Difference between being an empath and being a LightWorker
LightWorkers are working diligently to save our planet (and save us from ourselves). Something that comes up all the time in my Empath Support Group are people who take on the pain / sicknesses of others. While this has been mentioned as an empath trait, I believe that it actually delves deeper and is a sign that the person is actually a LightWorker and a healer (as well as an empath, but still, two different things, they just work very well together).
The basic list of the “Traits of an Empath” that has been circulating the internet for a few years now is fairly straightforward, however, you will see crossover with other areas such as Lightworkers, Indigos, HSPs (Highly Sensitive People or Highly Sensitive Persons), Psychics, Mediums and even aspects that are levels of ascension.
Since all these are going on at the same time, it’s understandable but still frustrating since not all traits point to the same thing.
The long and short of being an empath is “feeling the emotions of others as if they were your own”.
The following list is the one that can be found in some form or another everytime you google “Traits of an Empath”
Keep in mind that once an empath has learned control of their gift, these “traits” aren’t there any more. We can (mostly) handle the bad aspects (including health issues) and we just utilize our gift(s) to help others. Therefore, if you are just now looking at the list of empath traits, but are in control of your gift, try to remember what it was like before you learned that control.
- Feeling others emotions as if they were your own
- Overwhelmed in public places
- Watching violence, cruelty or tragedy on the TV is unbearable
- You know when someone is not being honest
- Digestive disorders and lower back problems
- Always looking out for the underdog
- Others will want to offload their problems on you, even strangers
- Constant fatigue
- Addictive personality
- Drawn to healing, holistic therapies and all things metaphysical
- Creative
- Love of nature and animals
- Need for solitude
- Gets bored or distracted easily if not stimulated
- Finds it impossible to do things they don’t enjoy
- Strives for the truth
- Always looking for the answers and knowledge
- Likes adventure, freedom and travel
- Abhors clutter
- Loves to daydream
- Finds routine, rules or control, imprisoning
- Prone to carry weight without necessarily overeating
- Excellent listener
- Intolerance to narcissism
- The ability to feel the days of the week
- Will not choose to buy antiques, vintage or second-hand
- Sense the energy of food
- Can appear moody, shy, aloof, disconnected
I’m writing this blog because the traits of an empath are different than the listed traits of a LightWorker. As I stated earlier, there are some similarities, but the attempt to categorize an empath as simply a LightWorker is wrong. Not all empaths are LightWorkers and not all LightWorkers are empaths.
But, yes, it is quite possible to be both!
Doreen Virtue has this to say about LightWorkers
“Lightworkers are those who volunteered, before birth, to help the planet and its population heal from the effects of fear. Each lightworker is here for a sacred purpose. Very often, however, life on earth with its material focus creates a form of amnesia in lightworkers. They then forget their divine and perfect identities, and also their abilities to miraculously help the earth and all living creatures. When lightworkers forget their true identity and purpose, they feel lost and afraid.”
The traits of a LightWorker are generally comprised of these aspects
- You are sensitive to energies or possibly even possess the empath gift as well
- You may be a psychic medium
- You feel strongly about environmentalism and the treatment of animals
- You feel an affinity to the healing arts and have explored many healing modalities
- You are very aware of your own fears and the fears of those around you
- You experienced a strong spiritual awakening
- You love being around people but also need your alone time to recharge
- Feel called to heal others.
- Want to resolve the world’s social and environmental problems.
- Believe that spiritual methods can heal any situation.
- Have had mystical experiences, such as psychic premonitions or angelic encounters.
- Have endured harsh life experiences that eroded the knowledge of your Divine perfection.
- Want to heal your own life as a first step in healing the world.
- Feel compelled to write, teach, or counsel about your healing experiences.
- Feel a sense of time urgency to fulfill your mission before you know that you are here for a higher purpose or even if you are unsure what it is or how to fulfill it.
- You are aware of the power of your thoughts and your ability to manifest
Of all the aspects of the Differences Between Series, LightWorker is the most likely shared gift of the empath.
Omg…. I felt as if I was reading words written by myself, about myself in your share, compelling me to excitedly respond to you directly with a resounding “Me too!!! Meeeee tooooo!!!” Haha… Feeling extremely inspired by this new connection to myself, as well as everything around me, and now random places such as this, is such a beautiful, healing, and tangible energy….and my instant connection to your words only adds to that elevated vibration….so from the deepest part of my soul, I humbly thank you for this blessing you have brought into my life with your share…., may your life continue to be blessed in return for the healing you’ve brought into mine today!
