In Part I of this Sensitivity series, we discussed the attributes of being an empath or a Highly Sensitive Person, and how it has impacted me and my clients.
Now I would like to share how to identify when you are being impacted by other peoples’ energies, and how and why this occurs from an energetic perspective.
HOW Do We Feel Other People’s Energy and Emotions?
It is actually quite natural to feel others’ energies. All life forms have a subtle energy field, also known as the aura or bio-field, which picks up many stimuli in the environment. Our personal energy field a
cts as a communications device, transmitting and receiving energy and information about our surroundings.
The natural distance for our personal energy field is approximately an arm’s length out in a circle all around us. However, it is not static and can be extended much farther than that, or retracted very tightly right up to the skin. You can learn how to play with our energy field and make it more appropriate for different situations.
WHY would anyone feel other people’s energy and emotions?
Well, several reasons come to mind. My first response would be my favorite teaching:
Everything is Energy: even thoughts and emotions have a signature frequency and can be discerned by many people, and all animals. As you grow in awareness, the subtler realms of sensation and feeling energies becomes more heightened, and you become more feeling and empathic.
Compassion: You have a deep desire to help/feel/heal others.
Protection: You wish to have a “heads-up” of what is coming your way so you can prepare/protect yourself.
HOW Do You Know What You are Feeling is Not Yours?
This may take some practice. For me, an extreme empath, it has taken many years of consistent application of techniques to first become more aware; then to manage and clear my energy and my field, and ultimately to reset my energy boundaries and spiritual agreements on how I choose to be an empathic healer in a physical body.
Here are some super helpful tips to begin sorting what is not yours:
Accept the basic premise that everything you feel may not be about you. Some people may have trouble with this concept but it is essential to begin to have more discernment and detachment about what you are truly experiencing on the subtle level.
Awareness. Notice the circumstances. If a feeling comes on quite suddenly, without any supporting reason, that could be a clue. Of course, our mental/emotional bodies are quite changeable and the reasons we feel things are not always rational and logical. If you are serious about your personal and spiritual growth, you do need to honor what you feel as that can be a signpost that something is amiss and you need to explore a bit deeper.
Ask for Clarity. Many years ago I was noticing I was getting depressed quite suddenly and often after visiting a supermarket or other public place. As a dedicated spiritual warrior/healer I thought my purpose was to diligently unearth more layers of stuff I felt I had to “work on”, which was very often back then.
One day when I was particularly depressed all of a sudden, I had a major “aha” – what if all this sadness wasn’t even mine? I sat and meditated on the question and got a very clear message that much of it in fact was not. The truth was that I was often feeling someone else, and as a healer, I felt compelled to take responsibility and begin clearing it.
What a relief! I was working overtime on everyone else—and it was such a comfort to have this understanding that I was not so sad after all!
Use Energy Clearing Techniques to begin to sort out what is you, and what is not you. There are many modalities to choose from, and whatever works to help you feel more centered, balanced, stable, clear and lighter is extraordinarily useful.
This makes up the bulk of my energy alchemy/healing practice. These techniques are a daily self-care practice, not a one-time deal. It is not unlike needing to shower regularly. We are all impacted by all energy all the time, even our animals, and it is necessary to find practices that you can do regularly to support filtering out the toxic energies.
Releasing Intention. A great place to start shifting your experience is always to set a clear intention. “As you think, so shall you be.” Try this for a simple yet very potent energy clearing:
“I release any energies that are not mine.”
Make this intention while showering or bathing to amplify your release with the natural cleansing properties of water.
Aaaaah…feels lighter already!
About the author:
Kumari is a catalyst for spiritual evolution. An internationally recognized spiritual visionary, intuitive coach, master healer, best-selling author and animal mystic, Kumari empowers healers, coaches, conscious entrepreneurs, and animal and health care professionals to unwrap their intuitive, healing and manifesting gifts.
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