Heyoka empath: 16 surprising signs you're this incredible type of empath (2024)

You may be familiar with the term “empath” and you may even think you are one. But the truth is, there are different types.

And the most unique, rare type, even though incredibly powerful, is often overlooked – the Heyoka empath. In this article, you’ll find the most surprising signs that you might be this kind of empath, but first…

What is a Heyoka empath?

To understand what a Heyoka empath is, we first need to clear up what an “empath” on its own is.

Empaths are people who have an incredible ability to understand the feelings and emotions of others. But they don’t just see a person who is happy, sad, or angry.

No, empaths can actually put themselves in that person’s shoes. They literally take on the feelings of that person. They also have a very kind, caring nature, which leads them to being natural healers.

And, there are different types of empaths.

So what is a Heyoka empath?

Well, the term Heyoka comes from the Sioux tribes of Native America. The term means “sacred clown” and was used to describe those who challenge norms through humor. It also refers to people who disrupt the energy of others, helping them to overcome their issues and to see the world in a different light.

So a Heyoka empath refers to someone who works with people’s energy, helping them heal even if they don’t realize it’s happening.

You may have suspected that you’re an empath, but if you’re unsure of the type, read on to find out the surprising signs you’re a Heyoka empath…

16 signs you’re a Heyoka empath

1) Your energy radar is strong

Empaths are uniquely gifted at sensing the emotions of other people. Heyoka empaths not only pick up on emotions, but they also feel the energy of others, too.

Your radar picks up on both positive and negative energy, but it’s usually the latter that you’re drawn to.

Why?

Because as a Heyoka empath, your powers lie in helping and healing others. And the number one way you do that is by sensing their problems. This is transmitted through the emotional and physical energy they give off.

But this has a dark side to it.

While you sense energy, you’re also susceptible to absorbing it. Too much of it and it can leave you feeling drained and overwhelmed.

You may notice this happen when you’re in a large crowd or a particularly tense situation with other people involved. Even if you’re not an active participant, if there’s negative energy around, your body will react to it.

2) Healing people is like second nature for you

I mentioned a little about how Heyoka empaths are gifted at healing people.

So, the question is, do you find that your conversations tend to result in you giving people advice?

Do people feel inspired to change their lives after talking to you?

Do you really and truly care about helping others?

If so, you may be a Heyoka empath!

Healing people isn’t a conscious thought that you have, it’s an instinct that takes over when you feel someone is in need.

Even if it’s a stranger, if you can see they have deep-rooted issues or are going through a hard time in life, your natural instinct to help propels you to strike up a conversation.

And even more than that, you’ll genuinely care about this person, this perfect stranger, as if they were part of your own family.

That’s just one of the things that makes Heyoka empaths so unique!

3) A gifted advisor confirms it

The signs above and below will give you a good idea if you’re a Heyoka empath.

But a surefire way to know for sure is to speak with a gifted advisor.

They can answer questions about why you have an incredible ability to understand the feelings and emotions of others.

The problem is finding someone you can trust.

That’s why I recommend Psychic Source. When I signed up for a reading, they provided me with a unique insight into where my life was going, including the kind of person I’m meant to be.

Having tried several online advisors, I think they’re the most caring, compassionate and helpful network of gifted advisors out there.

Click here to get your own personalized reading.

Not only will a genuine advisor tell you the type of empath you are, but they can help you better understand your ability.

4) You believe in honesty all the way

Some people believe in telling white lies to protect the people they care about.

But not you. If you’re a Heyoka empath, you’ll detest lying, no matter how much the truth hurts!

This isn’t because you enjoy seeing people suffer. It’s because you know that without suffering and acceptance of the truth, people will never grow. It helps people learn from their experiences and from life in general.

So, even if you know you might rub someone up the wrong way with your honesty, you don’t hold back.

Especially when it comes to advising them on how to better their life – if anyone’s going to stick it to them, it’s you!

But how can you create happy relationships with others, if you’re ignoring the most important one; the relationship you have with yourself?

You see, until you work on that one, you’ll never find the happiness you’re looking for.

I learnt about this from the shaman Rudá Iandê. In his free video on cultivating healthy relationships, he gives you some unique tools that put you back at the center of your world.

He also covers some of the major mistakes most of us make in our relationships, mistakes most of us aren’t even aware of.

So why am I recommending Rudá’s life-changing advice?

Well, for a start, Rudá isn’t your average shaman. He’s been through the same ups and downs in love that most of us have experienced. And through his ancient shamanic teachings, coupled with his very modern-day journey, he’s found the solutions.

And that’s what he wants to share with you.

So if you want to make a real change to your relationships, if you want to cultivate love and happiness, start today by checking out his genuine advice.

Click here to watch the free video.

5) People are strongly affected by you

A major sign that you’re a Heyoka empath is that you evoke powerful reactions from people.

For some reason, you get under people’s skin. It’s not that you always annoy them (although that can be the case sometimes) it’s that you make them emotional.

So what is it about you that does this?

Well, Heyoka empaths are believed to be a mirror to everyone they meet. What that means in simpler terms is that you reflect whatever they’re feeling or dealing with.

And when people interact with you, there’s no way to escape this reflection of themselves.

That’s why they may find you triggering to be around – you bring up the parts of them that they’d probably rather escape or hide from.

Or, the parts that desperately need healing. Either way, it’s no surprise that you bring out a range of strong reactions from people!

6) You know what people are thinking even before they say it

Another sign of being a Heyoka empath is knowing what people are thinking.

Even though you might not realize it, if you’re always quick to finish people’s sentences, and even know what they’re thinking when they don’t say anything, it’s down to your powerful empath qualities.

Most of the time this comes from your ability to pick up on other people’s energy. But it also stems from having a strong sense of intuition, and a deep understanding of how people work.