Oh wow!!! I’m SOSOSO relieved to hear others stories…I too am both a Lightworker and Empath…..I too “lost” my then 6 year old son to his unfaithful father and found myself in an abusive relationship after losing my; money, job, home, husband and of course my baby son (all of this happened in less than 2 months!) ….then I was stuck existing in this abusive relationship with a narcissist so it was ALL about how HE was suffering…groan! I honestly felt like I had been a very very very bad person in a previous life to deserve this (or very screwed up inside to create it) as it didn’t make sense. My awakening was more like the ocean of water in a bucket thrown in my face…yes, it was a severe RUDE awakening. I never felt so alone at that time of my life! but still do to some extent….Mind you I do have abilities to manifest, …so I have to work on that….that use to scare the sh*t out of my abusive ex….hehe (evil laugh)…I rarely have friends that want to take advantage & abuse my “light” so have had to barr them from my life as they were never there for me when I needed help…but Source always was there for me in syncronicities & coincidences etc so in the end I didn’t need friends, but the lonliness is awful!!It’s like after a time friends deselect themselves out of my life…Argh! I honestly have felt (since age 12) that something ELSE is in control of my life, but I was never let me in on what that was, until now!! And don’t get me started on feeling others emotions, they come out of the blue and get stuck in my body so am learning to hand them to the Angels to take into the Void and that works!. .I became a Life Coach to sort out the mess that was my life at the time…then I started helping others. I found this calling late in life. My clients think I’m a mind reader, and sometimes I think I am too 🙂 as I get insights on people’s lives that just pop in my mind without any thought on my own behalf. However I’m learning through these blogs how to manage all of this as at the age of 50 I now have full care of my son, and life is good and getting better as although everything I have tried in my life to become materially successful something ALWAYS got in the way or stopped me….I could never understand why others had it so “easy” with mentors or career breaks whilst I struggled. Now I know why, as it wasn’t my path! Seriously who would chose a life like that?? LOL…apparently I did….haha….anyway, I can’t begin to explain how relieved I am to find you guys as now I feel I have a family who “gets” me as I have nothing to do with my own family for being so “different”….I carried all this for years in silence, but now I get to share my story to give others hope and I let Source take care of the rest and I swear it’s all worth it!!! Love you guys for this site xxx
I’m a lightworker but definitely not an Empath, I find myself on the contrary always trying to compensate for my lack of empathy! However, I have a calling for healing. And I know that being empathetic will help me through this journey tremendously!
I am interested in learning anything you have to say-I have shut myself in to try to maintain my aura-I got exhausted from cleansing a very active house we bought with several kinds of things going on as well as what ran with the land-I saw both helpful spirits who protected me and those who stood behind me watching and trying to intimidate me-I am hard to intimidate as I have been a nurse and experienced two suicides and one murder before the age of 23-I am a very strong person and I have read people and told them what their dream meant as well as heal and talk to animals-I have had a very big spiritual awakening in my 30’s-I live in an area of the USA where they think we are in league with the Devil but they are very quick to ask for a reading-I know this isnt the Devil because simply he doesnt warn you or try to keep you safe but rather he blindsides you and he doesnt like us-he would like to take us for his use-I have relatives that I never met in life make contact with me in dreams for reasons that have never failed to be true-my daughter who is at least an empath has got on drugs and has such a scattered aura I cant hardly be around her and she comes to drain my energy. I have had to cut her off but am raising one of her children with mild autism-the world is a hard place and all I have ever done is seek to improve it for myself and others. I love animals and feel so lost without at least one and now my cat is living elsewhere so my granddaughter cant hurt her-I frequently sage and scry using cystals- sea salt- blessed water if it can be done I have done it in my nearly 60 years but still keep alot of it secret due to where I live-we get called crazy and all but then they are the ones trying next to get a reading-I am careful not to get so mad I curse a place or thing as I have had things happen after such. I am always finding other things I can do-but dont always do them anymore and I can read the Tarot or any kind of cards and palms-this is both a curse and a precious gift to me. All four sides of my family do this too-some admit it and some wont. I have found long lost cousins who are just like me and dont care to talk about it-Great Spirit bless and heal each and everyone of us here today and make our lives work according to your great plan and bless us while keeping us in your protection for our purpose-help us to heal the sick and ourselves-Keep us in your nurturing light for all eternity.
