Lapis, this article was excellent and reaffirming that it's no 'crime' to be sensitive nor to protect oneself from energy leaching vamps! Off hand, I can only think of a few people who don't drain me: my youngest daughter and one of my brothers. Everyone else completely saps me but I'm beginning to understand energy. Being empathic is a curse when you honestly do absorb everyone else's bad vibes and the reason you do, is that you are intuitive- A HEALER!! They KNOW IT, whether consciously or not, so they gravitate toward you like a magnet. They aren't necessarily 'evil' meaning bad, terrible, sick people at all. What they are is in need of help, and you're IT if you're within reach because being an empath, you cannot help giving off the love and reassurance that you inately know they need. You, on the other hand, are left bone dry- like a wilted flower.

So, now I get it. The author of the article mentions becoming grounded . . . by becoming centered with the earth . . . is that why I love playing in the dirt so much- via gardening? I love to get my hands in it and just absorb the energy from the earth, literally. Very therapeutic after a long day of being drained by those who lean on me to keep them up. My oldest daughter, who is 11, drains me terribly- so much so, that sometimes, I cannot be around her at all- have to physically remove myself from her presence. She likes to make me feel guilty and she's emotionally demanding beyond normal. Any suggestions how I can help her without getting so drained?

Again, thanks for your blog! I enjoy reading it.