The Bridge Centers

The Bridge Centers
Empowering Empaths, Modern Meditation, Intuitive Sessions

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Save the Clams!

Tonight on Day in the Life of an Empath I'm going to tell a story that may help some connect better with the empath in their lives or at least to understand better.

When I was young, I'd say about 10, my family decided to stop by the beach. Why stop at the beach in winter, well why not really? We walked the strip and enjoyed the quiet solitude of non-tourist season. My dad, my mom, my younger sister, and I walked to the water to see what low tide had left behind. To our shock, there were hundreds of large clams lining the beach as far as I could see. My family thought this was great! Free, fresh clams? Absolutely! (I should pause to mention that we're New Englanders. We LOVE seafood!) My dad grabbed a bag and they all started scooping them up to take them home to cook. After all, a few other locals were doing the same thing. I was HORRIFIED! I felt such a high level of emergency to save those clams, I almost had a panic attack. I can't explain it, but I had to do something right then and there.

I ran up and down the beach throwing them back into the ocean as far and as hard as I could. I couldn't let them be eaten like this! My arm was aching and tears of pure panic and sadness were streaming down my face. I looked like a crazy person while my family just watched. My poor father. I still remember the look of curiosity, amusement, and confusion he wore that afternoon. My sister just laughed at me, as siblings do. My mom hugged me and explained that there were hundreds and we eat clams all the time. My dad asked me what the difference was of us taking home these clams to cook and the ones already at the grocery store. Okay, so he had a point and that kind of rational thinking helped calm me down. That rationale was my first experience in shielding (something I still have to use at the grocery store and when eating meat).

Diversion and rational thinking can be a GREAT shield if you're in a pinch, especially if there are far too many clams, and later worms in the driveway, to save.

In light and love;
~A

Monday, April 29, 2013

Help the Empath

Let's face it. Not everyone is going to believe you when you tell them you're an empath. Some will look at you like you're crazy, some will believe you right off the bat, and a small amount may even try to cut you out of their lives or convert you back... as if that was ever going to be a valid choice, but I digress (again). One thing is absolutely for sure. The energy of the earth is changing from thinking from the head to thinking from the heart. More empaths are popping up and discovering their gifts. I truly believe this is because we're needed to help heal people through this difficult time. So many will cling to their own beliefs and face the new from their egos alone. Unknown change can be scary, but while clinging to the ego, this change will be so much more difficult. We are needed to help heal and guide people towards their spiritual paths. That is the true nature of our gift. But it's not always an easy gift, particularly when we don't have the support of those we love. I'm dedicating this post to those who love an empath.

The first thing you need to know is that empaths are sensitive. We feel things so much more deeply than most do. We pick up on other's emotions, particularly those we are close to. Some of us feel more from animals, some more from nature, and some more from objects. Some of us are stronger than others and in different aspects. I can pick up residual emotions from objects. I deeply feel from people and nature. I have less ability with animals though and physical healing. This means I cry at commercials, books, images, and TV shows. I feel their happiness and fear and pain like it's my own, but stronger. There are times I cannot differentiate between my emotions and someone else's. Crowds are a nightmare for me and I highly value my alone time.

Get to know your empathy's abilities and be aware of them. At the end of the day, your right to not believe is respected. Just know your empath can feel what you're feeling and knows if you're being genuine or not. Realistically, you love these people and I'm sure that means you want what's best for them. The best thing an empath can do is to shield themselves from outside emotions and energies as well as ground themselves routinely. The strongest shield I've ever come across is to envision oneself bathed in light made of pure love. The best, and easiest, way to ground oneself is to stand or walk barefoot on the earth. Grass and fertile ground is best. Swimming in the ocean or taking a bath or shower with salt has a very similar effect. Remind your empath how important it is to shed the negative energies. Allow them time alone to decompress. Meditation should be a regular part of the empathy's life; ideally twice a day for 30 minutes each time. The great thing about meditation is that it's good for EVERYONE, even children. It's so good for psychical and mental health, plus who doesn't need some more relaxation!? Your calm state will help your beloved empath remain calm, happy, and healthy too. We know you want what's best for us, so get on board and keep an open mind and heart.

Still have questions? Want to learn more? Connect with me directly https://www.facebook.com/dayinthelifeofanempath Blog updates, inspirations, conversation, and news about Empath School and the courses available for download. Hope to see you there!

