An Interview with an Empath
The following is an email interview with a Paranormal Phenomena survey respondent who wishes to remain anonymous. Let’s call him Jason.
Having completed the anonymous online survey, Jason contacted me via email and probably, because we both have a business background and a keen interest in the paranormal (a rare mix, I would suggest) I was intrigued to ask him some questions. In turn, Jason was happy to oblige!
Interview (part 1)
Jason, in your initial email to me, you mentioned that your parents would have regarded your paranormal qualities in a negative light and so you kept quiet about them. Children certainly take their lead from adults and I’m sure many people can relate to your experience. I’m wondering, did you assume the paranormal was a taboo subject, picked up non-verbal queues or did you broach the subject and then shut down?
It is difficult to explain why I kept my developing paranormal skills from, not only my parents, but also my siblings and friends. For some reason I instinctively knew that they would not understand and, worse still, think that I had a medical problem, which required fixing.
As I am a very strong Empath and have been, for as long as I can remember, this perhaps guided my decision.
Many people who experience the paranormal are in fact religious to a lesser or greater degree. Do you feel religion played a part in the reception that the paranormal got in your family?
This is really a question requiring two aspects as follows:
- No, I do not believe that my family’s religious beliefs played an important part.
I came from a working class, Presbyterian, family and for a while, attended, Sunday school, however I felt that what I was being taught did not fill a void I felt inside of me. Although I knew this would hurt my parents, I told my mother that I no longer wanted to attend Sunday school. Although she was very upset she accepted my choice and we never spoke of it again.
- For some reason, I was drawn more too Asian culture, particularly Buddhism and the Asian way of life, which was in stark contrast to “accepted” Christian beliefs.
In my analysis of the first round of surveys, I found an overwhelmingly pattern of generations of women reporting living with the paranormal. I didn’t find this with men. Are you the only person in your family, male or female who experiences the paranormal on a daily basis?
As far as I was aware I was the only member of my immediate family living with the paranormal and for this reason, I always felt isolated from, both my parents and siblings which, as you could imagine, was extremely difficult for me, as a child to accept. To this day I still feel that there is a void between my siblings (my parents passed away during the 90’s.
After I married we had a boy then a girl and it became very clear at an early stage that my daughter possessed similar skills to mine. Although my wife was and still is very sceptical, I had the ability to teach my daughter how to accept, use and improve her skills; something I missed out on when I was a child.
Jason, you mention your childhood experience. Do you have any pre birth memories?
I am not sure if the following was a pre-birth memory, but every night for approximately two years I had the same “one and only” dream.
In my dream I was stabbed in the stomach and as I lay dying my room was set alight by a man with, what could only be described as, a maniacal smile on his face. I can still remember the dream to this day. However as soon as I acknowledged that this was in the past, the dream stopped. This decision seemed to be instinctive rather than thought out.
You have also revealed that you work/worked in the business sector. I imagine there are people, perhaps even yourself, who use the paranormal to their awn advantage or for the benefit of others. Do you know of such instances and if so can you tell us more?
Being an Empath is a “two-edged sword” as I cannot turn it off; it is with me at all times. I therefore see the “true spirit” (nature) of all people I come in contact with, even relatives. The following are examples:
- I get very uncomfortable around groups of people who overall emit negative thoughts. It may surprise you of the number of people on trains for example, who have such thoughts. In cases like this, I generally move carriages for relief. In other situations, such as parties the same issue may occur, but on a smaller scale, in which case I move on to another group of people.
- If I am in a position of having a one-on-one talk with someone (in business or normal life) and detect an issue that they seem to have, I try and help them by slowly moving the discussion, with cues, to the heart of their problem in the hope that I can guide them in looking at positive ways of both resolving the problem and reducing the stress that they have locked inside them.
- At meetings, I find my skill very helpful in being able to ensure that what a person said is in tandem with their inner self. If this is not the case then I try, via a one-on-one meeting, to bring out what they really feel and what can be done to resolve any objections positively for both sides.
