“Am I an Empath?”
Table of Contents
Being an empath or a highly sensitive person means feeling things more deeply, being more connected with others, and also carrying around a lot of burdens that don’t belong to you.
When you’re so energetically tied to other people (who often act erratically and unpredictably), being out in the world is daunting. Energetic overwhelm is a very real thing that happens as a result of being an open channel.
These energy “hacks” (if you can call them that) are intended to help ease that feeling of overwhelm, and to also remind you of the gift that is empathy. I know it doesn’t always feel like a gift, but at the end of the day, empaths and HSPs are healing the world bit by bit!
Let’s start with the first energy hack:
Pray for People Who Piss You Off
Okay, hear me out—this one might sound a little backwards at first, but stay with me. And I’m using the term “prayer” very broadly here. Another way to say it would be “send people who piss you off love and light.”
This is one of the best things you can do as an empath or HSP. When someone totally throws you off emotionally, pray for them. But not in a self-righteous, “I’m better than you, bless your heart” kind of way. And definitely not in a “that’s just how they are and that excuses their behavior” kind of way, either. That’s judgmental energy, which is exactly what we’re trying to eliminate.
Magic happens when you pray for them from a place of protecting your peace and your karma. It’s never about excusing behavior. Rather, it’s about refusing to let them, their actions, and/or the situation live rent-free in your head. Because what’s in your head is in your energy blueprint. And as we all know, your energy blueprint is what the Universe is responding to via the Law of Attraction, which is how things manifest (or don’t manifest) in your life.
Your energy can’t flow freely when resentment is taking up space. Carrying such pain and anger, however justified, limits your ability to move forward. That’s a heavy burden that isn’t yours to carry.
Practicing forgiveness through prayer (or sending positive energy towards a person) is one of the simplest ways to release those heavy emotions. It gives us the gift of inner peace we deserve.
Forgiveness isn’t something we do for other people. And forgiving someone does not automatically make their actions acceptable.
Forgiveness is actually about protecting your inner peace. No longer letting that person, their behavior, or the past situation have power over you now. You’re letting it go, moving on, choosing not to let it dismantle your calm.
Praying for the very person who upset you cuts off the energetic cord, or tether, between you. Whether it’s someone in your life or another passerby, establishing a connection with them becomes an exchange of energy. If they piss you off, but you stop and actively transmute the energy exchange into something positive, you’re stopping the negative cycle at its source.
We’ve all had those interactions with random people who just happen to get under your skin. There always seems to be one or two people around who make you feel less than stellar after being around them. And plenty of us have had the unfortunate experience of having a permanent (or semi-permanent) person in our life who is a total energy vampire with us as their food source.
These are the type of people I want us to send love and light to. This is the type of healing exercise that moves us from fear energy to creator energy.
Psychologically
For better or for worse, people trigger us because they reflect the parts of ourselves we haven’t fully healed. Unmet needs, insecurities, and other personal shadows get shaken up when we’re triggered, and it’s extremely uncomfortable.
Our reaction to the trigger is less about what took place and more about what it represents in our subconscious mind. The place where our repressed shadows go to stew for later explosion. And you can bet that the Universe will continue to send you people/situations who trigger you for the sake of expansive healing.
As empaths, we cannot afford to obsess or ruminate or get stuck in anger. Regulating your emotional responses to these sorts of things gives you back control of your inner experience.
Triggers, and the people who cause them, are either showing us what hasn’t yet healed, or how far we’ve come in our healing. These are the real spiritual teachers–what I call expansion opportunities. This is your chance to rise above and choose peace.
How To Practice
I need this advice too, you know. The next time someone pisses us off, let’s choose the path that doesn’t lead to a spiral of frustration but instead leads to self-reflection and expansion.
Here are some questions to ask in that very scenario:
- What exactly about this situation or their behavior is upsetting me?
- What does this remind me of?
- What boundary is being violated, and how can I strengthen it?
- What would peace look like in this situation?
So yes, praying for people who piss you off is a fantastic hack for dealing with triggers that come up as you interact with the outside world.
