emotional awareness
Is Mirror-Touch Synesthesia Your Empath Superpower?
Science is catching up with the empath, literally.
Recently I came across a fascinating book titles Mirror Touch by Dr. Joel Salinas, a Harvard trained researcher and neurologist at Massachusetts General. It explores the phenomenon of mirror-touch synesthesia (MTS): a rare neurological trait that causes someone to feel the emotional and physical experiences of other people.
Synesthesia is “mixed perception,” or to blend the five senses. Science recognizes over 80 types of synesthesia.
Because of Dr. Salinas and other brave professionals, science is sitting up and taking notice and actually exploring the brain and how it functions in individuals with these traits.
Dr. Salinas uses his ability of feeling the emotional and physical pain of his patients to treat their symptoms, as if they were his own. The experience for him and others like him is challenging and draining.
Scientists now believe that MTS is linked to the neurons located in the brain responsible for transmitting electrical signals through our body.
These signals flow from the brain through the body and communicate what we are feeling and sensing. With MTS the neurons specifically are those linked to the premotor cortex. Interestingly, this is the part of our brain that is responsible for planning future action.
Why Love Feels Different Around Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is a romantic time of flowers and gifts, candlelit dinners, and declarations of love for many people.
But beyond the red hearts and love language gestures, many also feel a curious shift in their emotional state during this time. For many people love feels more intense, more revealing, or even more confusing this time of the year.
Why does this happen?
From a spiritual and astrological perspective, February carries unique energetic patterns that directly influence our emotional awareness and relationships. While Valentine’s Day shines a spotlight on romantic love, the entire month operates like a cosmic mirror, quietly revealing the truths beneath our connections.
It’s not just about Cupid’s arrow, it’s about clarity, emotional timing, and spiritual alignment.
Valentine’s Day did not begin as a holiday celebrating modern romance. Historically, February 14th was observed as a Christian feast day honoring Saint Valentine, who was associated with devotion and commitment in early traditions.
Over time, the day became associated with romantic love in medieval European culture. Writers helped solidify the notion of Valentine’s Day as a day for expressing affection and making heartfelt promises to a loved one.