- The most difficult situations are related to both family and friends. These can cause me a great internal stress, especially when I know that what they are saying to me, is diametrically opposite (negative) to what they really think of me.
I never, at any time, use my skill to benefit myself but rather, I try and help people and improve working relations to reach the best outcome for the company(s) I worked for.
Beginning the Conversation
Even though I’m not a practising paranormal consultant, I do know what it’s like to not ‘come out’ about my own paranormal experiences. Speaking now with friends from my school days, they say things like you “always were different”, “ahead of your time”, and “on about things that we weren’t into then, but we are now”.
Later, when I was in the business world I played down my paranormal encounters, but I never hid them completely. Somehow, they seemed to fit with how I perceived myself and indeed, how others did too. Then, I was a it different. Still am really.
Now, is that debits by the windows and credits by the door? Or vice versa?
Continue the Conversation Below…
This is something really interesting. Not all people understand these kinds of stuff. Glad that you posted it.
Hi Rosemary,
I just wanted to say thank you for posting the interview you had with ‘Jason.’
Though I am not a business woman I am also an Empath, though not as strong as Jason, I can relate with almost everything he says.
I usually keep my gifts secret to the general public unless someone is open or knowledgeable on the subject. I also feel compelled, almost, to help people. A deep instinctive calling, I guess you could say. A select few of my family know of my gifts. I know they sometimes have a hard time believing what I experience but they are still supportive; but were not completely open about it. I usually only share what I’ve experienced if they ask.
I avoid crowded places like malls and entertainment areas like going to a Fair. I also tend to avoid those who are deeply or emotional damaged, usually those who are beyond any help I may be able to give. They tend to have a draining affect and I feel very tired and irritable after being in their presence.
I have a long time friend who I love dearly but she is very depressed. I wouldn’t doubt it if she was bipolar. She will have times where she is positive and wanting to live life etc. and times where she just drinks all the time and sleeps all day etc. Though I would love to help her, she needs more than what I can give her; but in those times of sadness I have to distance myself, it’s hard Empathically and emotionally to be around her.
I can sense, but not see, the energy of a place. Like Jason, usually old places with some emotional history or deaths. I can sense the energy of spirits, again not see them, but I don’t identify with what he described of spirits going into him. If I do sense a spirit, I may get a flash of what they look like, at rare times a name to go with it and possibly a sense of how they feel but nothing other than that.
I’ve talked your ear off, so to speak haha. Again though, I liked the posting and hope to hear more about Empaths in future posts. There are so few of us out there, that I personally know anyways.
Nikki
Thanks for giving some insights into how you live as an empath Nikki. Jason was certainly an interesting person to interview and hopefully other empaths will come forward in the near future to put there experience on record.
Im curious about your need to withdraw from certain places. Is there not a way that you can shut off the energy, or reduce its impact on you? Im presuming that this is what keeps you separate. Im all for and in life – adding rather than removing where possible – and Im wondering if some sort of psychic shield would be of benefit to you. On the other hand, you may just not be that much into malls etc – which is quite understandable 🙂
Ciao for now
Rosemary
Hi Rosemary,
The interview with Jason was interesting.
I actually believe everyone has empathic aspects. It just depends on how attuned you are to your self and your connection to your own feelings.
I think it is possible to be empathic but deny that what you see and feel is actually what it is and, the more you get to know yourself, the more you are able to differentiate between what you genuinely feel and what you may be picking up from someone else.
I think you then develop the capacity to help others to a level such that you don’t come away feeling drained.
What Jason said I can relate to, but how many people in the world feel the same?
How many of us have regular conversations with others and walk away and say,”that person is really unhappy”, yet they were smiling and joking the whole time.
How many of us on first impressions feel uneasy but go ahead anyway?
And how many of us see things we can’t explain and deny it ever happened?
Anyway that’s my input….
Regards
Cecilia
Hi Cecilia
Lovely to hear from you.
I know your questions are rhetorical and I think most of us here would agree with you. Most of us, at some points in time, do ignore our intuition – sometimes to our detriment. Certainly I know, when I push through (as oppose to try and push through) on an issue I am oftentimes disappointed with the outcome.