Hello, I am trying to find a link to someone I can speek to about Di vinci paintings. Like a scientist, I feel I am much more awake than most other people like me. The messages are not complicated, I only want to tell someone who could help change the outcome of our future generations. My intuition is a 9 out of 10. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.
I am so excited to see how others feel. I have had this amazing gift my entire life..
I truly believe I have been blessed.
I am 46 years old…I have been in EVERY bad situation possible in life. Including loosing 4 out of 4 of my children ( each in different ways) and I am just now realizing I have a bigger purpose in life! After 46 years!! At first I thought I was an empath, (every single thing fit) except for one… During this year (46th) I actually remember making the commitment for the work in this life…what a blessing! So many things make sense now where nothing made any sense before. I felt like I was doomed to live this horrible, painful life & not know why. I certainly didn’t deserve it. But, I remember “taking on the challenge” that I was strong & could handle my challenge for this life…& It SOOO fits me & my personality. This is the first time EVER in my life writting to one of these blogs, do to speak ( not sure what to call them) as well as my first time mentioning my new found or, newly remembered, gift. Also, let me say– remember when I said I’ve been through every bad situation possible?…well, at this point in my life, I’m just getting out of another abusive relationship. I took my (last daughter from this relationship.. the only one I had left) to s D.V shelter (long story short) & even though I did nothing wrong, because of a series of misfortunate and unbelievable events.. I ended up (TEMPORARILY) loosing my daughter to my ex who is extremely abusive, using drugs, homeless & living downtown in his van! You’d say…how is that even possible, well, what happened it’s to much (to long) to write but, let me tell you…it’s possible, unfortunately, that’s what I’m going through now! I’m not done yet though!! I’m fighting tooth & nail to get (at least) this daughter back. This might sound harsh but, like everything else I have “feelings” about & even though I live my other children…this one (Tiffany ) is the one that’s supposed to be with me! I have a court date coming up on Aug. 9th to get her back. I’m so very close to her the only thing I’ve been praying for & asking my God, my higher power for….is her ==
== “” p.s. the reason I KNOW she’s supposed to be with me is because I remember her with me before coming here! I realize some (most) people aren’t going to believe this. but, it’s very true & it’s also the reason I don’t believe I’m ever going to be able to talk about it again I am going to live my life with this newly found/remembered…knowledge & go on, strong and steadfast like I’m supposed to. I can only hope that somehow I meet others like me but something tells me,,this is a solo journey.
hi tammy 🙂
i read ur comment and it was very well written and raw. when i first started reading about the loss of your children my heart absolutely sank and i am so, so sorry for your loss. it hurts to even think about that happening to me. the pain would be unimaginable and you truly are a strong person. i also completely agree that i think i decided my entire life out. all the dreams i’ve had about the future came true. i remember deciding all the pain and joy i would experience in my life even though i’m only 16 years old. i remember it so vividly. i don’t know how you saw it but i remember blackness and there was voice that i recognize as my own. the voice described my life and its complexity. i remember this before i even existed. i saw it in a dream in 8th grade. i’m now a junior in high school and everything in the memory/dream has came true. i have empathic abilities and i am also a light worker my self. I describe me as “out of control healer” i constantly am drawn to the broken and the abused people of this world and it almost always gets me hurt. but let me tell you. when you are a light worker, and see the positivity and healing that you have administered on someone its like the best feeling ever. i have had multiple friends who have done terrible things like self mutilation, drugs, throwing themselves up/ starving themselves and i have gotten several people out of dark depressions. after trying to heal someone for so long you start to see the positive changes you make on them even the tiniest changes like maybe the person is smiling more or they tried on a cute out fit for once. as a light worker and HSP i notice the little things about people and when i see that i have healed someone it makes me feel so happy. that being said when a light worker is in the middle of trying to heal someone it is one of the most mentally damaging things that a light worker can do to themselves. we internalize peoples feelings and issues and make them our own issues and feelings. in the end tammy your story inspired me to write this huge comment. having empathic abilities is blessing and i cant thank the universe enough for giving this to me. every HSP, Light Worker or Empath should know that we are powerful and strong. we fight for whats right and the worlds givers and nurturers need to be recognized. we don’t fight with weapons, but we kill em with kindness <3
You’re not alone on your journey Tammy, I am both light worker and empath. We are here and we are getting ready to make a differenceI send this with unconditional love pure and positive intentions only. ♥️ Chin up my love WE ARE POWERFUL
My friend Keiisha is a lightworker.