THE WAY OF THE EMPATH

About Empathy and Empaths

From Christel Broederlow

What is Empathy?

Empathy is the ability to read and understand people and be in-tune with or resonate with others, voluntarily or involuntarily of one's empath capacity.Empaths have the ability to scan another's psyche for thoughts and feelings or for past, present, and future life occurrences.

Many empaths are unaware of how this actually works, and have long accepted that they were sensitive to others.

Empaths Sense Deep Emotions

Empathy is a feeling of another's true emotions to a point where an empath can relate to that person by sensing true feelings that run deeper than those portrayed on the surface.

People commonly put on a show of expression. This is a learned trait of hiding authentic expression in an increasingly demanding society. An empath can sense the truth behind the cover and will act compassionately to help that person express him/herself, thus making them feel at ease and not so desperately alone.

Empaths experience empathy towards family, children, friends, close associates, complete strangers, pets, plants and inanimate objects.

Empathy is not held by time or space. Thus, an empath can feel the emotions of people and things at a distance. Some are empathic towards animals (ie: The Horse Whisperer), to nature, to the planetary system, to mechanical devices or to buildings etc. Others will have a combination of the above.

Empaths Have Deep Sense of Knowing

Empaths are highly sensitive. This is the term commonly used in describing one's abilities (sensitivity) to another's emotions and feelings. Empaths have a deep sense of knowing that accompanies empathy and are often compassionate, considerate, and understanding of others. There are also varying levels of strength in empaths which may be related to the individualís awareness of self, understanding of the powers of empathy, and/or the acceptance or non-acceptance of empathy by those associated with them, including family and peers. Generally, those who are empathic grow up with these tendencies and do not learn about them until later in life.

Empathy is Inherited

Empathy is genetic, inherent in our DNA, and passed from generation to generation. It is studied both by traditional science and alternative healing practitioners.Empathy has both biological/genetic and spiritual aspects. Empaths often possess the ability to sense others on many different levels. From their position in observing what another is saying, feeling and thinking, they come to understand another. They can become very proficient at reading another personís body language and/or study intently the eye movements. While this in itself is not empathy, it is a side-shoot that comes from being observant of others. In a sense, empaths have a complete communication package.

How Empathy Works

While there is much we don't yet understand about how empathy works, we do have some information. Everything has an energetic vibration or frequency and an empath is able to sense these vibrations and recognize even the subtlest changes undetectable to the naked eye or the five senses.Words of expression hold an energetic pattern that originates from the speaker. They have a specific meaning particular to the speaker. Behind that expression is a power or force-field, better known as energy. For example, hate often brings about an intense feeling that immediately accompanies the word. The word hate becomes strengthened with the speaker's feeling. It is that person's feelings (energy) that are picked up by empaths, whether the words are spoken, thought or just felt without verbal or bodily expression.

What is Porphyria?

Porphyria is a group of disorders caused by abnormalities in the chemical steps that lead to heme production. Heme is a vital molecule for all of the body's organs. It is found mostly in the blood, bone marrow, and liver. Heme is a component of hemoglobin, the molecule that carries oxygen in the blood.

The major types of porphyria are each caused by mutations in one of the genes required for heme production. Forms of porphyria include ALAD deficiency porphyria, acute intermittent porphyria, congenital erythropoietic porphyria, erythropoietic protoporphyria, hepatoerythropoietic porphyria, hereditary coproporphyria, porphyria cutanea tarda, and variegate porphyria.

In addition to the genetic forms of porphyria, some cases of this disorder are caused by nongenetic factors such as infections or exposure to certain prescription drugs. These cases are described as sporadic or acquired porphyria.

The signs and symptoms of porphyria vary among the types. Some types of porphyria (called cutaneous porphyrias) cause the skin to become overly sensitive to sunlight. Areas of the skin exposed to the sun are fragile and easily damaged. Exposed skin may develop redness, blistering, infections, scarring, changes in pigmentation, and increased hair growth. Cutaneous porphyrias include congenital erythropoietic porphyria, erythropoietic protoporphyria, hepatoerythropoietic porphyria, and porphyria cutanea tarda.

Other types of porphyria (called acute porphyrias) mostly affect the nervous system. Appearing quickly and lasting from days to weeks, acute signs and symptoms include abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea. During an attack, a person may also experience muscle weakness, seizures, fever, loss of sensation, and mental changes such as anxiety and hallucinations. These symptoms can be life-threatening in rare cases, especially if the muscles that control breathing become paralyzed. Acute porphyrias include acute intermittent porphyria and ALAD deficiency porphyria. Two other forms of porphyria, hereditary coproporphyria and variegate porphyria, have a combination of acute symptoms and symptoms that affect the skin.

Additional medical problems associated with some types of porphyria include a low number of red blood cells (anemia), enlargement of the spleen, abnormal liver function, and an increased risk of developing liver cancer.

