#empathy

If you think we can “agree to disagree” on theology so easily, I have to tell you about my old friend “Don.”

Don was a pastor who told me satan was using me. I was eager to believe Don because I didn’t want satan using me. In my impressionable young mind, I tried hard to get on his good side.

Don was the type of guy in constant lecture mode. Always condescending. But his theology only made that worse.

Here’s when I knew it was all wrong.

At the church Don was working at, a student took his own life. The lead pastor told the staff, “This is the biggest attack on our church from satan we’ve ever faced.” The student’s suicide was “spiritual warfare” against the church. Don believed that completely.

I still would’ve done anything for him. I did. I listened to Don lecture me for hours and trash talk every pastor in town and he confided in me his own deepest heartbreaks, though he never listened to mine. And even then, I was put on his list anyway: the list of people being used by satan. I feel a deep shame about all of it. Part of me still wonders, “Is Don right? Am I being used by satan?”

Don’s story of spiritual abuse is mild compared to so many stories I’ve heard over the years. My sad suspicion is that if it were not for his theology, we might still be friends.

I say that to say: Your theology matters.

If your theology demonizes others so much that even their suicide is called an attack from the devil, then hey: you are the devil. It’s you. You can go straight back to hell with that theology. Or throw it out and start over.

I know I’ve gotten it wrong too. But what I know is that if my faith ever compels me to erase someone’s dignity, then Scripture has become my weapon and not a mirror to check myself. It is a no longer a home for connecting with God, but a throne in my own image.

If your faith makes you a jerk, then what is it even for? If you harm others in the name of Jesus, in the end the only name you’re dragging is yours.

I believe that Scripture must move us to a theology of compassion, accountability, to be wildly kind. Otherwise it is not the life that Jesus had in mind. Christ is for the wounded. This is where I will be too.

— J.S.

It has been almost two years since we released new music, but we are happy to say that the wait is almost over! Next Wednesday, February 16th, we are pleased to announce the release of our brand new single, “How Do We Heal featuring Son LittleandBryce The Third. It is our first release with our brand new record label, Missing Piece Group, and we are excited to share this song with y’all!

Over the next few days, we’ll dive deeper into the inspiration behind the song, but until then we are pleased to share the artwork, designed by Lyndy Bazile(@Afroplump).

You can pre-save the song here:https://missingpiece.ffm.to/thesuffers-howdoweheal

Social media is a terrible place for explaining anything of importance, much less how a spiritual journey with years that had the heights of joy followed by a decade-plus of the most devastating loss and misery.

The pain has led me to a place of empathy and compassion I never knew was possible.

Empathy doesn’t happen by accident.

It requires painful and excruciating life experience coupled with the imagination of how things could be even worse for another person.

I’ve lost sleep over the past year from doing a deep dive into how white nationalism has infiltrated and come to rule in large segments of the American evangelical church. I don’t even pretend to know how much damage I did by accident.

The only way I’ve remained sane is by having a faith that has become more open-ended, more beautiful, and more compassionate than I ever knew was possible.

I am not quite as angry as I used to be, but what anger I still have is centered around those who are quick to attack and slow to listen. But, can I judge people for the same sins I used to bask in?

Oh well, back to working on the paper which is *checks watch* seven months overdue…

One of us used to really like that weird Japanese gore art. Don’t know what it’s called. But it usually has something kinda fucked up written on it. Whoever it was liked it because of the sick feeling it gave us. Then We stopped getting that feeling. Some of that art popped up on our dash and there it was! The same sick feeling. We are feeling alive again, some of us think. Empathy… None of us in front like that art btw. So We don’t know who it was. We don’t actually like the feeling it gives us. But We are happy to have empathy back. Like fully back.

allsadnshit:

CENTERING, SHIELDING & FILTERING.

Shielding and Filtering require visualization. If you find visualizing hard, I would suggest trying to “feel” things instead of “seeing” them. Almost like having the impression of something, if you can’t actually see it.

I suggest you always Center before any type of magical working.

CENTERING: is the practice of collecting together our energy. We collect it into a central point in our being from which we can direct and release it into the world.

To Center:
1.) Begin with a deep cleansing breath. (Good stuff in, bad stuff out.)
2.) Become aware of yourself. Notice that you are present where you are. (For me - I’m currently at the library, sitting in the back, typing this up for you. It’s not that deep, lol.)
3.) Locate the part of your being that feels like you. This is your center.
4.) Begin to breath in and out from your center. See/Feel your breath flow to and from that spot.
5.) Close your eyes and imagine your energy gathering in one spot. You’ll see it all over your body, then draw it into your core. It should gather in your center of your being as a ball.

This seems like a lot, but can be done within a matter of seconds once you get an idea of how to go about it.

(Side Note -  A good technique to growing in centering is to gather the energy into a ball and practice holding it there. Then when you’re ready, release the energy and allow it to redistribute.)

SHIELDING: The process of blocking out all external energies/emotions.

To Shield:
Imagine a sphere of light around you emanating an energy field that nothing can penetrate. Nothing will penetrate this shield. Instead, the energy will be deflected off like an arrow shot at a smooth, round dome. Nothing can get in, you are safe.

After you get this down, you will be able to throw your shield up instantly. This is not just for protecting yourself from emotions but from everything. I have my shield up when I drive or travel. If I have my shield up around others, they tend to leave me alone. It is powerful but not to be used as tool for isolating yourself from people and relationships. We are not meant to do life alone. This is for protection only.

