Why are you here? The story behind the Empath Community...

[Elise Lebeau]

If you're relatively new to our Empath Community, you probably don't know that this web site was created at the request of my Spirit Guide, Ted. It came through as such a profoundly powerful urge that I cried my eyes out when I finally hit the switch and turned the site on.

But, because I could not see the whole path ahead of me, I started to feel how this was just a "drop in the bucket". I had suffered hell for years because I did not know what I was or what to do about it. And I felt that creating this unknown web site about an even less known situation, that of being an Empath, was likely to end up a waste of time, with me and maybe a couple of other people who had found it by accident.

But Ted insisted. Which surprised me because he never pushes me. So I figured this was important and kept coming back in the forums, even though I was mostly talking to myself...I religiously answered every post, sharing whatever information I had gathered about being an Empath.

I never publicized it. I never expected much from it. I was basically following instructions that this was, somehow, needed.

But people did find this place... And they mostly all had the same questions: What is this? How I can stop hurting from it? What can I do with it?

So Ted stepped in again and requested that I write the Empath Resource page and Survival Program (both of which you can find on the Resource tab).

I won't lie to you, this was not an easy process for me. I am a working mom with 2 jobs. So this was all happening at night when my son was asleep, during the 2 hours of consciousness I had before crashing into bed.

And yet when I look around here, I can see that something is happening.
I get several emails a week from people who's lives have been permanently changed for the better because of this community and the Empath Survival Program.

So I would like to join Ted in thanking you for being here.
This place would not exist without you.

Thank you to our new members who are probably confused and suffering. Your question allows us to share what we know and, in this very process, we all grow and learn. Thank you also for reaching out to other new members, so that they may feel welcomed here.

Thank you to the "veterans" who have been around for a while and who keep coming back to share their knowledge, support and challenges. You are the pillars of our community and I am profoundly grateful for your desire and ability to contribute selflessly to the well being of our fellow Empaths.

Being an Empath is not always pretty. It's not all rainbows and lollipops. But we all do our best to navigate these tumultuous waters while holding on to each other. Thank you for being that "other".

in amazingly love for every Empath in our community,
Elise & Ted

[Michael]

Thank you for starting all of this, I can't tell you how amazing it was to find somewhere to go to be myself.

-M

[KojaK]

Wow... That is amazing...

You know, when I found this site, I was just curious. I had no clue on how it would affect my life to be a member of this community.

And when I was about to leave, when I thought that this community had no answers for me, I was just drawn back to it. The very next day, I flipped on my computer, and had this urge to go back to the chat room. And I followed the urge and found you and Misu, Heph and Kitty, Ish and all the other people that helped and answered my questions. And then I realised, that this site does have answers for me. Many answers to things I wouldn't have dreamed of asking!

So Elise, it is YOU I thank.

~An actually happy rant from KojaK... I KNOW!

[Elise Lebeau]

OMG, I am in shock! A happy good short of shock LOL!
Thanks K, it means a lot to me.
in love,
Elise

[keer]

"And when I was about to leave, when I thought that this community had no answers for me, I was just drawn back to it."

so was i. it's interesting because im usually really good at quitting things, but this site drew me in. thank you so much elise! all i did was read one page of the survival program and... well it was just what i needed.

[Elise Lebeau]

Awwww, that is awesome!

I do want to mention that, in my experience, our site IS transitional for most people. We are a sort of rehab clinic, so to speak, where Empaths come to figure out what is going on within. From there, your own inner call will take over and keep guiding you forward.

Either way, we're always open and we intend to be here for as long as it is needed :)

in love
ELise

[Crispy]

Up until I started coming here I thought empathy was just the reception of others's emotions.But now I realise there's much more to it than that...It's a part of our development process,a growth stage we all go through.It's the basis of virtually all psychic ablilties,things I always suspected I had but were never really verified for years...For so many years I struggled with who I was.I was a misfit,different,strange,and too many other names I would rather not mention.
But now,since I started to learn about what I really am,I am finally at peace with with myself.I struggled with abuse problems,mental problems,etc. like so many of us.Now I understand why I was so different...What I have is not a curse but a gift,handed down through my family for generations.And with the help of everyone here,I can now not only gain some control over the emotions I was constantly being affected by,but learn to use the gift I have been given.Thank you,Elise,for your wonderful site,and a special thanks to Angeleyes,who first told me about this place.The New Age is coming...We are the ones chosen to lead the way...