In light and love;
~A

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Crystals and Gemstones

In my last post, I briefly touched upon gemstones and crystals to help aid shielding. There are so many excellent and informative resources to help you find the right ones for you. Certain gemstones and crystals will resonate with your energy only, so I highly recommend heading to your local healing and alternative shop to find the right one for you. It isn't always easy. In my case, I'm several hours from one of these gems (see what I did there?), so I do most of my buying online. I absolutely love and whole heartedly recommend http://www.crystal-cure.com/. They are SO knowledgeable, have an extensive selection, and are true healers. You can request them to attune to your energy and choose the proper stones and crystals for you. I can instantly feel a connection with their stones, where as I don't always from other sources. Where ever you do your buying, just make sure you do your homework and trust your instincts. Keep in mind that some stones and crystals will bond to you and you to it and that can feel intense. I know several people who like to "cleanse" their gemstones. Please be aware that water, sunlight, and extreme temperature shifts can destroy your stones and crystals. When I feel like mine need to be cleared, I meditate with them, infusing them with my energy and allowing their energy to touch me too.

When you get your gemstones, keep them with you. Just by holding, wearing, or keeping them with you (like in your pocket or in your bra) can positively effect your energy by raising your vibrations. I'm not kidding about the bra part. On particularly challenging days or when I know I'll be in a stressful or crowded situation, I keep them in my bra, against my skin to increase energy healing. There are so many gemstones and crystals that help protect and sooth empaths from the barrage of feelings we are subject to every day. If you find I haven't mentioned your favorite gemstone or crystal, please feel free to tell me about it in the comments. Now let's get to the fun stuff!

Rose quartz is very good for empaths because it sooths and heals the heart chakra and has a strong and steady energy to keep you grounded. (Remember grounding pulls the negative energies away from you into the earth to be converted into healing energy.)

Black tourmaline is a powerful stone. It should only be used by healers, but will push all negative energy away. (Most empaths are healers in one form or another.)

Amazonite will help balance emotions and also balances feminine and masculine energy. It is considered good luck as well. (Which we all know we could use!)

Citrine is an empath's dream and I highly suggest them. Citrine is unique in that it doesn't need cleaning because it repels instead of absorbing negative energies. Citrine also relieves depression and mood swings. It opens the mind to new thoughts, helps with dream recall, and increases self esteem. Told you it was an empath's dream!

Obsidian, any type, is also good for empaths. The different types repel negative energies, balance emotions, and ground you.

Amethyst is an interesting gemstone. It increases psychic ability while protecting the wearer. It will help with dreams and negativity within the home, but needs plenty of sun.

Lepidolite is one of my favorites as it's considered a power and peace stone. It will enhance the energies of other stones while promoting peace, sleep, luck, and love.

One gemstone that came to me unexpectedly was Turritella Agate. It promotes inner stability and I consider it the bravery stone and protects you against danger. It lives up to its name and I greatly recommend it!

The last one I will mention tonight are Lemurian Seed Crystals. These crystals are very special, strong, and absolutely essential when meditating. They have tell tale edges with horizontal striping. It's said that these crystals are infused with the ancient wisdom of the Lemurian people. There's so much information on Lemurian crystals and the Lemurian people, I recommend you do some research with an open mind and open heart. To elaborate, I will tell you my own experience with my Lemurian crystal.

I felt the moment it was delivered. I had several crystals and gemstones due to arrive over a 4 day period, but I just knew the moment it arrived. As soon as I held it, my head felt full, buzzing, and almost dizzy. I had to put it down as I was not prepared for the instant connection and strength. I put it down for later, but found I couldn't take my eyes off it, so I put it in my pocket. This didn't last long. I had to touch it. It felt like obsession the draw was so strong. Sitting down, I calmed myself and breathed deeply, like I would to meditate. I held it in my palm and ran my thumb up the ridges and was floored by what I saw. The things I saw are mine and private for now. Maybe some day I'll share them, but suffice to say it opened my eyes completely, opened my heart, and I know my spirit is still singing. It changed everything and it is in part why I started this blog. I truly hope it stretches across the distances and finds those who need it.

Still have questions? Want to learn more? Connect with me directly https://www.facebook.com/dayinthelifeofanempath Blog updates, inspirations, conversation, and news about Empath School and the courses available for download. Hope to see you there!

