Difference between being an empath and being a psychic medium

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.

1. Feeling others emotions as if they were your own
2. Overwhelmed in public places
3. Watching violence, cruelty or tragedy on the TV is unbearable
4. You know when someone is not being honest
5. Digestive disorders and lower back problems
6. Always looking out for the underdog
7. Others will want to offload their problems on you, even strangers
8. Constant fatigue
9. Addictive personality
10. Drawn to healing, holistic therapies and all things metaphysical
11. Creative
12. Love of nature and animals
13. Need for solitude
14. Gets bored or distracted easily if not stimulated
15. Finds it impossible to do things they don’t enjoy
16. Strives for the truth
17. Always looking for the answers and knowledge
18. Likes adventure, freedom and travel
19. Abhors clutter
20. Loves to daydream
21. Finds routine, rules or control, imprisoning
22. Prone to carry weight without necessarily overeating
23. Excellent listener
24. Intolerance to narcissism
25. The ability to feel the days of the week
26. Will not choose to buy antiques, vintage or second-hand
27. Sense the energy of food
28. 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 Psychic or Medium. As I stated earlier, there are some similarities, but the attempt to categorize an empath as simply a psychic or medium is wrong. Not all empaths are psychic mediums and not all psychic mediums are empaths.
But, yes, it is quite possible to be both!

Traits of being a psychic

1. Sensitive to noise, the taste of foods, smells/odors, certain colors or color combinations, or touch.
2. Don’t like to be over stimulated. Can be easily overwhelmed (crowds, noise, etc).
3. Allergies and upper respiratory problems.
4. Don’t like to be around electrical equipment. Light bulbs go off around you.
5. Don’t like to be in crowds.
6. Slow to connect with others, particularly in childhood. You tend to participate in group activities only after getting to know the people, the environment, and the dynamics.
7. When you enter a room, you usually check out the feel of the atmosphere and people.
8. Refuse to go near a particular person, room, or building, particularly in childhood
9. Feel the emotions of others as if these emotions were your own; feel responsible for others’ emotions. May overreact, particularly as a child. You have a greater need to resolve emotional conflicts because of this sensitivity towards others’ emotions. It’s more difficult for you to let go of emotions (yours and others). May cry easily.
10. Don’t like conflict. Have a strong sense of justice and unfairness. You want to “right” wrongs.
11. You seem to read family/friend’s mind. You know what others want before they ask.
12. Aware that something is happening to a family member or close friend.
13. Seem to know when someone is ill.
14. When you are alone in a room, you feel it is full or you have the feeling of spirits being in the room. Feelings of being watched that is not about a mental disorder.
15. You know the personalities of deceased family members you have never known. As a child, recognize deceased family members in photographs.
16. Take on the mannerisms and speech of other people.
17. Animals and young children follow you or want to be around you.
18. See/feel energy in a room, in your hands, around others (even if not colorful as in auras).
19. Active dream life with vivid colors; flying dreams; fall out of bed a lot as a child; premonition dreams; aware that you are dreaming.
20. Talk with and/or feel Nature, particularly in childhood.
21. Objects move around you, particularly in childhood.
22. Had an “imaginary” friend or animal in childhood.
23. As a child, fear of the dark or “a boogey man” in your room at night.
24. Talked about a past life as a child.
25. Artistic, creative, imaginative.
26. Think outside the box.
27. Hear someone calling your name, but no one is (in our reality).
28. Good sense of direction.
29. Experiences of déjà-vu.
30. Family members exhibit intuitive or psychic abilities.

It is wrong to lump everything together. It’s even wrong to lump psychic and medium together but for purposes of this blog, I did.

Quickly, tho, here are the differences between being a psychic and being a medium that is easy to understand.

“Psychics are people who say they have multiple supernatural talents, such as the ability to peer into a crystal ball to see the future or discern your fate with a deck of tarot cards. Through precognitive powers, psychics claim to be clairvoyants — people who see the past, present and future. They typically answer questions and offer advice to clients about stuff like health, money and love. Some psychics even assert they’re telekinetic — able to move objects with their minds — and others maintain they can set people or objects on fire using only their thoughts.

“Mediums are different from psychics in that their claim to fame is communicating with the deceased, or spanning the physical and spiritual worlds. Famous mediums, like John Edward and Allison DuBois, appear on television shows and write bestselling books about their abilities to communicate with the dead, and these types of seers are generally seen in a positive light by the public. Some critics argue that mediums are more popular than psychics due to mediums’ tendency to possess a higher level of perceived credibility. This may be because mediums generally receive more favorable attention in the press.”

from Mediums vs. Psychics: Is there a Difference?