My goal is to learn to attract rather than push out, if that makes sense?
Some people are able to experience life without barriers, as if that which is hidden to most, is revealed. I guess, the question could be, is there a chance of sensory overload for the unwary?
Cheers Cecilia
Rosemary
Hi Rosemary,
Thanks for your reply. I guess there must be a chance of sensory overload.
Port Arthur (Tasmania, Australia) is a perfect place to experience sensory overlaod.
I really think children experience that at an early stage and then find a way to block it off. My father, a writer interviewed many parents who described events that took place with their children and, at a certain age, these events ceased.
My own son, I remember on numerous occassions would watch something fly around the room and laugh when he was very young.
Maybe we are all accompanied by higher souls for a period until we “settle” in.
To be honest the paranormal scares but at the same time fascinates me and the more we understand it, the better, so thank you for this brilliiant website.
Regards cecilia
Hi Cecilia
Lovely to hear from you again and all the best for 2012.
Do you know why the paranormal scares you? It doesn’t me and so, Im curious to know if there is a particular aspect of it perhaps that gives you the creeps. Can you share more, or is it too personal? Have you had a particular experience perhaps that triggered your unease?
There is certainly enough in mainstream academic literature to suggest that imaginary friends are now considered normal by many psychologists etc. SO, I guess that is a step in the right direction.
I love the idea that we are escorted into this life and then cosseted until we are settled in our new form. What a wonderful thought. I remember before one of my girls was born being told that her soul didnt pop in and out to try on the body, in utero. It was committed and it stayed with me the whole time.
Becoming a mother and adopting a pet have been life changing/eye opening events for me 🙂
Thank you for the compliment on the site. It is only as good as the navigator (me) and those who sail on her.
Cheers
Rosemary
Hi rosemary, I’m really fascinated by the current conversations about empaths. I never really gave it a thought even after watching Deanna Troi in the Star Trek Second Generation films. So much of what has been said rings bells with me, I don’t like shopping or going into crowded places, (my husband does the daily run to the supermarket) I seem to instinctively like or dislike houses and people, I’ve always felt different to other people. This I attributed to having been very ill as a young child and missed out on the early socialising skills in infant school. My worst “problem” is that I seem to leak energy to people in need. I always think of my ailing husband, whom I love dearly, as a vampire taking his energy from me. This I have joked about for a long time, and I periodically go to stay with my daughter to re-charge my batteries. Spending time with my Pagan friends or in the countryside helps too. Does this mean that I have empathic tendencies? Does this apply to people who are loners in general? Do we have the third DNA strand in our helix that I keep hearing about? So many questions, can anybody enlighten me please?
Bright Blessings, Anne.
Hi Rosemary
Again, delightful to read about Jason and Nikki, feels right and have had many similar experiences, never had a word for my feelings, so empath it is……..I think or is it I feel.
Regards
Carole
Yes, I like the word empath too Carole. I dont know if certain paranormal workers feel they have a monopoly on the word but it has a good ring to it, don’t you think?
Cheers
Rosemary
I got all the way through to Jason asking his mother if he could stop attending church services before I cried with absolute understanding, having lived through everything he described – as he described.
I’m 41 years old and just discovering that there’s more to the ‘over/hyper sensitive’ label everyone gives me, than being overwhelmed with emotional/physical pain at times and in places other people find inconvienient/inappropriate.
I’d assumed everything I felt came from me and suffered greatly not realizing that wasn’t true.
Thankfully i’m stubborn as hell and held tight to the notion I was somehow special- though I didn’t know how until very recently.
Anyway – thanks for sharing the interview. It’s comforting to be reminded there are others and none of us are alone.
Oh Lyn
None of us is alone – and yet, at times it feels like we are.
I wonder what an alien would think, looking down from above. We are like an army of ants rushing around (note to myself), colliding with each other and interacting for a moment or too, and then we go off spinning again.
Hopefully you’ll bump into a few people and ideas that speak to you here on Psychic Revolution Lyn. Looks like you may be on the way already.
Cheers
Rosemary