By Jackie Edwards:
Humans seem to get all the attention. Read any article about empaths, and it will focus solely on how hypersensitive individuals tend to take on the emotional burdens of other people. However, our empathy does not stop with humans: we also have a place in our hearts for Mother Earth.
What Is an “Earth Empath”?
Empaths who are keenly attuned to all of the planet’s changes and to the natural world are called “earth empaths.” The toxicity of air pollution can make earth empaths feel exhausted, depressed and sick; yet, the beauty of a waterfall can energize and exhilarate them.
How do you find out if you are an earth empath? In the publication Psychology Today, Judith Orloff, author of The Empath’s Survival Guide and the leading expert on empaths, outlines several of the characteristics of an earth empath. For instance, you can feel the Earth’s changes in your body. The loveliness of the moon, the warm sun on your shoulders, and the power of a thunderstorm affect you energetically and sensually. And the health and beauty of the earth sustain and nourish you.
Physically, the tides and the moon have an inordinate effect on your wake cycles. And you are sensitive to the amount of daylight and weather changes. Seasonal affective disorder is common in earth empaths. Empaths who feel a special connection to the earth are often dismissed as New Agers or hippies. But evidence shows that empaths tend to react more intensely to and even experience premonitions prior to natural disasters.
How Earth Empaths Can Cope with Heightened Sensitivities
Earth empaths need to connect with the earth frequently to stay vibrant. They should spend time by the ocean, in the mountains, or in forests where they can feel at home and commune with the elements. They should take time to just lie flat on the ground to soak up the strength and positivity of the planet; gaze at the stars; take their shoes off and walk through the grass; and swim or wade in rivers, the ocean, or lakes. They should grow and eat healthy, organic, clean foods to deepen the bond. (They are not ingesting Earth’s energy when eating junk food.)
Lastly, do your part to help our planet. Planting a tree, picking up garbage, walking instead of driving, and other small deeds may not seem like much, but they add up. And they will help you keep a positive outlook on the earth’s future.
