[Editor's note: This letter was excerpted from one in a series of messages on the Internest concerning empaths.]

...I am an empath first with limited telepathic abilities. Empathy is only feelings, not thoughts. I can see people's sight. I know what they have seen, and what they have done (sometimes.) I do understand where you're coming from with the empathy problems.

Now I know shielding, and it works for the telepathic part blocking out the sounds, the ideas. But it never blocks out the empathy stuff. I don't know why. I can feel for you with your problem of not knowing which emotions are real. I too have become so used to feeling the emotions that I have a bitch of a time understanding if they are mine, theirs or a remnant of one that I have touched a minute or a hour ago. I wish I could be of help. if you ever find out an answer for this please, oh please, let me know.

By the way when I was at my first (and only so far) CAW meeting in Ohio it was the only time I felt completely at ease with everyone's emotions. Oh their was sadness, for a man I never met and I wept with them, the feeling of loss as deep in my heart as the pain they felt (the bitch of being empathic.) But afterwards when people were feeling joy and happiness.. the feeling of community.. it was the only time in my life when I totally let the gates open.

I wish to thank Spirit Weavers Nest openly here. Thank you. I can still feel it when I look back. It was a true pleasure. One I hope to enjoy again someday, somewhere.