FILTERING: The process of eliminating negativity by turning negative energy into positive energy before it comes to you.

To Filter:
Visualize that the sphere of light is made up of a substance like medical gauze. Only positive energy can travel freely into your sacred space. Anything negative is turned positive once it hits the surface of your sphere of light, adding to your energy and building your power. This technique is especially useful when someone is trying to manipulate or control you.This too can be done easily once you get it down.

for instance, you see the energy of your sphere (my shield) as a power that instantly neutralizes all harmful energy, turning it positive and allowing all that is good to pass through the barrier. This could filter out unwanted energies. For example, maybe you see your shield made up of your element. Surrounding yourself by fire, water, earth, & air is most certainly a way to protect yourself.

A HEALING AURA DRAWS ATTENTION
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF FIRST

When You Have A Naturally Healing Aura…
Your spiritual vibration and aura are completely connected.
Every living creature has auric energy that is impacted by your vibration. The state of your vibration can be tested in 4 simple ways.
Empaths have a naturally healing aura about them that attracts others.

1. LOOK AROUND YOUR SURROUNDINGS

What kind of things are going on? Is it a nice day outside? Is anyone angry? Are new doors being opened for you today? Your vibration creates your reality.
If you’re seeing more problems than anything else, you likely have a low vibration. If things are looking good, your vibration is higher.

2. ARE YOU SEEING REPEATING NUMBERS

Have you seen 11:11 on the clock a lot lately? Is your new pin number descending numbers? Do you see 999 or 666 or 333 often?
Noticing and being granted repeating numbers by the universe is a sign that you have a high vibration.

3. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR EMOTIONS

Check in with yourself throughout the day. How are you feeling? Tired? Sad? Sick? Angry? Happy? Healthy? Full of love?
Write down in a journal the way you feel at different points of the day and compare every day of the week. Positive thoughts mean a higher vibration and things are going well!
Negative thoughts likely make for a lower vibration.

4. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR BODY

Do you feel pretty strong or a little bit weak? Have you been sick or hurt a lot lately? Low vibrations may manifest physically as poor health.
Feeling alright means you’re vibration is pretty neutral. Feeling great indicates a high vibration.

Empaths are known to have a permeable aura, and this is why people’s energy can be so debilitating. But they are not the only ones. Anyone who is unhealthy or with emotional issues possess a weakened energy-field, which means their energy and emotions are also able to leak out.

If an Empath comes into close proximity with those who have a leaky aura, they will soak up anything leaked like a super-absorbent sponge. It may appear that strangers’ energy purposely infringes our own, but it is often an energetic merger.

If you are unhealthy, eat an unsuitable diet, take drugs or stimulants, drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, experience stress and have dark thoughts you will likely have a permeable aura. This means you pick the emotions and energy off others which then becomes etched within your energy-field. You are also affected by negative residual energy and other low frequency vibrations. The only way to heal the aura is by making some changes.

Experiencing overwhelm, after picking up a stranger’s emotional energy, often means the memory of it gets imprinted. Any future interactions, with unfamiliar energy, may cause something like an “energetic allergic reaction”. These reactions are draining and can leave us feeling well below par for hours or even days. If these responses become a common occurrence, following time spent in public places, it prevents us from fully participating in our own life. This is seen by avoidance of peopled areas and anything that involves social interaction.

By finding total balance of mind, body and spirit, it works something like an “energetic anti-histamine” for the Empath. A healthy body and mind results in a powerful aura and creates the Empath’s invisible armour.

A formidable aura empowers the Empath. It persuades other people’s energy to bounce off and is key to living a happier life.

We cannot expect our mind and spirit to be strong when we are putting something into the body that weakens it. Nor can we expect our body to be strong if we experience “Sensitivity stress”.

Sensitivity Stress

Empaths are Sensitive. Anyone who is Sensitive will experience overwhelming emotions, vivid thoughts, and they get hurt more easily than most. This can lead to Sensitivity stress which compromises the immune system… and eventually results in a damaged aura.

Sensitivity stress is endured by those who experience other people’s emotional pain and energy as an adverse reaction (feeling drained, experiencing negative emotion or becoming unwell), they also overreact to any emotional situation and are prone to having anxiety or panic attacks.

This type of stress is not caused by having deadlines to work to and a mammoth to-do-list (although they certainly won’t help), it is caused by having a Sensitive nature, being overly stimulated from external energy and/or having buried emotional pain. Just like normal stress, it damages the immune system and puts strain on the mind and body. This in turn leads to illness, rampant negative thoughts, and a weakened aura…

mooncrab91:

Rose Quartz: helps push away negativity, provides a bit of extra energy, excellent for grounding.

Black Tourmaline: protects from negative energy

Amethyst: helps to heighten and sharpen an empath’s intuition

Lepidolite: eases any anxieties empaths have when around other people. This crystal is well known for its power, peace, and its ability to promote luck, love, and sleep.

Malachite: removes emotional blockages and helps calm when you are in a stressful situation. Absorbs any negative feeling you might hold inside of you.

Amazonite: helps balance emotions.

Obsidian: repels negative energy, grounds you, and balances emotions.

Citrine: repels negative energy. Relieves depression and mood swings. Opens the mind to new thoughts, helps with dream recall, and increases self esteem.

onlinecounsellingcollege:

“A soul that carries empathy is a soul which has survived enormous pain.”

— Unknown