11 Types Of Empaths & How To Know Which You Are | Brittney Lindstrom

An empath feels what the other is feeling based on the energy and vibes others give off.

According to psychiatrist, empath, and intuitive healer Dr. Judith Orloff, "The trademark of an empath is feeling and absorbing other people’s emotions and/or physical symptoms because of their high sensitivities."

There are different types of empaths, and each relates to the world in a unique way. Depending on the type of empath you are, you may be extra sensitive to certain types of people and situations.

While some believer there are six or eight types of empaths, there are actually 11 total. Each type has some unique ability in communicating or reading something or someone, depending on the type of empath you are.

Certain traits are relatively universal among empaths. Most have heightened or high sensitivity and emotional reactions to things, people, or situations. This reaction and sensitivity are above what is considered the "norm," depending on the circumstances and context.

Some are more powerful than others. The Heyoka empath is the most powerful of all the types, because this kind of empath is, essentially, an emotional mirror, and tend to be more spiritual than the others. They are also said to be able to read minds.

Can you be multiple types of empaths?

You may possess some traits that seem aligned to more than one type of empath, but you will likely show dominance in only one type.

After reading the descriptions of each type of empath below, you’ll be able to determine which type, if any, you are.

11 Types Of Empaths

1. Claircognizant/Intuitive Empath

Being a claircognizant or intuitive empath, you have the ability to know if and what needs to be done in a situation without any solid evidence or rationale behind it.

This type of empath has the ability to know whether or not they should do something depending on the context and circumstances. Claircognizant empaths are able to vibe off of the energy field of others and, in having that ability, they are able to read people very easily.

2. Psychometric Empath

The psychometric empath has the ability receive information and energy from objects, photographs, or locations that are significant to a person.

Psychometric empaths are also able to form impressions and relate situations or past events with inanimate objects. They are able to use the energy from a place or inanimate object to receive information and impressions about it.

3. Flora Empath

This type of empath possesses the ability to communicate with plants and receive their signals.

A flora empath, also known as a plant empath, can sense what plants need and can even communicate with plants on a more intimate level. They are able to use plants' energy to help plants stay alive, grow and prosper. If plants are in danger, the flora empath is able to communicate this with the plants.

4. Fauna Empath

This pertains to the ability to feel and the ability to communicate with animals. Fauna empaths, also called animal empaths, can send messages to animals as well.

Typically, communication is initiated by the empath and rarely by the animals. Those who hear these messages may realize that animals are requesting a change in the animal’s life.

5. Geomantic Empath

A geomantic empath has the ability to read signs and get signals from the soil or earth. This type of empath is especially sensitive to reading and feeling future natural disasters.

Geomantic empaths can detect when natural disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, are going to hit by the earth’s energy signals and changes in that energy.

6. Telepathic Empath

This type of empath is able to read another person’s thoughts and feelings, even when they aren’t vocalized or expressed by the person. This type of empath is able to use the five senses to read the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs of other people.

Telepathic empaths can also take objects and form impressions on feelings associated with the particular object.

7. Precognitive Empath

The precognitive empath holds the ability to feel a situation or event occur prior to it actually happening. This can be seen through dreams of extreme emotional and physical upheaval.

Precognitive empaths may experience a sudden sense of anxiety and nervousness and their intuition becomes intensified or heightened. This type of empath usually has heightened sensitivity.

8. Emotional Empath

Emotional empaths are able to read and feel the emotions of others.

While this is a common trait among empaths, in general, this type is especially sensitive to feeling and reading others' emotions without others having to explain what they are going through or why they are feeling a certain way.

9. Physical Empath

This type of empath has the ability to feel another person’s pain and symptoms within their own body. This type of empath is considered to be a medical empath.

Physically receptive empaths are able to feel another’s complaints and know the amount of physical pain or discomfort they are in.

10. Medium or Psychic Empath

The medium empath is able to communicate, hear, and see different spirits. They are able to communicate with those who are no longer with us.

At times, medium empaths are able to see spirits and communicate one-on-one with the spirit.

11. Heyoka Empath

The heyoka empath is the most powerful type of empath. Known in Native American culture as the "Sacred Clown," a heyoka tends to be unconventional in their thoughts and actions, and act as emotional mirrors for those around them.

The heyoka empaths' ability to make people question themselves promotes emotional healing in those around them.

Is it rare to be an empath?

It's extremely rare to be an empath. Research estimates that just 1-2 percent of the population possesses empath traits.

Empaths are known to tend to everyone else’s needs before their own and they have a tendency to experience emotional burnout more than others.

Empaths are thought to be very good listeners, and people often go to them with their problems. They are also considered to be good problem-solvers, as well as caring and nurturing individuals with special abilities to feel or read people or situations, depending on their type.

Empaths are also very receptive and perceptive to their environment and the energy that surrounds them.

These types of people will take on the world’s problems if they could and carry that burden around with them — they are more prone to depression and chronic fatigue due to their heightened emotional nature and inability to let others deal with their emotions on their own, with time.

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Brittney Lindstrom is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. Follow her on Twitter for more.