In love and light;
~A

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Now What?

Now what? So many empaths ask this question within minutes of discovering this part of themselves. There's so much meaning in those two little words, isn't there? It's an acknowledgment that shows acceptance and uncertainty for the future. The answer to "now what" isn't the same to every empath. The answers though are full of possibility.

The first answer to "now what" is to learn to shield yourself. Your shield should be strong as it's your number one source of protection. If done correctly, you'll find you can block out most, if not all unwanted emotions and energies. By far, the most effective is to visualize yourself bathed in healing light made of pure love. You can visualize it as any color you want; pick your favorite! I prefer a brilliant white with light blue, pink, and purple tips. This light radiates from inside you, from your very soul. It is your connection with the Creator, the Universe, or God...whichever you resonate with the most. I am a strong empath, particularly with other's feelings, so I needed to do this three times a day to start. Now I strengthen it twice a day, as soon as I wake up and right before I drift off to bed. I also make an effort to release other people's energies throughout the day. I image other people's emotions like thick, black slime, sliding off of me and being burned up by my brilliant light. I release them to the earth to be converted into light energy that is then returned to people who need it.

If you ever find yourself absolutely swamped by it all, take some time out for just a few minutes. Sit down quietly or lay down. If you can, touch your bare feet to the earth. Now lay your hands on your knees palms up so you are open to receiving divine light, love, and guidance. Relax. Feel all the muscles relaxing from your head to your toes. Breathe deeply and slowly for 5 inhales and exhales. Align your chakras by imagining each one, from the root to the crown chakra, as a flower opening. I like to picture the flowers spinning with wisps of sparkly light arcing above and around each one. Taking the time to balance and align each one, paying them the proper time and respect, will not only take your mind off of what you're feeling, but instantly helps strengthen your shield.

Gemstones and crystals will help too. They vibrate at a higher level. Our connection with them helps us vibrate at a higher level as well. High levels of vibration help us connect to our higher selves, create, and raise your energy. It doesn't stop there either. The higher the vibration, the better off you are. I use amazonite with lepidolite for protection and higher vibration. I have also heard good things about black tourmaline. I also hear an amethyst cluster is SO good for protection in the home, but I have yet to try this myself.

There are so many possible answers to "now what", but really we're asking where do we go from here and how can we use this? There are so many careers well suited to an empath, but no matter what you choose to do, you will need to keep that shield up. As natural healers, we are best suited to careers that involve some kind of altruism, creativity, and healing. Counseling, therapy, horticulture, doctors, nurses, masseuse, architecture, design, etc. are all well suited to an empath because of our connection to people, animals, nature, and the energy of space. Trust yourself and know where your talents lie. You can give back to the earth and keep yourself healthy and grounded at the same time.

Still have questions? Want to learn more? Connect with me directly https://www.facebook.com/dayinthelifeofanempath Blog updates, inspirations, conversation, and news about Empath School and the courses available for download. Hope to see you there!

In light and love;
~A

An Empathic Heart

There are some times when I get tired of being an empath. It can be so overwhelming and the emotions make me feel crazy. I wake up humming a song and feeling great, then BAM! I'm feeling angry or depressed or sad for no reason what so ever. Shopping and crowded places is usually out of the question because no matter how much I focus, someone else's frustration gets the better of me. I'm sure it's only a matter of strengthening my protection skills, but really my couch and the hermit lifestyle seem SO good sometimes. But other times, I see this for the gift it really is.

As I've said before, I'm a very spiritual person and it's just nature that spiritual, intuitive people are attracted to each other. In talking to an old friend from school who's deeply spiritual, I found myself gushing to him. I opened up to him and let my boundaries down. I even told him I'm an empath. This is something I reserve for the closest of friends because, let's face it, there are people who will think you're crazy. One such person recently told me to "grow up". (That was interesting.) But this friend is someone special. His exact words were "I'm not surprised.. You were a deep person.. Kind of someone who seemed protected by something larger than life." To be instantly accepted and respected was nothing short of amazing to me. I never expect to be believed, so I keep my cards close to my chest. I'm a skittish empath, what can I say? The conversation that ensued after was so good and deep and cleansing. I can't adequately put it into words. I left it feeling revitalized and glowing.

