#darkkres

the unbearable heaviness of the earth

the dirt, the stone, the water

all on the tops of your shoulders

have you ever felt the orbit of the moon?

the craters’ emptiness

that fills as you take a sip of the stars

have you ever seen the beauty of the universe?

the energy of life that showers in meteors

the delicate strength of the sun’s unseen rays

the ground we devour with our hands

but yet... the most beautiful piece of the puzzle

grows and lives among us, inside of us

This a follow up to my last post! Here are some self-care tips that work for me and I hope maybe they’ll work for you too! 

1. Find some source of water. This is one of the first things that I do when I feel overwhelmed. I either go swimming (if it’s summer or maybe find an indoor pool), take a shower or bath, or drink a lot a lot a lot of water. Water is healing. Something about the feel and sound of water can be incredibly calming and soothing.

2. Listen to music without words. Although music can cause feelings even without words, I find that it’s usually better for when I’m overwhelmed. Words can become chaotic and we tie certain meanings with certain words and lyrics so why not get rid of them for a bit? I really suggest the artist “Sleeping at Last” when it comes to songs like these.

3. Writing writing writing. Write out your feelings daily. It doesn’t matter if you’re a good writer or not. Writing is a way to release your feelings in a healthy way. I know for me sometimes when I’m feeling overwhelmed I just need to rant or vent but I don’t want to talk to anyone so that’s where writing comes into play.

4. Talk a walk or a drive. This is a good way to spend some time with yourself and to collect your thoughts. When I go on walks I like to enjoy my surroundings and take deep breaths. Clear your mind as much as possible. Let walking or driving by yourself be a way of meditation.

5. Do something that makes you feel good about your physical appearance. Yes, physical appearance is not everything but I find that painting my nails, doing my makeup, or styling my hair in a different way can really boost my confidence. And a confidence boost can definitely create a better mood.

6. Spend some time learning something new. Teaching yourself something new is a great way to shift your focus onto something other than feelings and emotions. Pick up an instrument, learn a new language, or try out a new recipe. I’m currently teaching myself Polish and I find that it clears my mind (even when it becomes frustrating) and keeps me occupied for awhile.

7. Animals!! Animals are the best healers in my opinion. If you don’t have any pets maybe go to a pet store and pet all the dogs. Best advice I can give.

8. Try some sort of physical activity. It doesn’t have to be intense cardio and hardcore weightlifting. I usually stick to yoga. But if you would like something a bit more active try signing up for a fitness class. I’ve tried kickboxing and loved it. I know cycling is a big thing now. Working out is a great way to feel better inside and out.

9. Watch something funny. So if you’re like me and you’re not big on comedy, I highly suggest digging a bit deeper to figure out something that does make you laugh. Laughing is good for all sorts of reasons. Maybe a comedy show, a podcast, or youtube videos. I’m currently in love with Jenna Marbles and Julien Solomita and I watch their videos and podcast regularly. Find a reason to laugh even when you’re at your lowest, it’ll help tremendously.

10. The last and probably the most important tip. Take care of your basic human needs!! This gets neglected so often and even I am guilty of this. Take your medicine, eat regularly, and stay hydrated!! Basic needs are the most important needs so please please please take care of yourself.

with love,

a grin made for war

and eyes flecked with ash

Empaths are known to be good listeners. They are known to be understanding and selfless and sensitive. But as an empath, I feel as though this isn’t always the case. Someone I know has recently made a post about how “everyone who says they are an empath are selfish”. I won’t sit here are say we aren’t selfish because we are human and humans definitely have selfish tendencies but it got me thinking…

Empaths take on energies from all around them. People’s energies, earth’s energies, maybe even the energies of the universe. We feel things on a different level and most of us don’t know how to control it. When someone close to me first told me that I was an empath, it all made sense but that still didn’t help me understand how to control what I was feeling. It takes a lot of time to learn how to control all that we feel, sometimes years and sometimes our entire lives. Feeling things so intensely isn’t easy.

I know as an empath that I want to help all the people I can who are trying to understand their own feelings. I want to use my ability for good and to help those who need guidance but it can get really overwhelming especially if self-care isn’t being properly practiced.

For my entire childhood I dealt with a lot of family issues and issues with myself and I know I was not taking the correct steps to show myself the love and the care I needed. Without these critical steps, I became someone who was really selfish and someone who talked only about themselves and ignored everyone around me who needed help. I became this person because I didn’t want to take on everyone’s energies and emotions when I couldn’t handle my own. Honestly, I became a monster.

As I’ve gotten older I’m now starting to understand that to keep my abilities positive and under control that I need to start with myself. Everyone, even empaths, need to start with themselves. Our ability is within us and if we can’t control us then we can’t control our ability.

So to all my lovely fellow empaths (and everyone honestly), please take care of yourself. The love you show yourself will only help you grow. Take a day each week to recharge and process all the emotions you are feeling. I’m thinking of making a list of Empath Self Care Tips so if any of you would like to see that let me know!

With love,