In this crazy world this is an important question and one I have been reflecting on for many years. Now that The Awakened Caterpillar Community for Sensitive Souls has now been formed, it felt right to put my thoughts and experiences down for the benefit of those who resonate. Sensitivity has an infinite variety of expressions in the human race and this article could not even begin to attempt to collect all the ways that a human can be sensitive. This will only reach the tip of the iceberg as a short introduction to what it means to be sensitive. There will be many more specific deep dive articles coming in the future.
Our world seems to favour those who are perceived as strong, tough and powerful. We live in a patriarchal society that champions traits such as competitiveness, grit and willpower. These can be very useful, if not vital, attributes to mankind, yet the balance in the world has tipped far too much in this direction. Too far to the point that intuition, creativity, sensitivity and divine feminine energy, for example, are seen as ‘lesser than’ and not something that is deeply essential and invaluable to humankind. It is this imbalance that is feeding wars, greed, famine, division and the destruction of our environment and ecosystems across this incredible planet. Those who are sensitive feel this deeply either consciously or unconsciously, which can be expressed in us physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually.
Sensitivity as a healthy response
Could it be that it is indeed those seen as ‘sensitive’ by society that are the most sane?
Sensitivities are often misunderstood by society, and many have been labelled by mainstream medicine as diseased or malfunctioning in some way. I am not a champion of the way sensitivity is pathologised in Western society, and I believe that most people, with the right support and environment, do not require the pharmacological interventions encouraged by Western medicine. Please do not take this as me encouraging those reading this to stop taking medication that has been prescribed to them. This is something that has to be reviewed with a health professional in a careful way and on a case-by-case basis.
Perhaps, however, the real ‘dis-eased’ and ‘insane’ among us in society are the numb, the dissociated, the avoidant – the desensitised among us. I believe human sensitivity is our natural, healthy guide to healing and to wholeness. It is our guidepost and route back to homeostasis for ourselves, our fellow humans and our beautiful planet, Mother Gaia. We simply need to respect and honour it while listening compassionately to its call.
An important note to make is that all humans are essentially sensitive, yet some seem to be much more so than others. I would say if you are reading this article, you are most likely one of those. My belief is that humans have been conditioned over countless generations to become desensitised to the world around them. It is this very desensitisation that is causing so much disharmony at both the individual and collective levels.
If you find yourself to be sensitive, it could well be that you are expressing a natural and healthy response to the environment you find yourself in.
What does being sensitive look like?
So, let’s explore what being a sensitive soul can look like for an individual. A good place to start is to describe some of the sensitivities I have experienced in my life, which I hope many readers will resonate with in some, or perhaps even all, areas. I will write a little about sensitivity from a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual perspective. These will highlight some of the challenges that sensitive people can face. Bear with me, as later in the article we will look at how these sensitivities can be harnessed as a vehicle for healing, peace, and transformation in our lives and those around us.
Physical
For me, I have a large number of physical sensitivities but here are some of them. I have significant food intolerances to gluten and high-histamine foods and anything highly processed. Like many sensitives out there, I have quite severe reactions to certain food additives such as MSG. I am extremely sensitive to all types of drugs, such as caffeine, alcohol and pharmaceuticals and avoid them all as much as possible. Most chemicals in common household products I find very harsh and have to take special care to minimise or eliminate them completely.
There is an unprecedented level of environmental toxins in our environment. I believe this toxic load can have an incredibly deep impact on the physical well-being of a sensitive person, especially. Therefore, being conscious of minimising these and eliminating triggers from my diet and environment is crucial for my well-being, along with my energy-healing and meditation practices.
Not doing so tends to lead to migraines and sinus issues, digestive issues, brain fog, fatigue, joint pain, anxiety, mood swings, irritability, skin rashes and immune system issues, among many other symptoms. These are just a few examples of my own physical sensitivities, but these could express themselves in countless other ways for other individuals.