[Madison Jade]

Why am I here...thats an interesting story. I always knew I was different but wasn't really sure what it was. I had been having these feeling about a particular person that had been in my life and honestly though I was slipping into insanity. I put in a phrase on Google, and up comes a list the third one down was this room. I bypassed the first two and came straight here. That was last August. I was welcomed and imediately received wonderfully welcoming comments on my page. I started to learn and became overwhelmed and backed away. Only to return again and this time I am taking baby steps, slowly and cautiously. The "veterans" are absolutely amazing with their help. caring and sharing. I can't tell you how many times I have asked for help and there is always someone that will respond and a light goes on and my minds says..."oh yeah, that makes sense". I am sure they at a point have gotten sick of my posting.

I share a lot with people, maybe too much. I simply want to help people who were in the same position I was. I try not to give my opinion on something I have no training in. But I will often just post so someone doesnt feel as though they aren't getting a response and the loneliness would continue. I simply will often post to let them know they are being read.

Elise, I have told you this many times and I will reinterate it again here. I don't know what would have happened to me if you had not created this community and I hadn't been lead to come here. Thank you for all you have done, all the headaches you have gotten trying at times to keep peace and harmony. Also Misu deserves thanks as well for her deep posts...seems they come just as I am contemplating along the same lines.

Thank you all for being here for me. I belong to other communities and I rarely post if ever. This is my home, I feel safe and secure in the "arms of the angels" that are in this community.

Thank you Ted for pushing her I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Maddy

[Hephaestus]

smiles gently..I have come to this place by accident...not realizing what it was or why I felt the need to be here. All my life I gave and gave and gave taking only the pain, sorrow, fear, that many carried with them....I did not know why or how I did this...all i knew was that I had to...no matter how painfull it was to me.
Since coming here i have learned many things about myself, and those around me. I learned I was not some strange worthless thing. I found friends and people just like me...empaths. I learned to except me. Too except what gift I carry in me. Too still help those in need and who seek their own answers. To be that deep ear to listen and that soft shoulder to cry on. I have also found that my words reach out and touch so many and this pleases me for I think this is my greatest gift to share.

Elise. You and Misu and several others have taught me and guided me along my path. For this I am eternally greatful. For those who have heard my words and have taken comfort in them, I say...thank you as well. For you too have taught me things I did not understand nor realized. As I said once before...I live in three worlds...this one being one of them. I am greatful for all of you, new and veteran, young and old alike. May Our paths continue side by side...and when the Awakening comes...let us all join hands and say...we are ready for what comes.

Namaste

[Sayame Hyuuga]

I personally was looking up parapsychology things, such as pyrokinesis. :D By the way, you gotta try that sometime.
Back to the topic. A couple days before, I had found a forum that explained to me who I was, but i never bothered searching up the word empath on google. But while I was looking up parapsychology things, I had an urge to go to the links part of the site, and right there in big bold letters was this: EMPATH COMMUNITY
under all the other empath things. :D You best believe I was overjoyed.

Thank you Elise so much for making this site. It has changed my life greatly. Do you know how close I was from finally snapping from depression?
You literally saved my life. :D And I thank you and everyone else here for that.

[Tony Irwin]

That's an amazing story Sayame! I always find it thrilling to hear the success stories!

[Tony Irwin]

Thanks for posting this!

It's really fascinating to hear the history behind it - I've always been quite in awe at what you've accomplished here :-)

Also, personally, it's a good reminder for me what the focus of the site is about. A good benchmark for monitoring my activity here. As I build up my own support network of empath friends and allies I don't need to create a big dramatic thread in the main forum for every little thought that goes through my head any more LOL! There's people I can turn to and say "Hey - I've been thinking about this recently - give me your thoughts on this..." Maybe being slightly less dramatic and high-maintenance is a sign of growth for me? LOL. We'll see!

Thanks again - I really enjoyed hearing the story behind it all.

[moon]

I come from a long line of people with special abilities. Bonds that tie me to the ancestors and I can usually ask them for answers. But even with those abilities, I had hit a low. I had gone through a difficult time and I felt I was caught in a maelstrom. Three deaths within 2 months in my husband’s family and dealing with the incredible grief coming from them as well as my own - and then dealing with an unbalanced person at work proved to be too much for me. I was about to explode. I found Elise’s survival program and it made me realize I was being overwhelmed by other’s emotions – they weren’t ALL mine, they were outside of me. That may sound strange – with my background I should have known it all along! But this empathy thing is new to me. If not for your survival program, I don’t know what would have happened.

So thank you very much.