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Cleansing Commands
Members and clients might recognize this one, because it’s one of the most effective energy “hacks” I’ve ever encountered while doing this sort of work professionally.
Cleansing commands are affirmation-like phrases spoken aloud, like a prayer. But with conviction, and the intention of clearing your energy of all that does not belong to you. This is a great option for empaths who greatly benefit from regular aura cleansing.
The commands themselves are written as verbal resets and came from a medium I worked with multiple times a few years ago. This practice has never left me, and now I’m sharing it with you! With the professional medium’s permission, by the way.
As empaths and HSPs, we are constantly picking up other people’s emotional baggage as if we are running a free valet service. You can walk through the grocery store and pick up anxiety that’s not yours. You can scroll social media and suddenly feel weirdly sad. You can have one draining conversation and feel heavy for hours afterward.
Cleansing Commands are a way to immediately interrupt that pattern before it settles in your system. The longer that energy sticks around, the more it will intermingle with your own, to the point where it will start to feel like it belongs to you. When really, it doesn’t.
I’m choosing the word commands because these are going beyond simple affirmations. These are energetic instructions said with conviction and certainty. You are free to write your own cleansing commands if you’d like. I will also provide some for you to use. But you must be serious about the words you’re saying for them to cleanse properly.
Speaking your command out loud sends a clear message through your body and environment. It’s easiest to resonate with your intention when spoken verbally. Sound is a powerful mover of stuck and stagnant energy. Whispering is fine if you must, as long as the intention has some oomph behind it.
Psychologically
Speaking cleansing commands acts like a signal to your mind and body that it’s safe to let go, and the time is right to release whatever isn’t serving you.
Plus, it’s empowering because you’re taking action to improve how you feel rather than passively accepting it. Even though it might seem small, it’s truly effective. You can influence so much more than you realize!
By default, our empathetic minds tend to spiral into anxiety or irritation after picking up other people’s energy. Cleansing commands interrupt this pattern and transform it into a “stop and shift” moment.
How To Practice
As promised, here is a list of cleansing commands you can use. These were given to me by a skilled medium I worked with a few years ago and she gave me full permission to use them however I see fit. And I have been called to share them with all of you!
They are this:
I am of God, Source, Creator, Spirit
I command the removal of all dark dense negative energy not of the highest good NOW
I command the removal of hexes, curses, spells, karmic overlays, and black magick not of the highest good NOW
I command the removal of any and all blockages to my personal cash flow lines and manifestations not of the highest good NOW
AND SO IT IS. THANK YOU.
If you’re a supporting member of Spiritually Inspired, you already know and love this meditation. It’s a member favorite!
If you want to hit the EASY button right now, I already have a 5 minute cleansing commands reiki meditation available for you that uses these exact commands.
You can download a copy for yourself by going to spirituallyinspired.co/commands. It’s a pre-recorded guided meditation that is infused with reiki healing energy. So when you listen to it, you get the benefits of the cleansing commands themselves PLUS reiki healing.
Again the link is spiritaullyinspired.co/commands or the link in the show notes if you’re interested! I hope you enjoy it! And let’s move onto the next “hack” for empaths.
Member comments on the 5 Minute Cleansing Commands Reiki Meditation – Available Here for $3
Animal Grounding
Animals are so therapeutic. Something is healing about building a connection with an animal. Particularly pets and animals you take care of, but also with the animals you love and get to observe. It’s almost instantly healing, instantly grounding.
Animals can help us heal by reminding us to reconnect with our bodies, the Earth, and even basic survival needs. They might give us a reason to slow down and take notice of something else outside of us, which is indirectly grounding us.
I don’t know if I’m just making up this phrase “animal grounding” or not, but at least it’s punchy and memorable. Think of all those times when you connected with an animal. Any animal. In any situation.
Pets, of course. Also, animals you can see in your backyard, at the park, on a hike, or in a sanctuary. Or even through a video online. Those loveable fur-friends of all shapes and sizes make fantastic points of focus for grounding in the present moment.
