
I can’t tell you how happy I was to find this article! It’s so funny and awesome, just a few weeks ago I was telling a group of friends about an epiphany I had about Star Trek: TNG and Counselor Troi; I pointed out that on Picard’s right hand on the bridge is Riker, a strong assertive male on the projective side, and on his left – the subconscious, receptive side – is Deanna Troi, a beautiful, sensitive empathic woman who counsels and advises him and largely acts as a conscience at times. I suddenly found the goddess parallel to be incredible! Troi has always been one of my favorite, if not my favorite, characters and especially now, rewatching the series as an adult witch, I love her and the way she is presented even more. Also, her name is Deanna, which is another form of Diana, i.e. the goddess! ^_~
Hi Sunny
I want to respond to Blanca bcuz I feel her. I agree with what I said about seeing a therapist. Its always a good idea, ive seen them myself. Being an empathic witch, for me, has been more than just being able to connect with the feelings others are having, I find myself absorbing their feelings. Their sadness, their anger or rage, love, passion, happiness and it truly can be overwhelming. It can become to where u don’t know which feelings are ur own and which are not. It can throw I into a depression, especially if ur around ppl who are angry, oppressed, depressed….especially in these times….then mix that with whatever issues of ur own are going on..WOW….it can make I feel crazy! So to Blanca, it maybe that u have absorbed alot of negative feelings and don’t know which are its & which are not. Altho most therapists don’t believe in anything that isn’t logical wht they can help with is discerning what issues are truly its and which ones are for u to let go of.
I love with someone who is chronically depressed and likes the darker side of the craft. So for me its a constant battle to try to stay balanced. When I’m not in balance I find myself having road rage, argueing with grocery store clerks,and feeling depressed but not knowing why. I have medication to calm my anxiety, altho I don’t take it often, I take it when needed. I haven’t been able to meditate, as much as I’ve tried, I can’t seem to quiet my mind long enuff, I also find that when I sit quietly the “feelings” become more intense. Its a real struggle. I burn alot of calming lavender incense and spray my room and bed 28th my own mix of essential lavender oil and other essential oils. I practice compartmentalizing my thoughts and feelings but I admit there are times when I find myself completely closed off from not just others feelings but my own as well and ppl think I’m cold hearted, the alternative is being completely open & sad & crying or angry, irritable, and argueing with everyone. Then they think I’m crazy…lol. So there’s really no win. I believe MANY empathy have been labled bipolar and that many accept the label bcuz they don’t know they are empathy and at least it gives a name to what they’re feeling and the false hope(betr than no hope) that there’s a cute or a magic pill that will make them betr(bcuz bipolar is an illness). There are pills that can make them “feel better” the pills are meant to dull the senses, numb the part of the brain that feels emotion and calm the nervous system. That might be a good thing when u don’t know what’s going on & ur feeling out of control, I guess.
Well thats my two cents Sunny.
Thanks again for another great discussion. :-}
Jaz
Wow, that’s exactly what I went thru over the summer! In the spring I could really feel inside things were getting stronger, all my tarot readings were telling me of my gifts and to pay attention to them. Which I did. Summer came and I couldn’t be around a lot of people, and loud noises they hurt my head. I wouldn’t go anywhere where there was crowds of people, my anxiety level was way too high. I stayed home. But I did go to a therapist, of course he didn’t know. But I figured it out, and my mind is calmer now!!
Lol…Ok Joni, so do tell what was the “magic cure” :-} cuz I STILL haven’t figured it out. Some days are better then others but I STILL go they it.
I believe I hear ppls thoughts, problem is…I say it outloud and its sorta a personality problem with me. I try to turn it off…voices as hard to ignore & I have issues with knowing if I’m thinking it or hearing it.
No one ever wants to admit they was thinking it…even though I can actually hear it. I get so flustered that computers will behave erratic and slow..I can literally step back 5 feet away and the computer will back to normal.
Being raised by Baptist, my gifts were NOT embraced..in fact, they tried to beat it out of me.
I’m almost 40 and recently discovered that I amplify ppls feelings good/bad…to the point that I can’t be around certain ppl. Some people are just so mean.
I have finally began to learn why I have so many people issues, I can tell I’m making things worse just being present.
I’m very lonely, sad, wish I had a true mentor.
Just trying to make it thru this life its hardening. I think love is evil. And I truly cannot wait for the return to my true time/dimension.
I tell ppl ALL the time that I got jipped, this is NOT my dimension, I belong somewhere else.
Thank you for these articles, they are most helpful.
The gift of Empathy and Second Sight runs in both sides of my family. I have seen Auras and been Empathic myself all my life. It served me well when I worked in pre hospital medicine. I could feel the injuries of my patients as I approached them. Gave me an edge on providing better care.
Now however I live in a 135 year old house with my family and 8 desernable ghost spirits and various pets while studying and starting to live the Craft.
My therapist says that I am boardline agoraphobia. I hate to go around people, because I can’t deal with all the drama. May I just feel everybody’s emotions. I can feel what my pets or anybody else pet are feel. I lost my pet prairie dog to a hawk. The pain he felt just killed me. All types of animals are draw to me. People are always saying that their pet doesn’t like strangers but their pets come right to me. Some how I feel them, communicate with them. I can do this around people but I don’t like the feelings that I feel. Animals don’t lie about their feelings, but humans lie and deceive each other. And I feel the lies and deception of people and I avoid as much contact with people, including my own family and their drama. So maybe I have that empath ability. What do you think.