Mental
In terms of mental sensitivity, the primary point to highlight is overstimulation from the environment, which is a common issue for many sensitives. Life has become so fast-paced. It can seem like there is no time to just be simply present. We get stuck in thoughts and chronically overthink about anything and everything, and all the demands of modern society. To make matters more challenging, many of us are surrounded by TVs, screens, electromagnetic energy, wifi signals, and 5G. These are all carrying and emitting vast amounts of information, which our brains and bodies have to process on one level or another. This is nothing short of exhausting and can often lead to stress and burnout for a sensitive person.
Also, social events or gatherings where people are engaged in small talk and conversations that are judgmental, critical, or otherwise overstimulating in some way exhaust me mentally. I can be quite introverted when dealing with the general public and social situations, and I take special care in who I spend my time and energy with. This is not due to a sense of superiority or anything like that; it is simply to protect my well-being. It can take a huge amount of energy for me to support myself in certain social environments, leaving me mentally exhausted. There are many great techniques I have learned over the years to help with this, and self-care and boundary-setting are absolutely crucial for me, at least.
Emotional
Sensitives tend to feel emotions very deeply. The highs and the lows. For me, I am very sensitive to the emotional states of the people around me. In a therapeutic environment, this is fine and actually a great blessing, as I can hold this space safely for another person, and I love doing so. The challenge can be dealing with the often unconscious emotional projections from the people you come into contact with in your everyday life.
Many sensitives identify as empaths, and this is an incredible blessing, but can also be an almighty challenge for those who have yet to learn how to deal with this in a healthy way. If an empath is left unsupported, they can be blown about by others’ emotions, often unconsciously, which can be deeply unsettling and lead to unstable, ungrounded states of being.
For myself, I have experienced severe anxiety with incredibly strong and, at times, terrifying panic attacks, with general anxiety, and this is a manifestation of overwhelm for me personally. These ungrounded states of being can manifest in a myriad of different ways: such as an array of different anxiety-related symptoms, depression and other mental health challenges, as well as physical, mental or even spiritual manifestations. I have been deeply affected, yet also deeply moved, by my empathetic sensitivities, and I have been on a steep learning curve to manage this blessing in a truly healthy way.
My meditative and energy-healing practices have been an essential part of this. I also believe a supportive, sensitive community around you can be extremely valuable. Sensitives are much stronger and wiser together and have the potential to be a powerful force for good in this world, driving transformation and growth for the benefit of our communities and the planet at large. This is a gentle call to action: the planet needs us to come together right now.
Spiritual
One of the greatest gifts to a sensitive person is their spiritual sensitivities. Sensitives are often more aware of the deeper patterns and order that goes beyond simply the material and physical world. This can manifest in many different ways, such as a deep connection to nature. For example, I have an affinity with trees. The joy I get when I see a sapling in a forest is indescribable. The beauty of nature and our environment can literally move me to tears, and being connected to it is essential to my well-being.
Music is often something I experience spiritually, and I totally see it as Plato described as a ‘gateway to the soul’. Also, animals: the deep connection I have with my dog, Barney, is divine and cannot be explained. I felt I knew him before we met; he is part of my soul-family, and I know he has come to teach me about unconditional love.
Then there is the connection to universal energy and divine wisdom, which I could talk about for hours, but this is for another article! Feeling connected to spirits, angels and guides is another sensitivity for many, but by no means all sensitives have an affinity for. We may see patterns in numbers or perceive synchronicities and signs from the universe in our everyday lives. Our sensitivities are unique and expressed in their own way, which makes them so beautiful and fascinating. It is like all sensitives have their own blueprint for potential expression in this lifetime, and this excites me immensely.
Spiritual Bypassing
It is important to note that in the spiritual realm, our state of being can become unbalanced. I have experienced and come to understand ‘spiritual bypassing’ as a very real and challenging phenomenon. In essence, it means that someone is focusing on the spiritual aspects of their life as an escape from their physical, mental or emotional life. This leads to being ungrounded, imbalanced and unembodied in many cases.