In life, we aren't always going to agree with people and as empaths, we see the good in just about everyone. We feel their pain and we know where it's coming from, so we empathize with them. We probably even want to heal them, even if they don't believe us. But it's real. It's an energy you can feel if you let go of your blocks and prejudices and hang ups and preconceptions to just live in the moment right then and there. I want to break past those barriers and help heal people from the inside out. I see their pain and imagine myself bathing them in white light while pulling away the dark spots from them. I imagine my white light turning their dark spots into positive energy made of light and love. I then return that positive, pure white light energy back to them. I only try this when I know my protections are firmly in place, my chakras are balanced, and I'm bathed in that beautiful white light of love. I know it can be dangerous, but I can't just let them suffer. It hurts me too much.

In light and love;
~A

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Nuclear Winter

Today I learned a powerful lesson; my shields are down when I'm angry. Ever try to argue with someone when you're angry? What about when they're angry too? My poor shield was completely burned up in the angry fire and I've had to fight to center myself and put it back into place. Now I know my shield has infinite power and it should never feel tiring to hold it up, but my God today was a super test of that.

After the argument I separated myself from the person and cried. I don't mean just a few tears and pounding the steering wheel, I'm talking that sobbing snot cry where you look hideous. But as hideous of a crier as I am, the whole experience, soup to nuts, was so cleansing! I got a lot off my chest, I cried my eyes out, and I talked it all out with someone I trust above all others.

I'm sure a lot of empaths will agree with me that we are a bunch that tend to hold things in. As soon as whatever we been holding in comes out, we feel horrible! Not only do we feel our own pain for not containing our tempers, but we feel the pain of the person who received our tempers. Like many empaths, I have no problem telling you how I feel in a way to make you understand, but I like to keep my cards close.

So the point I'm getting at is that I've identified a weakness I can turn into a strength. As soon as I let go, I was able to center myself in a long lasting way that's stronger than when I started. So try to let go today and see how good it feels.

In light and love;
~A

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Normal is, as Normal Does

Today I wracked my brain thinking of what the next post should be about. I want this blog to be a resource for empaths and their families so I don't want to write for the sake of writing. Well ask and ye shall receive! Today someone asked the group this question and it broke my heart. "I'm an empath. Is this normal? It's awful. :-(" This single line of 8 words and a sad face absolutely broke my heart. I felt her pain. I felt her frustration. And honestly all I want to do is reach out and give her a big hug.

It's said that roughly 5% of the population are empaths, but others will tell you it's anywhere from 40-60%. Most say it's an inherited trait, but some completely disagree. Really, no one knows, and who cares! All you need to know is that we're here, we're real, and we have a purpose. All you have to do is search for "empath" and you'll see the proof. Most empaths don't even know of their abilities until someone points it out to them. Like me, many empaths assume everyone feels as sensitive as we do to the world around them. I know that's the biggest lie I've ever told myself.

In reality, not everyone cries at commercials or feels the pain and emotions of others like their own. Be it a deep connection with nature, animals, objects, or people, empaths are a pretty interesting bunch if I do say so myself. My own particular talents lie with nature, people, and objects. I can feel the needs of plants and I feel my best when I'm standing in the garden barefoot, walking through a forest, or swimming in the ocean. I feel the physical pain and emotions of other people like they're my own. This gets tricky because sometimes I can't tell if they're my emotions or someone else's. But on the flip side of this, I can usually tell when people are and are not genuine. This comes in VERY handy! Between you and me though... my connection with objects is the COOLEST! I love going in antique and second hand stores. It's like the things call to me. I run my fingertips across them or pick them up and I can feel the emotional connection, and sometimes the story behind it. I have a very slight empathic connection to animals, I have a strong intuition (especially in dreams), and I'm learning how to heal. It's funny because as I write this I think, "How did I not know I was an empath for so long?!" Is it wrong to want to go back in time and smack yourself? But again, I digress.

A big part of being an effective and healthy empath is knowing where your strengths lie. I know I don't have to focus on shielding myself around animals, but I do in crowds. I also know if someone is hurting, I can help them feel better. That's important to me because my life calling as a light worker is to counsel others. I also know that when it becomes overwhelming, all I have to do is take my shoes off and stick my bare feet to the earth. You should give that a try sometime. Just take off your shoes, touch your feet to the earth and let it all go. The earth will ground you and pull all that negativity out so you can shine brightest if you let it.