I probably don’t have to tell you twice to love up on your pets and animals. If you’re anything like me and my family, no animal in your house goes unpetted for more than an hour. Keep loving up on them every chance you get! The more you do, the more your brain will release oxytocin–the happiest hormone that helps us build bonds and lower stress.
Psychologically
All the pets I’ve loved in my lifetime so far have one thing in common: unconditional love and companionship. This is what makes an animal bond so special. Trust is earned, and kindness is rewarded with affection. What better way to focus on the present moment than to give your favorite fur baby attention?
There’s also observing wild animals out in nature. Try watching birds, deer, fish, bees, squirrels, bunnies, or whatever native animals you share your neighborhood with. Do so without analyzing or judging. Animals live in the now, at all times, because they are not analyzing everything in their brains the way we do. See if you can’t mimic that a bit so you can stop worrying about tomorrow or feeling regretful about yesterday.
How To Practice
If you already have pets, be certain to make time for them every single day. But I know pets have a tendency to be spoiled, so if you’re already doing that, then keep going! Then maybe consider how taking care of your beloved fur baby builds a bond, and the positive impact on your life.
Another thing you might try doing is turning animal-watching into a kind of meditation. Make it spontaneous, too! When an animal catches your attention outside, stop and see what they’re up to. Eavesdrop on their conversations. Push pause on your thoughts and turn your attention to the flurry of activity that can be found in nature.
My favorite animal to do this with is birds. Especially in the spring, when I can see and hear them easily without all the leaves on the trees. My cats watch the birds a lot too, which is quite meta.
In early 2025, we adopted Hilda, an Akita/German Shepard. She grounds me so much, and I am so grateful for the perfect addition to our family.
Different Colored Noise
You’ve heard of white noise. But have you heard of pink noise? Or brown noise? Or green? There’s even violet and blue, and grey! You can make a whole rainbow of noise.
Creatures with ears are easily influenced by noise. Too much, too little, certain sounds, all trigger chemical reactions in our brains and bodies. Music might bring up certain emotions or visuals.
Sound is one of the easiest ways to shift your energy as an empath. Music and sound have a direct line to our nervous system, which means that their impact on our brainwaves is almost immediate. The rhythm and sounds of the music determine its frequency, the energy it carries that we adopt when we listen to it.
Happy music, sad music, silly music, all of it creates a mood. It’s a great way to manage your energy as an empath during the day. Just pop in your headphones for a few minutes to ground and breathe.
But sometimes, regular music is a little too stimulating for those moments when you just need to chill. That’s where the different colored noises come in handy. And honestly, I don’t specifically know why these sounds are named after colors (my research didn’t quite cross into that territory), but I love it.
White noise contains all audible frequencies at equal intensity, which creates a “hissing” sound similar to a fan or radio static. It’s great for masking background noises and can stimulate dopamine release and increase attention span. *
Pink noise reduces the higher frequency sounds, resulting in a deeper, softer sound akin to rainfall or wind. I prefer pink noise personally, it doesn’t feel as sharp or intense. Similar to pink noise, brown noise also emphasizes lower frequency tones. A quote from a TIME article about the different colored noises is this: “Pink noise as a hiss while brown noise is more of a shush. White noise falls somewhere in between.” *
Psychologically
The consistent and soothing nature of colored noise is what can help stabilize our moods and energies. It can also create an energetic buffer for protection, either absorbing negative energies in the environment or repelling them completely.
Not to mention that these sorts of sounds help us improve concentration, sleep, and reduce overthinking. All of which contribute to overall better energy management.
We already mentioned oxytocin in the last “hack,” animal grounding. Listening to music or sounds that you enjoy makes your brain and heart very happy, too! Serotonin also gets released with music, which can contribute to energy regulation. So get all those happy hormones swimming in your head alongside those happy tunes!
How To Practice
When it comes to using music and sound for energy regulation, you have lots of options. Perfect for any preference or lifestyle.
