“Imagine being able to feel and sense everything, whether positive or negative, around you, 24/7. An Empath can’t turn off empathy (unlike someone who is perhaps 'empathizing'). It is possibly one of the most challenging of psychic gifts to master. I see it as an incredible gift to humanity.“ Trinity Bourne
Everyone feels empathy at one time or another. Empathy is part of the human experience. Most of us have the ability to understand feelings of other people from their perspective. It’s all about the old saying… ”Walk a mile in my shoes.”
Image source: Selte-3 on Flickr
The word “empath” originates from the Quechua Indian word "Qawaq" which translates to "one who sees" and from "Qaway" which translates as "to see living energy”.
Empathy is the human sympathy and understanding that most people feel for each other from time to time. Psychic empathy is very different. Most people experience basic empathy without being a psychic empath. It has been estimated that 5% of the population are psychic empaths.
Often, psychic empaths are labeled as being too sensitive. They are sometimes known as "Psi Sensitives”. They experience other people’s feelings and pain much more directly. They have a heightened sense that reads energy. They may actually experience feelings and emotions of other people. This may manifest itself physically or emotionally.
An empath randomly picks up on both non-visual and non-verbal clues from auras and other energy fields. They sense and sometimes feel other people’s emotions, including joy, fear, discomfort and pain. The empath may just know that a person feels a certain way, without understanding why.
Under any circumstances, being a person with psychic empathy is confusing and overwhelming.
Traits of an Empath
Image source: Dawn Ashley on Flickr
Having psychic empathic traits can be extremely challenging, and even painful.
General traits of an empath include mood swings. This happens because the empath is picking up on emotions from other people and energies from everywhere. So one moment an empath be feeling all right, and then they may be angry or depressed for no apparent reason.
Empaths may also experience physical pain, primarily headaches, with no apparent cause. An empath is very likely to develop physical symptoms of other people.
Unless a person knows they are an empath, they can feel like they are going crazy. Children that are empaths suffer the most.
Empaths are also known to be extremely shy, may develop fear of public places or crowds, or suffer from "free floating" anxiety, headaches or depression. They can also get headaches, pain or anxiety before natural disasters, no matter where in the world they occur.
Many empaths unknowingly allow their energy and will to be siphoned off by the process of absorbing the various moods and energies of other people. An empath is often tired and exhausted. In extreme cases, they can be easily startled and isolated.
Actually most of the problems that empaths have (pain, weight gain, fear of people and places) are the result of them trying to hide or remove themselves from other people’s energy dynamics. Once a person understands the condition and uses positive shielding techniques, their lives change.
Empaths that train themselves to read energy changes in the vibrations of other people have an advantage. Many are effective listeners. People are often drawn to empaths because they feel that an empath understands them. They can be comfortable and relaxed when talking to an empath.
Types of Psychic Empathy:
Image source: The Michael on Flickr
There are different kinds of empaths, and people who have various degrees of the ability to receive energy in various forms.
Psychometrics– is the ability to receive feelings, energy, and impressions from objects, locations, photographs or other inanimate objects.
Telepathy – the ability to read people's minds and thoughts.
Mediumship – the ability to sense, hear and feel the energies of spirits or ghosts.
Physical Empath – the ability to feel physical symptoms of other people. The physical empath may also have the 