Some people with the genetic changes that cause porphyria, particularly the acute forms of porphyria, never experience any features of this condition. Environmental factors can strongly influence the occurrence and severity of signs and symptoms in some types of porphyria. Alcohol, smoking, certain drugs, hormones, exposure to sunlight, other illnesses, stress, and dieting or periods without food (fasting) can all trigger the signs and symptoms of these disorders.

How common is porphyria?

The exact prevalence of this condition is unknown, but probably ranges from 1 in 500 to 50,000 people worldwide. Overall, porphyria cutanea tarda is the most common type of the disease, affecting 1 to 2 in 100,000 people. For some forms of porphyria, the incidence is uncertain because many people with a gene mutation never experience signs or symptoms.

Acute intermittent porphyria is the most common form of acute porphyria in most countries. It occurs most frequently in northern European countries, particularly Sweden, and in the United Kingdom. Another form of the disorder, hereditary coproporphyria, has been reported mostly in Europe and North America.

Variegate porphyria is most common in the Afrikaner (white) population of South Africa; about 3 in 1,000 people in this population are diagnosed each year. This form of the disorder occurs much less frequently in other parts of the world.

LIVING LAUGHING LEARNING

If I had tried......... I do not think that I could have chosen the people that have entered my life. I am and feel very lucky that I have such special people to hang with that provide me with the bliss of being....

I had a sleep over with a friend....ate our special soup, pho, and then I had some wine .....and it was great to be able to relax in a different dimension...feel safe and .....let go....of all the week's challenges..

I am experiencing tremendous personal growth, I resist growth at times, could easily stay in and not push limits, why, because it is easier (sometimes) and it is exhausting to learn some lessons and realize your participation and misconception of your self...and others. .it is for me...

Like saying NO...I have danced around this most of my existence...I have difficulty saying no to people and it extremely difficult to allow others to help me and for me to allow them to handle situations....so this week I got a bit slammed and it is not only physically but also mentally challenging for me and the processing time ..well...it depends on how much of your body is involved and for me...it most often times is deep so it takes a while......

I had two fortune cookies this week... both so apropos for me...People enjoy having you around....and you should be able to undertake and complete anything...(exact words) I might say out loud ...odd..that they should come to me...but ...............it is not odd...they are messages for me for this time and I accept and understand ..............................

A FRIENDS VIEW OF ME

My friend wrote this poem of me...one of the greatest gifts I could receive is the reflections of her view of me .............I often wonder about my dance in life ...my perception may not be yours but when I read this ....a few tears form...tears of joy and appreciation for her friendship and her glimpse of me.

Our friendship grew during the Tony times....midnight hospice happenings, pumpkin carvings, volvo excursions ......she would visit us several times a week...being there..strong...open...reading by the fire..sittting in the cold...always steady and firm support...

I don't know if I ever told her how much I appreciated her help on the day Tony died...packing all his stuff in the room and loading the car and going home with me....it was not an easy time and I am sure my armour would have broken had it not been for her....thank you mgunn......

Thank you for the fun, laughter, the many boquets, the christmas trees, the poppy pods, the tuesday night dates in oak grove...my dictonery....and so much more....thank you for all that you are and all that you do....the fires at your place and the fires at mine...for nursing my plants and the trip to the er....otto's, your frankness, your wisdoms, your understanding of my chemical limitations, and the ever after laughter of 'THE SECRETS OF THE LEMON CAKE'.

I am happy you are still in my life....

The Good Woman (Part One)

1
The Good Woman
practices yoga
lifting her leg around her neck,
pausing to converse
with her heart.

2
The Good Woman
gets lost
on roads that aren’t well-ordered
and dances in
summer sprinklers;

she prefers dried pineapple
from Costa Rica

3
The Good Woman
disdains red roses.

Her bouquet
is made from
brash orange dalliahs &
magenta daisies.

She
seduces sunflowers
and makes all things that grow,
last forever


4
The Good woman
is known to be
a highway thief
of lanterns from
Japan.

Always keep a pair of
garden clippers handy.
You too, will come to be
a champion
of roadside contraband.

5
The Good Woman
tempts fate
with bleached washcloths,
lemon cake,
and sizzling bacon.

6
Your journey with her
will be like no other;

7
but when she
sprinkles chocolate
on your cream-topped cappuccino,
you will know

that, finally,
you are home.



Margaret Gunn 9/00

LEARNING TO LET GO OF THE CONTROL

This has never been easy for me...so today I practiced two things...allowing two people that I know to help me....then stepping aside and not telling them how to do it .....well....I have never felt so contorted...actually physically body contorted as I walked up the stairs to the house and left the situation they were handling for me....

I was about to bust and it was an absolutely horrible feeling for me...I even expressed in the car that they could handle this and I would just let them do it. One of those people knows me very well and the other not as well...so..I repeated to him okay...I am trusting that you two will just handle this and went back up the stairs... of course I looked out the window a couple of times and fretted inside and made a lemon water and was then and am now about to have an emotion or two because this was difficult...