Many of you probably already do this, or have done this, but you can listen to colored noise while you sleep. Turn it on right before bed and let it carry you off to slumberland. Or put it on a timer so it doesn’t disturb your REM sleep a few hours later (that’s what I do). Colored noise is also the perfect backdrop for a non-guided meditation or reiki session.
You could also mood-match your music. Start by selecting tunes that match your current emotional state. Allow yourself to feel seen and understood, then gradually shift the tracks that embody the mood you want to be in now.
Animals and music are both so therapeutic. Maybe we should do animal meditation classes that feature pink noise so we can all chill and bond together. How amazing would that be?
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Cord Cutting
Several years ago, I read and loved Laura Lynn Jackson’s book called The Light Between Us. It helped solidify the idea that energetic cords connect us all for me. These cords are excellent for building those ever-important bonds and relationships with people we care about. But sometimes, the cords are overwhelming, especially for empaths who are sensitive to outside energies.
Cord-cutting is the energetic practice of, well, severing those connections. That doesn’t mean we are officially cutting ties with those people (although that could happen if you wanted it to). It’s more about releasing the channel between two people so that they are no longer swapping energy.
Because if you are an empath, already susceptible to picking up energy that’s not yours, and you have a cord between you and someone else who drains your energy, you’re not going to be feeling your best. This is a process of reclaiming your energy, establishing healthy boundaries, and managing your energy levels.
You can do cord-cutting regularly as part of an energetic self-care routine. Or you can cut the cord only when you notice a problem. Either way, you’re doing yourself a favor by releasing those useless attachments and making room for more positive experiences.
I’ve done several cord-cutting reiki meditations for members as well as in other guided reiki shares and sessions. With private clients in their reiki sessions, I am often guided to cut their cords to give them a bit of energetic relief.
And while it’s true that anyone you converse with creates a “cord” between the two of you, not every single cord is a problem. Most of them aren’t. In a Universe where you can run into your Soul Family at any time, those cords play an important role. But they can also provide some intense expansion opportunities if they become too strenuous.
Psychologically
You’ll know it’s time to do a little bit of cord cutting if you’re doing all the other grounding things that normally work, but aren’t getting the same results. Not to blame other people for your energy or choices, but their impact on you could very well be stronger than you realize.
The key is to be able to differentiate between your energy and that of others funneling in from those cords. All the people you regularly interact with have the strongest cords. They can suck up your joy through the cord like it’s a giant straw.
Chronic stress, emotional exhaustion, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and more are all commonly experienced states. If you’re feeling these things but can’t point to a specific and clear source, chances are you’ll benefit from cord-cutting.
How To Practice
Uncut energetic cords often keep empaths subconsciously tethered to conflict, unresolved relationships, or past trauma. A simple visualization and the willingness to detach are all you need to cut the cords.
I highly recommend getting into a soft, meditative state first before you try to do any kind of energy work. So do that, perhaps with a bit of colored noise and a furry companion, then begin.
Visualize strings coming out of your solar plexus and soaring off into the distance. You don’t need to know where they’re going to cut them. Ask your team of Spirit Guides for help if you’d like. And in your mind’s eye, sever those ties in any way you choose. A knife, a sword, pulling them out like hairs, whatever visualization resonates with you. Trust that it is working, call back your energy, and send away energy that isn’t yours (the cleansing commands work great for this).
Conclusion
Being an empath or a highly sensitive person is a gift, even though it means navigating the world with an above-average awareness of yourself and others. Without mindfulness practices, empaths are doubly susceptible to burnout, crossed boundaries, increased anxiety, and instability.
By incorporating techniques such as cord cutting, animal grounding, cleansing commands, listening to colored noise, and praying for people who piss you off, you are empowering yourself to prioritize your well-being.
These practices are not about building walls but about creating healthy boundaries that allow you to thrive. Regularly checking in with your energy, setting intentions, and releasing what no longer serves you are acts of self-care that enable you to show up fully for yourself and others.
Thank you for reading! 🙏 And an extra special thank you to the Spiritually Inspired Subscribers! Your continued support keeps my heart full and this brand alive. 🥰
