First I want to thank you
all for your interest, and for coming in.
We will be learning…definition of
empathy, a little history, we will share
in some exercises, have question and answer
times, learn about how to safe guard ourselves
as in ..grounding, protection, cleansing,
balance and focusing. We will also in the
same time learn how to shut off the overwhelming
take overs we sometimes have.
This first circle, I will
mostly talk of the definition of the word
Empathy and then I hope to touch on a little
history. At the end of this session I will
take questions.
Just to give us some type
of meaning to the word Empathy. There are
many variations, as there are many dictionaries.
The one I will use and liked the most is
from the American Heritage Dictionary.
Empathy…German
1. Identification with and
understanding of another’s situation,
feelings and motives.
2. The attribution of one’s own feelings
to an object. Attribution meaning…in
my words…establishing ones feelings
to a particular person, animal, plant, building,
etc.
There is a symbol for empathy
which you can see above. It shows where
there are 2 sides. They are reaching out
into each other as in people, animals, plants,
buildings. It almost looks like roots reaching
from each side to the other. This is what
really helps us to understand what the other
is feelings and experiencing. In other words
we connect ourselves into the other person..etc,
and they into us.
Empathy is the ability to
not only know or detect what others are
feeling, but to also experience that emotion
yourself.
Empathy is a connection
to the entire universe. In a class later
on we will learn ways to disconnect ourselves
from others emotional ties, so as to not
be overwhelmed.
People who are empathic
can be and most times are sympathetic.
Dictionary definition of sympathy
Sympathy…Latin
and Greek
1.b. Mutual understanding
of affection arising from this relationship
or affinity.
2.b. A feeling or an expression of pity
or sorrow for the distress of another; compassion
or commiseration.
With the knowledge of both
Empathy and Sympathy, we can start to understand
the differences.
Empathy is to feel the emotion.
Sympathy is to feel for the emotion.
History of Empathy
Empathy has been around since the beginning
of time. Between….man, animals, all
of their surrounding, to the land they trod
on. Then as time went on, people would go
to empaths, and touch them, thinking by
doing so they would be cleansed and healed,
or cured from ailments or emotional takeovers.
Thinking that the empath would take on what
ever ailed them so they could be whole again.
The word empathy meaning,
feeling-in, was coined by the American Psychologist,
Edward Titchener. It was a translation of
the German word-Einfuhlung. The theory of
the Einfuhlung came to be in the latter
part of the 19th century. Through the years
more people have added their theories. Which
all agree that empathy is not projecting
one’s own feelings into someone, but
is experiencing feelings as though they
are their own.
Empathy continues without
rest, it doesn’t go away. It is an
internal sense, gut instinct if you will.
Empathic people are very strong, even though
at times we feel so overwhelmed by it. Thus,
trying to shut it out can bring on emotional
imbalance. Once we realize it is that we
fully understand another persons pain and
emotions, that is when we become our strongest.
We no longer have to wonder why we feel
their pains or emotions. Then we realize
we are putting ourselves in their shoes.
Empathy starts in childhood,
and is carried throughout our lives. Empathy
is the ability to feel emotions, physical,
and spiritual energy. This can be read as
images or feelings. Empathic people sense
things, which others can’t. Empaths
are sensitive enough to read people. This
sensitivity can sometimes be overwhelming.
Once it is understood, then we can get a
hold on it.
I will at this time take
any questions or concerns.
How do we shut it off? We
will touch on that in a class. Have you
heard of cutting the ties that bind us?
That is one of the ways to do it.
Are we affected by the moon?
Yes we are very much so, we go on to talk
of the moon and how it affects us later.
Oh good I’m not going mad then! No
your not!
With today’s herbalist
it makes sense about the plants, in how
they find ways to use the plants for medicines.
Yes plants have been used from the beginning
of time, for our health and to nourish our
bodies.
If we have a lot going on
do we still feel the empathy? Yes, empathy
is an internal sensing, it never stops or
goes away.
I have felt before when
someone is going to die and then later on
they do, is that the same as empathy? Yes,
you sensed what was going on in their bodies.
Does empathy help in healing?
Yes I believe healing goes hand in hand
with empathy.
Next week I will touch on
some of the levels to empathy.
Empathy ~ An Introduction
to Empathy
What is Empathy, Definition
of Empathy and Sympathy, History of Empathy
View
our Free Classes and Circles here
If you are interested in
Empathy please link to the Empathy Circle
in the Archive
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