Let me tell you why....well...I asked these two adult men to help me....I got the time and place of the pick up and asked about the supplies needed and no one really gave me straight answers so again I let it go....and trusted or tried to that this would be fine and not contort me the way it had...ahhhhhhhh

I did not know if the tools or supplies were ready...no these are 2 guys okay....I'm the girl....if they had said to me...get this or that I would have had it ready and there...but I asked and one did not respond and the other did ask on the phone when were were going to pick him up and I said yes bring the tools because the other guy asked me if I had pliers and I said no.....(like I carry them with me) well in fact I do...on my swiss army knife...(that knife has saved me many times)...

Okay I stay upstairs as difficult as it is and try to let go...mind you I am still contorted in many physical ways and an emotional outburst is welling because this is extremely difficult for me....and then...I hear one car leave......and then I hear the other car leave....and then.....

I get a call on the cell asking where the first car is and please get back to him on where the first car went...(okay I wanted to ask....but did not...did you communicate to the first car before he left but I did not....I did only what I was asked to do...call the first car and ...well..yes...I called the first car 4 times and left messages and before I could get back to the second car the first car called and left me a message that I was to call him back and give him an answer of where the first car was...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....only the people that know me well could ever imagine what was happening to me at this point.....I did try to call the second car back and no one answered....I put the cell phone down and just thought...I am done....I let go....I will not answer it again...


and....here I am....trying to resolve this for myself and LEARN TO LET GO OF THE CONTROL...

FOR ME...there would have been more preparation before hand...maps made and clear directions and communication of who what where when .... but that is me....

I just got a call from the first car...(the one who knows me well)...he knew it was hard for me...and I love him for that.......he just wanted to say he got in touch with the second car and all was well...and they were on their way...

DO WE

I am sometimes in wonderment .......spending so much time thinking.....do we ever really get to the darkest corners of our mind and fulfill what is there...is there a place in each of us that thinks these thoughts that are never shared with another as I have done...are there partnerships that share and tell all of what is in them or do we all contain some secret space within us that holds wants and desires that will remain unspoken and never fulfilled...

Do we as individuals...go on with our lives and not share that hidden dream of something we desire that resides within...

SUCCESS

I recently sent this email to a friend and decided to post here also.

I like that the story of this woman and this poem continues today and what it speaks to me and how I strive to follow that path.

----- Original Message ----- From: Bethanne To: Robin Olson Sent: Friday, August 31, 2001 2:21 AM Subject: Re: Success Poem

Dear Robin,
What a lovely note! Of course you can use my email. I also have some references for you if you find yourself needing support in a disagreement.

I do have some pictures of Bessie, but they're with my sister at the moment. We lost my grandmother, Bessie's youngest daughter, this past June and found lots of photos that I had never seen before as we were closing out her house. I'll be sure to scan a good photo for you when I get my copies.

I was named for Bessie (Elisabeth Anne) and my gram always said I look very much like her. She died before I was born, so I never knew her, but the family is unanimous in saying she was the very definition of a warm and wonderful woman. My uncle Gene says she was the perfect grandmother. She was one of those people whose house was always full of guests, family, and neighbors all running in and out. She loved poetry and taking care of people and had a gorgeous iris garden, which was her favorite place.

Success was written as the winning entry in a contest run by Brown Book Magazine in 1904.

Bessie won a cash prize of $250 which paid off the mortgage on the house, among other things. It was included in Bartlett's Book of Quotations for decades, and if you can find an old edition from the 30's or 40's, it should be in there. They dropped it, I think in the 60's, but I don't know why.
The family isn't sure how the poem got mangled and attributed to Emerson, but it was further confused by Ann Landers and her sister Abby. Ann Landers used to (mis)quote it all the time and cite Emerson as the source. My great-uncle Art, a retired federal judge who died last March, and she had a decade-long correspondence as he argued for a public correction. She finally conceded and in her book, The Ann Landers Encyclopedia, prints the whole story.

I think it's a beautiful poem, too. From what I've been told about her, it delineates her character perfectly. She lived what she wrote. And in these days, with our obsession for the material going full throttle, it's good to be reminded that true success is not measured in portfolios, stock options, or bank balances.

Thank you again for posting it on your page.
Bethanne

Success

He has achieved success who has lived well,
laughed often, and loved much;

who has enjoyed the trust of pure women,

the respect of intelligent men
and the love of little children;

who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;

who has left the world better than he found it
whether by an improved poppy,
a perfect poem or a rescued soul;

who has never lacked appreciation of Earth's beauty
or failed to express it;

who has always looked for the best in others
and given them the best he had;

whose life was an inspiration;
whose memory a benediction.

--1904 Bessie Anderson Stanley