Exploring empathy in Wicked Hunt

Before we talk about empathy, we need to know the difference between feelings and emotions: individuals experience feelings consciously, while emotions can manifest either consciously or subconsciously. 

So, what’s empathy? According to Merriam-Webster, empathy is “the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another.” [1]

However, I have a slightly different perspective. To me, empathy centers on feelings and emotions, in contrast to telepathy, which focuses on thoughts. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 has a scene that shows this difference perfectly:

Mantis: If I touch someone, I can feel their feelings.
Star-Lord: You read minds?
Mantis: No, telepaths know thoughts. Empaths feel feelings… emotions.

Natural or psychic empathy

Empathy is a fundamental aspect of human interaction that exists in two primary forms. Aside from sociopaths and psychopaths, natural empathy is a ubiquitous trait among humans. We’re wired to pick up on our feelings and the feelings of those around us. Psychic empaths consciously use their ability to connect with others on a deeper level. It involves a deliberate and conscious use of this innate empathy to form profound connections with individuals.

At its core, empathy is the aptitude to sense, recognize, perceive, and directly experience the emotions and feelings of others. For psychic empaths, it extends to influencing or, in a negative context, manipulating these emotions. A powerful psychic empath can even channel their own emotions onto others.

Aura reading

In various spiritual beliefs, it is held that every individual possesses an aura—an intangible, subtle glow surrounding the body that mirrors one's life energy. The term has roots in Latin and ancient Greek and translates to wind, breeze, or breath.

Also known as the auric field, radiance, or etheric body, the aura describes the flow of energy or electromagnetic field that envelops people, animals, and even objects. This halo of light, composed of several layers of different colors, reflects an individual’s life force, feelings, emotions, and character traits.

Each person possesses a unique and relatively stable aura. However, auras can undergo alterations based on an individual’s emotional and physical well-being. Illness or trauma can transform a person’s aura.

Nathaniel Colt’s empathy

As a psychic empath, Nathaniel Colt can perceive the emotional states of others through their non-visual, non-verbal cues. He can see people's auras and energy fields, so he knows what they’re feeling. To do this, the former special agent has undergone intense training to hone his ability to detect subtle shifts in people’s energy.

Colt’s abilities go beyond merely perceiving auras. He can also pick up “vibes”, the visible representation of a being’s current feelings and emotions. The colors within the aura convey an individual’s thoughts, intentions, and desires at that moment.

His empathy is an active ability that subjects him to a constant influx of foreign emotions and feelings. To prevent being overwhelmed by this tidal wave of energies and to avoid perpetual exhaustion, Colt has mastered several techniques to safeguard his well-being.

Centering, shielding, grounding, cleansing

Nathaniel’s empathy is not a passive gift—it's an active ability that subjects him to a constant influx of foreign emotions and feelings. To prevent being overwhelmed by this tidal wave of energies and to avoid perpetual exhaustion, Nate has mastered several techniques to safeguard himself and maintain his well-being.

• Centering: The bedrock of his energy management, centering involves breathing techniques to draw external energy into himself and to uphold a balance within.
• Grounding: To rid himself of any excess stored energy, Colt practices grounding. Instead of internalizing the energy, he consciously expels it to remain in control.
• Shielding: An essential defense mechanism, shielding manifests as an energy barrier or mental shield that encircles Colt. Comparable to protective shields on sci-fi spaceships, this barrier shields him from the deluge of external energies.
• Cleansing: Even with his shield active, Colt continuously absorbs vibrational energies from his surroundings. Hence, he regularly cleanses himself of these foreign energies.

Recognizing the connection between physical and mental health, Colt exercises regularly to fortify his mental defenses. Despite these efforts, nothing restores him quite like spending time in nature. Thus, he and his loyal Rottweiler companion, Jackson, spend most time outdoors and away from other people.

_{[1] Merriam-Webster. Empathy. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Empathy}

Buy Wicked Hunt

In Wicked Hunt, empath Nathaniel Colt is thrust back into the world he thought he’d left behind—a world of danger and violence. In this edge-of-your-seat paranormal suspense thriller, every second counts and no one is safe.

If you enjoy stories with a psychic investigator, serial killers, and an insolent dog, then you will love The Empath Series.