Rev. Stephanie Red Feather - The Evolutionary Empath: A Practical Guide for Heart-Centered Consciousness

To my eight-year-old self and empaths everywhere

THE EVOLUTIONARY
EMPATH

You are not crazy... but youre not normal either, the words that open chapter 1 of The Evolutionary Empath, capture the theme of this wonderful book. Rev. Stephanie Red Feather grew up with the vulnerabilities and trials of one who is exceedingly sensitive and attuned to other dimensions. The wisdom and guidance she offers is hard-won and will help illuminate the paths of many who are similarly challenged as well as gifted.

DONNA EDEN, AUTHOR OF ENERGY MEDICINE

All sentience is deeply empathic in nature.... In the shamanic traditions of Peruinto which Stephanie Red Feather was first initiated in 2005the virtue of empathy and the ability to love unconditionally are inextricably connected. This lived experience of embodied empathy sustained by selfless love for all our relations has been given brilliant expression throughout the wisely crafted pages of The Evolutionary Empath. Aside from poignantly addressing the species-wide evolutionary imperative behind humankinds current process of spiritual ascension, Red Feather offers readers an extremely practical and long overdue empathy-based methodology capable of transforming all separation into wholeness, uniting the personal with the transpersonal, and consciously choosing love over fear. I highly recommend it!

DON OSCAR MIRO-QUESADA, ORIGINATOR OF PACHAKUTI MESA TRADITION CROSS-CULTURAL SHAMANISM AND FOUNDER OF THE HEART OF THE HEALER (THOTH)

Rev. Stephanie Red Feathers The Evolutionary Empath is a gift of true medicine to us all. There are a great many of us who have never felt normal but have also felt like we are part of a greater paradigm shift of consciousness currently in play. At last we have a guidebook that not only provides conceptual insight into the empathic spirit but also outlines practical steps for managing energy, establishing healthy boundaries, and using ones own inherent gifts to uncover the true self. Rev. Red Feathers book is both smart and warmhearted, erudite and clear. The Evolutionary Empath is a navigation tool that, if utilized by anyone interested in evolving consciousness, brings hope to a humanity in desperate need of guidance. Having been in ceremony with Rev. Red Feather myself, I can truly say her actions match her words with a tranquil integrity.

DANIEL MOLER, AUTHOR OF SHAMANIC QABALAH: A MYSTICAL PATH TO UNITING THE TREE OF LIFE & THE GREAT WORK AND SANCTIONED TEACHER OF THE PACHAKUTI MESA TRADITION

In the past we empaths were on our own, sorting through our wild and weird experiences, feelings, and knowings and carefully avoiding being locked up or labeled crazy. Today, we have Rev. Stephanie Red Feathers excellent guidebook, The Evolutionary Empath. She covers the full spectrum of things you need to know to survive and thrive as a highly sensitive empath. This includes the important topics of energetic hygiene, healthy boundary setting, good selfcare, and grounding. A practical guide for you or for the empaths in your life.

LION GOODMAN, PCC, CREATOR OF THE CLEAR BELIEFS METHOD AND COAUTHOR OF CREATING ON PURPOSE

Acknowledgments

To my beloved, Joseph, words cannot convey my gratitude. You have been my rock, my unwavering support, my grounding rod. This book would not have been possible without the space you created and the belief you held in who I am and what I am here to do. Your attention to the practical allowed me to purposefully journey through the multiple dimensions and realms of spirit where I could collect the experience, inspiration, and understanding necessary to coalesce into this book. You are a closet empath and I love you for your sensitivities and nurturing. My heart is at home in your loving care and tender devotion. I am rich because of you. I love you.

To Linda Star Wolf, my mentor and friend, thank you for your vision and your fire. Through your university, I was able to attain both of my advanced degrees, and this book became a reality as my doctoral project. Because of your belief in me and my sacred work, you introduced me to Inner Traditions Bear & Company, which was the key to this book becoming a published reality. The day I received word of its acceptance for publication was a trajectory-changing moment in my life. It is a rare gift when you know your life has metamorphosed the moment it happens. I heard the cogs of the Universe moving into place. Thank you for your Aquarian spirit and your genuine desire to lift others up and let them shine.

To my sister Leslie, thanks for being the epitome of my foundation. Through every aspect of my life you have been there, looking out for me and cheering me on. You have been the consistent voice of reason, love, compassion, and acceptance. Your presence in my life provides my home anchor. No matter where I adventure off to (physically or astrophysically!), you are the unfaltering family rock. I cherish your presence and support in my life.

To my most influential mentorsCarol Rydell, Gary Langston, Oscar Miro-Quesadaand all of those who were teachers and guides, thank you. I could not have moved through so much transformation with any modicum of grace without each of you.

To my family of originMom, Dad, and all of those alive and in spiritthank you for being my soul family, my co-journeyers. Everything that has happened to me has made me who I am, and you have each had a role to play in my making. Mom, I especially know how challenging it was raising an empath while being one yourself. Our souls have been on a very special journey this lifetime, and this book would not be possible without your belief in my free spirit. I will forever be your Black-Eyed Susan.

To all of my clients, students, friends, and peers, I send you my deepest gratitude for the ways in which you have contributed to my growth and created the experiences and foundation for this important work.

And last but not least, I thank my soul. Thank you for your guidance, wisdom, perspective, and encouragement, and for the magic you connect me to every single day.

Foreword

Linda Star Wolf, Ph.D.

If youve picked up this book, then perhaps you are a sensitive human being. While people from all cultures and all walks of life are capable of sensitivity, some of us have an additional dose of extrasensory energies. You may find yourself being highly sensitive or hyperaware of the world around you. You may experience sounds, sights, smells, tastes, and physical touch from a heightened and more concentrated perspective. Perhaps you are able to pick up on or feel into these different energies surrounding youespecially those of other people and their emotions. As one who was described as an overly sensitive child, I came to realize later on in life that my ultrasensitive nature was indeed not a mishap or curse bestowed upon me, but rather, these extrasensory abilities were my superpowersspecial gifts entrusted to me so that I could use them to help change the world and raise consciousness.

As a shamanic teacher seeking to bridge the ancient form of spirituality with the modern world of consciousness, Ive had the golden opportunity to meet and support many highly sensitive and/or extrasensory individuals, or empaths, on their healing and transformational journeys to greater embodiment. Through my own personal journey, and through my work as an addictions counselor, shamanic teacher, and psychospiritual guide, Ive come to realize that being sensitive, or empathic, is completely natural. By sensitive we mean in tune with the shared connection to the world around us. From my perspective, having this connection and being able to access it regularly does not just make us sensitive; it makes us shamanic!