Hello.
Well my name is Angel, ironically enough. Ever since i was younger i've always been very attracted to things dealing with the 'paranormal', that is to say, i've always loved reading about things like wicca, horoscopes, ghosts, etc. Regardless of that, my journey really started when i decided to go get 'my cards read' by a 'santera'. I had already been exposed to some areas of Santeria because i had a close friend who was a follower of the religion (due to her parents) and so we had conversations about Santeria often. When my half-sister mentioned to me that she had gone to get her cards read by a santera priestess, i was intrigued and decided to stop by the woman's house to get mine read as well. My sister went with me, though she sat in the living room while my cards were read in the kitchen. Nothing amazing happened during the reading, although she accurately predicted many things, as well as mentioned true facts about my past. I have to mention that i was initially a bit apprehensive about getting a reading fearing that the lady would tell me that i had some connection with the dead (something i thought i had felt most of my life)... sure enough, the last thing she mentioned in the reading was that i was "un espiritista", or in english, a spiritualist. I asked her if she could please explain exactly what that meant, and she simply said that i've always had, and will always have, a divine connection to "the other side". Later, i spoke with my friend (the santera girl that i've had conversations with) whose mother was also a spiritualist- except she can feel, hear, and see dead people all the time. I asked her what this meant for me and she explained that it is different for everyone. She said it could be that one day i will see the dead just as she does, or maybe i will only grow to feel them. So far, the only link i have with "the other side" is that i just tend to "know" things before they happen. My friend's mother claims that this is the dead around me plucking things into my head, or even speaking to me, but that i may not necessarily hear a "voice"... that is half of my story.
Besides this connection with the dead, i think i am an empath. I don't believe myself to have amazing empathic abilities, nor do i claim to read other's minds, but i definitely know what most people are going to say before they say it, and i have an extremely accurate sense of others' feelings, all of the time. I have read about other people being empaths and constantly have a feeling of confusion or overwhelming emotion. luckily, i don't recall ever having that overwhelming experience. On the other hand, there are days when i feel extremely angry or even depressed due to problems within my circle of friends. I attribute this to the compounding emotion of everyone in the group at once, but i am not completely sure. i have a knack for making people feel better when they are not right with themselves because i tend to have an uncanny understanding of how they are feeling. This usually occurs when i am around people, but with certain friends i can even tell them how they are feeling (and their feelings' causes) even when i am only chatting with them via instant messages. i predict things all the time that come true. they are not really predictions, but more things that i feel inside are already facts before they actually occur. This seeming empathy paired with my connection with the dead isn't exactly a barrel of fun. Once, after leaving a movie, a group of friends and i crossed the street to a Wendy's restaurant and saw that there was a car accident at the corner. An ambulance was there, and several passengers of the cars were sitting on the curb. for some odd reason, i had this feeling of two people walking around the scene of the accident that no one could see. sure enough, when i got home i saw on the news that two people died at the scene.
really the only thing that disturbs me about these abilities is that
1) the empathy part occasionally causing me to have long stressful or angry/sad days &
2) i do not know what exactly i am supposed to do with these gifts, in terms of their divine purpose.

i'm not sure what i expect people to comment here, i guess if u have any opinions, comments, or questions, please reply.
thanks for your time!
- Angel/ surrealist

cool story. i can't help you but i know someone must be able to so i'll bump this thread.

Hello Angel,

I am also a spiritualist with a divine connection to the other side. In my case its reflected through telepathy. From what you describe your form of connection is more telepathic than empathetic as well. The part about knowing what someone will say without reading their thoughts is telepathy. I am not as aware of the dead spirits as you described however I do other similar things.

I would suggest connecting with your higher self and establishing a loving relationship with that aspect of yourself. Since telepathy taps into the constant communication that takes place between our subconscious selves, you will also want to contact your subconscious self. Do this under the direction of your higher self. You can always PM me if you want something more specific.

John

I don't really think there is a way to use this....maybe join T.A.P.S.?

Dear Angel,
The reason you are feeling the way you are with the depression, stress, anger and stuff is because you are sensitive to the vibrations that are being given off by the living and the dead.
You must start protecting yourself and this is the harder part.
1. Get yourself an amythest crystal or smokey quartz to put around your neck to protect you from negativity.
2. Learn a pray such as the Lords prayer, Hail Mary or the one that i use is,

I encircle myself with white light of love and protection.
I allow nothing but positive thoughts and energy to effect me.
I will not be influenced by negativity of those i encounter.

3. Distance yourself from people who are negitive this is really hard because most people cant get out of the Poor me stuff but the more you hang with that sort the more down days you will have.

This pray i have given you is very powerful so you may find that people you thought where your friends may disapear out of you life but the people who are your true friends will remain around you.
Empathy is know and undertanding what is happening but not allowing it to effect you.
Sympathy is the taking those emotions and feeling them and that i think is what is happening to you.
I have been where you are and the number one lesson is Protection and if your heart is full of love nothing will ever harm you.
Kind Regards
shadowchaser

Well now that would about include everyone wouldn't it?
Negativity drives our addictions, our news, our own thoughts.
To an empath negativity is a way of life to most.
You can protect yourself when around with people.
No need to go find a cave to live in for the next 50 years.
Your abilities manifest as you can handle them.
Good luck

blessings

I actually have a lot of the same problems, in regards to feeling other's emotions. For example I always skip when candidates for ASB officers are making speaches, because they are so nervous, I start to feel ill. I pick up on emotions too much, and before I knew how to deal with it I would 'zone out' to distance myself from it.

The best thing to do with this, is any time you feel a little overwhelmed, think really hard about which emotions are yours and which aren't. This keeps confussion down (or at least I have that problem, not sure if you do). Also I learned by grounding myself (I usually imagine light passing through my chakras and out of the base of my spine to the ground), or concentrating on making a sheild out of my aura (which would block others emotions), that I could keep from betting so bogged down by other peoples feelings.

I think that the best use I've found for this ability is that I know when other people need help or someone to talk to. Even if the people have a hard time expressing themselves, then you can still understand how they feel and know best how to talk to them and try to help. This is very useful and appreciated.

Hope this is the sort of reply you were looking for.

Big claims there. Sounds like a load of BS quackery to me. Have you done any testing with what you claim?????

Just no good to give blind advice to people

I don't feel that empaths give "blind" advice to anyone.
Most people whom I "help" are perfect strangers, thrown togeather by the wishes of an elegant universe.
Most of the time, the people come to me guided by an inner voice.
Numerous times I sense something about someone, and this person walks over to me and sais "they feel compelled to come over and talk to me"
Other times I look at someone and know they are sick and know what ails them.
While I never divulge what ails them, I do suggest they seek out the advice of a doctor, because that is where their belief and trust system lies.
Most times I get very strange looks, but I have learned that the message flows through me, and what they do with the information is part of their "free will" so to speak.
I don't condition what I feel, i just let my thoughts be known and then let them go without attatchment.
The information to them is now given (not BY me but through me) and they are free to choose what to do with it.

Empathy is inherent in everyone, but most have lost the connection.
The proof you seek is closer to yourself than the clothes you are wearing.

Blessings

I have been where this poor person is so im not making big claims i know about what i speak.
All my methods have been tried and i use them every day.
Thats fine you dont believe in this sort of thing but this person is looking for help and advice it may not work for her but maybe it gives her a starting piont to explore.