What kind of empath are you? Feel free to share in the comments. :)

In light and love;
~A
Photo credit: http://ladiesinthepink.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Feet-grass.jpg

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

And so it begins

April 10th, 2013 changed my life with one simple sentence from a dear friend of mine. "You know you're an empath." Huh? What did she say? It's very few and far between that I am shocked silent, but this time I am. I considered myself to be a spiritual person, despite the fact that organized religion scares the crap out of me. But I know. I know there's a God. I know there's angels and spirits and an afterlife. How? I couldn't tell you honestly. I just know. It is what it is. I keep my religious beliefs to myself because I truly respect the right of others not to believe. But I digress.

I pull the phone away from my ear and stare at it for a few seconds. Swallowing hard, I will my mouth to work again and kind of pretend that didn't just happen. I do the best I can to keep up with the rest of the conversation... but DAMN! An empath? What in the world is an empath because I have no idea. So like most people this day and age, I run to the computer as soon as the phone call is over. I trust Carol and I've always believed in her because she knows so much more than I do. Her connection with God and the angels and the spirit realm is something I openly envy. But honestly, I'm 31 years old and I've never heard of this or even known it exists?! What is wrong with me?! Plus what's wrong with her for not telling me this in the 3 years I've known her? I'm sure she'll tell me I wasn't ready and honestly, she'd be right. I wasn't ready. I knew I was sensitive, but I never knew how much of that was real and how much I was making up because I wanted it to be real. Since I seem to be being so honest, I do remember her telling me I was sensitive and spiritually gifted and my skills would emerge when the time was right... but... well but nothing. I have no retort for that so I'll just throw up my hands in the air and say C'est la vie!

For 13 days I have done research and reached out to other empath groups and worked on developing my spirituality, but I'm so overwhelmed. After all of that research and pouring through people and websites, I'm still left with the question, "Now what?" What am I supposed to do with this? Does it make me weaker or stronger? I don't even tell most of my friends because I'm very sure their feelings about me will change and not in a good way. Like me all those years ago, they just aren't ready. So what's a girl to do with this "gift"? Well as I research I see there's a lot of people asking the same questions I am. There's a lot of people feeling lonely, isolated, and adrift in this gift like bottles floating through the ocean regardless of whether they've known their whole lives like me or not.

So for all of you out there that say "Now what?" I say, "I don't know!" I don't have all of the answers. I'm on a learning curve too, but why not compile everything I know so far, and put it out there for other empaths?

In my first ever post on this blog, I will tell you what every single empath needs to know and that is how to shield yourself! You can't live a full life being swamped and bombarded by the emotions of others, be it human, animal, nature, or objects. It's not fair to us. It debilitates us and makes us want to be hermits. I don't know about you, but I look GOOD in a tan, so being a hermit is out of the question. Plus, I'm not sure my kids would appreciate that either. To properly shield yourself takes time and practice, but like all things, becomes second nature.

The first thing you need to know is it's all in your head! I know that sounds silly, but it's true. It's all about imagining and believing. So if we can all channel our inner Albert Einstein here for a minute I'll explain some solid techniques that work quickly and hold strongly. Twice a day, morning and night, imagine everything bathed in a pure white light made of pure love. (I can feel some of you raising your eyebrows in skepticism. I'm not nuts... I just play one on TV. HAHAHA!) Picture yourself shining like a star; bright, brighter, brightest. That light is made of God's pure love and the only thing that's allowed in is love and light from God and the angels. I know some of you don't believe in God and that's okay, but you'll need a strong image of whatever you do believe in because it takes some serious faith and will to keep this steady. I've tried all kinds of images to hold the negative energy away from me, but really I end up drawing it to me and the images fade.

I used to use a big, pink, fluffy cloud. I pictured it surrounding me, not letting the negative energies in, only the good stuff. I pictured the good stuff shining through like when the sun shines through clouds... but this didn't hold! I don't know why, but it just didn't. The white light does hold for me. Maybe it's because it's easy for me to picture myself as a star shining bright. I picture it burning up all the bad like Claire Danes in that movie Star Dust! Now that's a powerful image and easy to hold! Don't forget to do it twice a day and soon it will become second nature.

In light and love;
~A