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feelings, and spirits. There are two types of energy, however—physical and subtle. The distinction is crucial to comprehending empathy. Physically, empathy is managed through hardwired neurons and a complex interaction of biochemicals. Our psychological profile, which is mainly body-based, enables us to send, receive, and interpret empathically delivered information. On the other hand, subtle information—also called psychic, spiritual, mystical, and intuitive data— comprises the bulk of the information we emanate and take in empathically. In other words, empathy produces concrete results but mainly occurs through the exchange of unseen information. Accessing and interpreting empathically- based information can obviously be very useful. I already suggested a few gains in the first paragraph of this article. We can attune to another's physical conditions and maybe even the causes of their presenting symptoms; relate to repressed feelings and emotions; pick up on the beliefs creating problematic issues; and even attune to negative spiritual energies, which could create invisible influences. But there are three possible subtle energy problems that could also muddle the waters. Under-Empathy One empathic challenge is under- empathy. Some individuals aren't able to fully activate or employ their empathic circuitry. The "under-empathic" are often quietly and sadly left outside the circle of love. Others twist their empathic skills to get what they want from others. This is true of narcissists, sociopaths, and Machiavellian personalities. There are also those on the other side of the coin: the victims of deceit, the individuals whose empathic aptitudes can be manipulated. Too often, they end up indulging others' needs and ignoring their own. Over-Empathy The empathic drawback that healers are most vulnerable to is over-empathy. When I was a child, I was so completely attuned to others' physical conditions, emotional entanglements, and hidden beliefs, that I was a wreck. I couldn't tell whether I was catching the flu or over-identifying with an ill sister. I didn't know whether a bout of sadness reflected my personal feelings or belonged to my mother. I flayed around in confusion if I sensed that a teacher was lying or that a relative was prejudiced. Why did no one else seem to notice? And worse, I was afflicted with an even more unusual empathic conundrum. I was overly conscious of the unseen universe. Spirit Empathy To me, shadowy entities, angels, and the deceased were as animate as the living. Sorting the supernatural from the natural was an exhausting process. Bottom line, it can be as harmful and isolating to be too "tuned in" as it is to be overly "tuned out." EMPATHIC STYLES: OVERVIEW You too might be over-aware of what is occurring in a client. The key to being safe—without totally closing down the empathic gift—is twofold. It's vital to understand the four basic types of empathy and also learn how to establish empathic boundaries. After I outline this information, I'll give you tips for tapping into these four empathic styles during a session. Physical Empathy The ability to sense what is occurring in another's body, including relating to illnesses, aches and pains, and all other types of unpleasant and pleasant sensations, is physical empathy. This capability is what allows you to sense in your own body what is happening in your client's body. Emotional Empathy The capacity to feel others' feelings as if they are our own is emotional empathy. During a session, we might be struck with any of the five feeling constellations, which are fear, sadness, disgust, happiness, or anger. During a bodywork session, these most frequently strike us when we are touching a client's bodily area of tension or pain. If we don't have a reason to feel that emotion, it is most likely our client's, and could be causal to the physical challenge. Mental Empathy An aptitude for cluing into another's thoughts and perceptions is mental empathy, as well as plugging into the "Universal Mind," a gigantic mesh of knowledge. For a client, you might unexpectedly become aware of their motive for an activity or a dysfunctional belief underlying their causal issue. Sometimes an actual thought will jump into our heads; other times, we get a "gut sense." Spiritual Empathy Spiritual empathy is the talent for relating to beings in the spiritual realms, including the deceased, entities, angels, and even a Higher Power by whatever name works for you—as well as the spiritual essence within all living beings. N e w ! A B M P P o c k e t P a t h o l o g y a t w w w. a b m p . c o m / a b m p - p o c k e t - p a t h o l o g y - a p p . 91