Ginae McDonald connected with me through Facebook and
Twitter.  She asked me to respond to some questions which became her
blog entry.   You can check out the rest of her blog entries at
http://www.rsspad.com/DailySpirit.xml

I always enjoy interviewing a fellow Empath. As each life is unique, there is so much to learn. I am so grateful to find someone willing to share. Via Twitter, I have found a wonderful lady, a talented Empath, and a wonderful person in Sherry Dmytrewycz of Healing Gateway. I know that you will enjoy spending time with her.
How do you use your empathy on a day-to-day basis?
I use my Empathy in my energy healing work to let me know where the
problem areas are in the body and the emotional blockages and charges
that need to be released. I have learned to distinguish when an issue
in a joint is due to misalignment, inflammation, fear of moving
forward, or something else.
On a day-to-day basis, I use my empathy to get a sense of which
people may be energy vampires or just have a lot of negative energy in
their fields. It also helps me to know when it may be time to leave or
avoid an area.
In my travels, I have gone to some high-energy places in Egypt,
Mexico, Peru, and places like Sedona, Arizona. My sensitivity to
energies has helped me to tune into spiritual beings that may be
guardians of the area. In addition, I can distinguish whether the place
is good for clearing the heart chakra or another chakra. I am often led
to specific spots to spend time and receive the gift of the energies in
that location.
What advice would you have for someone who's only recently realized that they are an Empath?
I would definitely recommend that an Empath know how to ground
themselves to run off their stress and know how to cut their cords on a
daily basis.
Elaboration on cords: We have an energetic cord to everyone that we
have a relationship with everyone that we spend time with on a regular
basis and people we make please for our sympathy. We have all been
around someone that we can't wait to get away from. That person is an
energy sucker.
No one has a right to use your energy for their lessons and you need
all of your energy to handle your own lessons in life. Therefore, it is
a good idea to cut your cords every night so no one is sucking your
energy while your body is being refreshed.
Ask to be covered in the blue light protection of God. Call on
Archangel Michael to swing his flaming golden sword severing the cords
of all those you are attached to. I visualize the sword coming down in
front of my body, under my feet and up the back. Then I move it over
and repeat until I have gone completely around my body.I was initially very skeptical about this and reluctant to cut
cords, especially with my children, but I found that they became more
responsible within a short period of time.)
They must also know enough to ask Spirit ("If it is not mine take it
away”), learn how to turn it off so that they are not intruding in the
space of another and doing readings without permission, learn to ask
for a shield to avoid picking up negative energies from others, and
learn how to clear negative energies from your field.
Do you have an example of an instance when someone close to you
started opening up (spiritually) because of being closer (emotionally
or physically) to you?
Often after talking to a new, prospective client, they will comment about how much better they feel just talking to me.
A family member happened to be in the room while I was doing some
healing work on another family member. They suddenly realized how much
they could feel that was coming up for release in the person receiving
the healing. They left the room to stop the feeling.
Some of my clients have found that their hands suddenly opened up
and they began sending energy and some even began seeing images and
were more aware of the shifts in their body.
Please, tell me about one of your more awesome spiritual experiences.
I have a friend who is very bubbly and excited about everything.
Several years ago she talked me into taking a class, The Order of
Melchizedek. When I arrived at the class and looked at the handouts, I
realized that this was a class for those who were or intended to be
healers.
Despite several psychics telling me that I was to be a healer, I
didn't feel like it was something for me to do. I really wanted to
leave, but the teacher must have realized my fear and asked me to hand
out materials to those who came in after me.
So not wanting to say no and bolt out the door, I agreed. During the
class time, I did a Spiritual shift and realized that I wanted to be a
healer. I said to Spirit that if I was supposed to be a healer I needed
a teacher. Within less than 48 hours a flyer advertising classes
arrived in my mailbox. Thus began my journey doing healing work.
Taken from the blog of Ginae McDonald   http://www.rsspad.com/DailySpirit.xml