Neglecting our physical, mental, or emotional self can make existing issues more pronounced, as everything is connected. Neglecting any part of our being is neglecting the whole. We cannot heal and bring balance to a life where we are avoiding parts of ourselves. This is why being grounded, present, and embodied within our spiritual practices as sensitives is essential to our well-being and transformation.
Being sensitive brings many gifts, talents and abilities. Many sensitives are healers, therapists, intuitives, dancers, writers, storytellers, artists, musicians, conservationists, nature-lovers, teachers, carers…and so much more!
Creativity & Sensitivity
Creativity is the intended channel for our sensitivities so they can be expressed in this world.
Sensitivity is the gateway to creativity in all of its different forms and outlets. Creativity is the intended channel for our sensitivities so they can be expressed in this world. The suppression of our creative potential, in my opinion, leaves our sensitivities stuck, blocked, and stagnant in our system, which can lead to overwhelm, as discussed earlier in this article. Therefore, creative expression is crucial for a sensitive person navigating this challenging world. I recently heard there have even been studies that have found that creativity, or lack thereof, has a direct relationship to the perceived sense of wellbeing in a person.
Creative Meditation
This is where a creative practice of meditation and energy healing can be helpful. Some may be surprised to hear that meditation can be a creative process, but I wholeheartedly believe it is. The more creative and free the meditation and self-healing practice is for the individual, the more they will transform and benefit from the process. From my experience with Energy Healing Meditation Therapy, the freedom that comes from surrendering to the creative power of the universe can be a powerful catalyst for healing, change, growth and transformation on all levels of your being.
An analogy I like to give is that meditation and energy healing are like plugging yourself directly into the mains of source energy with infinite creative potential as its output. This is in contrast to being connected to a restricted power bank, with resistors in the circuit, which somehow limits your unbounded creative potential. It is when we are in the unlimited flow of source energy that creativity can truly flourish and be a natural home, respite, and resting ground for our sensitivities. It is in this flow that the greatest works of art and most profound discoveries have been made by humankind. Think Leonardo Da Vinci and Einstein!
We have a natural, infinitely powerful place to channel our sensitivities so that they do not cause stress, burnout, overwhelm, and the wide range of symptoms that can be associated with these. This is why I am now so very excited to be sharing this form of meditation with my clients and community. I believe becoming aware of our energetic selves, the underlying forces that make us who we are, is where true transformation lives and a direct connection to the unique and divine spark of creative potential that we all have within us.
Sensitivity and Energy Healing Meditation Therapy
Energy Healing Meditation Therapy is the perfect antidote to a sensitive person struggling to navigate this crazy world. It is a process of discovery which reconnects you to your energetic self and your divine purpose in life. It empowers you to express your sensitivities safely and creatively, helping you find more balance, clarity and meaning in your life.
This practice has literally saved my life and brought me to a place in my being that feels like home. Through the exploration of universal or source energy manifesting through our being as Divine Movement, Divine Sound and Vibration, Divine Vision, Divine Wisdom, Divine Hearing and Divine Presence, we surrender our normal everyday egoic struggles and fall back into a more fundamental state of being.
I am so excited to be able to share this practice with my clients and am now offering a 12-part training programme to help those who want to develop a rich, rewarding and transformational Energy Healing Meditation Therapy practice.
For more information, please visit this page on my website.
Love and Blessings,
Joseph 🦋
Author: Joseph Whyles, Founder of The Awakened Caterpillar
Joseph offers Energy Healing Meditation Therapy workshops and classes in Glastonbury along with running The Awakened Caterpillar Community for Sensitive Souls. He is also an experienced Reiki and Energy Healing Practitioner and Teacher and offers Energy Healing sessions in Glastonbury for his clients.
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