I feel lost and alone, I have no one to relate to on my empathy GIFT if that’s what you want to call it, I’ve been a solitary witch for 18 years… I just wish I had someone to talk to.
Hi Lisa,
I want to assure you that although you feel alone you are not as alone as you think. There are many empathic witches who practice as a solitary and there are many witches who struggle with emotions. Not just witches but people in general. It is all about finding your group. I have found that it is important to like ourselves and to understand that our emotional states of being are not as isolated to just ourselves. There are others just like us, we just haven’t found our group. It is true that being emotional and/or having compassion is not Empathic just as having Empathy does not make us an Empath. The cool thing about it is that it doesn’t really matter if you or I fit into the label of Empath. Regardless of alone and different we may feel, when you find the right group, no matter how small of a group it may be, you really aren’t as alone as you think. There are many who are similar to you although no one is exactly the same.
You are very much welcome to contact me through our contact form. The holidays makes my response time a bit slower but I try to get back to everyone as quickly as possible. Sometimes, it really does take one to know one. I am a solitary, empathic, witch. Don’t worry about how others define you or what group you may fit into. Define yourself and just keep reaching out. Even if you don’t fit into someone else’s label you may find those who are like-minded in the most unexpected place. 🙂
I’ve noticed that I tend to “feel” the people I’m more close to. But at the same time anybody that I meet or catch eye contact with I get a feel of what kind of person they are. I don’t have to “know” someone to know what their intentions are. Most of the time I can tell if their lying or even hiding something. When someone is recalling something that happened to them I will feel their emotions. I am also a healer. Im still not sure how that works, because I can pull it out and not pull it into me. I don’t why it’s like that or how I shield myself (previous life) it just happens. I also see and hear spirits. Mostly ones that have been killed or killed themselves. I feel like I walk with one foot in our realm and one foot in the third realm. I see things most people would freak out about. I used to think it was a curse but it has actually came in handy a few times.
Being an empath as well as a nurse I wold go into what I call nurse mode and shut off what I was getting from others . This allowed me to be a comfort to my patients and their family . Even tho I no longer work as a nurse due to disability I still find myself going into nurse mode when I need to shield myself.
As an empathic witch I am sometimes able to see the event in my mind as a person describes it or hear the thoughts of someone feeling strongly or compulsively thinking near me. Over time I have learned not to speak on their thoughts until they do and not to give too much detail about the visions. Both gifts greatly enhance my ability to help others heal themselves from current and past pain/trauma.
I have always been so sensitive to all emotions. To all ppl I’m around. I just recently started studying to see what fits my life. If that makes sense. Wicca, pagan, Druid. And since I have been things have been making showing up on their own. Like guiding me to what path I I do need to be on. I hope I’m making sense. I thought I was connected with a green witch. I have always worked with oils, candles, crystals, and herbs. Then today I was scrolling through Facebook and a post came up with all these different signs that said you are a empathic. Everything one was me. But before I did anything I sent the post to my husband and my best friend of 25 years. I said is this me. Without the post on the top that said signs you are a empathic. Both said wow that is you 100%. So I’m happy now to have a word to describe what I have felt my whole life. I just thought I was crying person, or would get angry if someone walked near me and they had anything flowing off of them. My emotions can changes in less then a min. I always chalked it up to being a Gemini. Any guidance or information or someone to talk too would be awesome. I’m so new. Thank you!
Ah yes. I can see that you may be an empath. It’s a hard road and many stages of growth to go through but if you really focus on your own emotions and get control of them, you will be more able to handle it when you’re bombarded with emotions from outside yourself.
Feel free to contact me through the contact form.
Ok. Here we go. I have been this way all of my life. I didn’t know what I was until a kindred spirit actually took the time to talk to me and told me. All I knew was that when I hit 18, my life blew up sort of and I crashed. I was diagnosed with two types of depression. That was many, many years ago. I am 51 now. People have always been drawn to me; strangers, co-workers, extended family. I’ve always been able to make someone feel better just by being around them. Like I said I knew something was different about me. I found out it was with females on my mother’s side of the family. My mother would joke about it and sort of ignore it. However, I felt it. My youngest daughter is the same. Strange things happened around me that I couldn’t explain, I would experience deja-vu quite often, I could walk into a room and tell you what happened there or sense its feelings. So, I started studying and paying more attention. I identify with Witch and I now, know I am an Empath. Apparently, a very strong one. I’ve been in a marriage that was happy in the beginning, but I felt imprisoned. My soon-to-be ex (we are going through a divorce) is a narcissitic abuser. He doesn’t realize it. Anyway, I am much happier with my decision to divorce and should have done it a long time ago. A couple years ago I met a man I was immediately drawn to. No, I have never cheated in my marriage. Ever. This man is a Pagan, and an Empath as well. We are drawn to each other and talk a lot. But, the feeling is very strong. I feel him even when we aren’t talking and he lives on the far side of town. He says my energy is a bit overwhelming at times. And, normally that is what draws people to me. I don’t know how to dim it, and I react to him. I know we will get together. I’ve felt it. I just don’t know how to handle him. He frustrates me and I get whiplash.