I’m a psychiatrist and also an empath. An empath is someone who
is highly sensitive and tends to absorb the emotional and physical
energy of other people into their own bodies. Empaths also have an
intimate communion with nature, including with the Earth, plants, and
animals.
The positive side is that we can deeply feel all that is positive, wholesome, and healthy in others, and the world.
The downside is that empaths become exhausted, anxious, and burned out from sensory overload.
Many
of my empath patients come to me with these symptoms but were never
diagnosed properly by conventional physicians—rather they were seen as
simply having panic disorder, depression, or anxiety, and thus given
medications. If you identify as an empath, the secret to nurturing your
intuitive connection to all living things, is to develop centering and
protection strategies such as meditation, setting clear boundaries,
creating adequate alone time to refuel and many other strategies I
present in
The Empath’s Survival Guide. Then empaths can revel in the joy of their sensitivities.
Earth Empaths
Earth
empaths are a special type of empath who is keenly attuned to the
natural world and all of the Earth’s changes. The beauty of a waterfall
can exhilarate and energize these empaths, whereas the toxicity of air
pollutants can make them feel sick, exhausted, or depressed. How do you
know if you are an earth empath? You are highly sensitive to intuiting
the Earth’s changes in your body. Sensually and energetically, you can
feel the power of a thunderstorm, the loveliness of the moon, the warmth
of the sun on your shoulders. What happens to the Earth is intimately
connected to your body. The beauty and health of the earth nourishes and
sustains you. The ocean and tides affect everyone, but especially you.
The moon and the tide regulate menstrual cycles in women and sleep-wake
cycles for both genders. You are sensitive to weather changes and the
amount of daylight. Earth empaths may experience Seasonal Affective
Disorder (SAD), becoming depressed in the winter when the days are
shorter.
The earth, its elements, and the universe feel like
family. The moon and stars have always been my companions. Since
childhood, I’ve looked up at the heavens and felt that my true home was
there. (One patient told me that she prefers stargazing as her “night
life” instead of bars and clubs.) But, interestingly, I’ve found that
empaths, like myself, who have a hard time adjusting to being on this
planet, need to connect to the earth’s energy so that we can more fully
inhabit our bodies. Learning how to do this (and not fighting it) is
part of our healing.
The Earth loves you. You can feel it. If
you’re an earth empath, that’s why you get so hurt, anxious or have
health problems when she is harmed or destroyed. Your body is intimately
connected to the Earth. You experience her changes as if they were
happening to you. When the Earth is happy, you are happy. When the Earth
is in pain, you are too.
Earth empaths may have premonitions
about natural disasters or feel them intensely in their bodies as they
are occurring. One patient told me. “I frequently wake up just prior to
earthquakes. Then boom, it hits.” Another said, “Before earthquakes or
volcanic eruptions, my body begins to shake. I feel ‘off,’ not on solid
ground.” Another told me, “During the last tsunami, I awoke from a deep
sleep in a state of agitation and dread.” An empathic friend said, “I
felt like I was hemorrhaging,” as a response to a catastrophic oil
spill. Similarly, try to be aware of how your body reacts during
dramatic earth changes. Then you can put your feelings in context and
practice more self-care when they occur.
As an Earth empath, you
may also be sensitive to solar flares. These magnetic storms on the sun
affect the magnetic fields around the earth and our bodies. Earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, and tornados appear to occur after
intense solar activity. During these periods, you may experience
headaches, mood swings, anxiety, or heart palpations. Studies have shown
an association between solar flares and increased depression, anxiety,
suicides, and episodes of bipolar disorder. Revolutions, riots, and
unrest across the globe are associated with solar flares. Remember, the
sun is responsible for life on earth. When it goes through changes, we
feel it 93 million miles away. This experience is amplified for empaths.
To
stay vibrant, you want to frequently connect with the Earth. Spend time
in forests, by the ocean, or in the mountains where you can commune
with the elements and feel at home. To deepen your bond with the Earth,
eat clean, healthy, organic foods (even better, grow them yourself). A
junk food diet separates you from the Earth because you’re not ingesting
her energy. Regularly practice Earthing: lie flat on the earth to soak
up her positivity and strength. Wade or swim in lakes, rivers, or the
ocean. Gaze at the stars. Walk barefoot on the grass.
To
intentionally communicate with the Earth, you can tune into her by
asking, “What do you feel?” Then be open to any intuitions that come. Or
you can use the Earth as an oracle, directly asking her questions about
yourself or others. She will answer you though your intuition. Then
follow her guidance.
In Native traditions, earth medicine
represents the healing that nature imparts. Mother Earth is to be
revered and cared for. As empaths, you can practice earth medicine by
doing whatever you can to treasure our precious mother planet. This is
part of your purpose, and a way for you to feel happy, healthy, and
whole.
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