Let’s look into that a bit further…

7) You have a strong sense of intuition

We all have a sense of intuition, but if you’re a Heyoka empath, your intuition leads you. You know who you are, and you trust in your judgment and capabilities.

This also means you have a brilliant judgment of character – you can work people out quicker than most.

You can sense who is trustworthy and who to avoid with a ten-foot pole, and this often shapes who you spend your time with.

It’s also what helps you seek out those who need help and alongside working with their energy, you’re able to affect them with your advice and sometimes, even just your presence!

If you want more clarity on this, I’d suggest speaking to a gifted advisor at Psychic Source.

I mentioned them earlier. They have helped me out in the past and I’ve always found them honest and compassionate in their readings.

So instead of trying to figure out these intuitions on your own, speak to an advisor who’ll give you the answers you’re looking for.

Click here to get your own personalized reading.

8) You’ve got a cracking sense of humor

And one of the ways that you help people is by introducing laughter into the mix.

As mentioned earlier, the word “Heyoka” originates from a Native American term meaning “sacred clown” or “fool” – in other words, you’re the joker of the group!

You were probably the funny kid at school, and as an adult, you’re the one to break up a cloud of negativity with a silly joke that people can’t help but laugh at.

Even when the time isn’t right for making jokes.

But the truth is, your humor is used as a form of healing. You use it to help people understand and question their lives.

Just as comedians might make jokes about politics, climate change, or abuse, you also highlight peoples’ issues through humor.

And you have a way of getting your message across. Sometimes people won’t take kindly to it, but sometimes you can highlight the truth in a way that they have no choice but to hear and understand you.

Humor is just another method at your disposal to help you get through to people, no matter how hard their emotional armor is.

9) You crave solitude and peace

Now, you may be a Heyoka empath, but the word empath itself lends to the fact that you will need alone time.

You see, while you’re out being sociable, you’re absorbing all the energies around you. Over time this can build up, and negative energy can start affecting your mental and physical health.

That’s why you so often crave to be alone. You like being around people but there always comes a point when you just need solitude.

Why?

Mainly to recharge your batteries. To reflect on your life and the lives of those you are trying to help or who you care about. And to also just relax.

The truth is, you like your own company. You don’t feel lonely – you see solitude as a chance to escape the rest of the world and spend time in your very own little bubble!

That way, when you’re back in the outside world, you’re refreshed and ready to continue helping others.

10) You always know the right thing to say

Do you find that in uncomfortable situations, you naturally just know how to comfort people?

Or, when faced with a difficult problem, you somehow conjure up the right advice to help someone?

Most of us would love to be able to say all the right things. Unfortunately, as much as we try, nerves get the better of us, or we ramble on because we’re afraid of awkward silences.

But not Heyoka empaths.

If you are one, it’s likely that the words just roll off your tongue. And you can tell that they impact whoever you’re speaking to.

That’s another way in which you help people heal. But it’s also how you make people wake up and face their problems.

You see, as well as knowing the right things to say, you’re also brutally honest (as we covered earlier). This is a lethal combination because you can truly shake people into reality.

11) You’re a pro at going with the flow

Another sign and quality of a Heyoka empath is that you take life as it comes. You roll with the punches!

You know that a balance in life is important, and with the good comes bad.

That’s why you handle the rollercoasters of your own life with a fairly relaxed attitude. You may even use humor to heal yourself, just as you use it to help others.

And the truth is:

It’s your attitude to embracing life that gives you the wisdom needed to fulfill your role as a Heyoka empath.

You live and breathe every experience you have, whether positive or negative. You love challenges, and you don’t shy away from facing your own demons.

This is all fuel for helping others face their issues in life. Your healing abilities come from your approach to life and all you’ve learned along the way!

12) You think outside the box

Now, if there’s one thing that distinguishes Heyoka empaths from other types of empaths, it’s your way of thinking.

This is partly because you enjoy helping others, so you naturally try to think outside the box to come up with solutions. You especially love coming to conclusions that no one else reaches – and you’re good at doing so.

The only downside to having a fast-thinking mind is that it can sometimes run away with you.

You might find that you suffer from insomnia. A lack of sleep plus empathy fatigue means you need regular breaks to re-energize yourself and rest.

It may also lead to people misunderstanding you. Some of your ideas may be too far-fetched for those who aren’t used to thinking so freely.

This might cause people to react strangely to your ideas, only to realize later on that you may have some brilliant insights.

13) You’re highly creative

But alongside this superfast mind, Heyoka empaths are also highly creative.

I mean, it makes sense right? You’re a natural healer, you love solving problems, so it’s no surprise you’ve got a creative edge over others.

The truth is, empaths in general are very creative. You’re intuitive, you go with what feels right, and you’re not afraid of expressing your emotions.

This helps your creativity flourish!

So if you find yourself attracted to singing, painting, creating music, or anything of the sort (alongside having a healing nature) it’s a sign you could be a Heyoka empath!

And the same goes for if you’re attracted to jobs which help others.

For example, some of the best teachers out there are the ones who make their students question life. They don’t tell their students where to look, but they guide them to be able to think for themselves.

Some of these people may be Heyoka empaths without even realizing it.

14) You go against the crowd

Most Heyoka empaths don’t follow the crowd.

If you find that you tend to go against social norms, question what society expects of you, and encourage others to think freely for themselves, you may be a Heyoka empath!

The truth is, you’re a free spirit. And you believe everyone else should be too.

You don’t want to be the sheep following the shepherd blindly. You prefer to be the wolf, strong, independent yet sociable, free to make your own choices.

In fact, you see how society has created many of the problems that people are inflicted by – low self-esteem, addiction, mental health issues – and you want people to take back control over their lives.

For that reason, you yourself avoid trying to “fit in”. You prefer to stand out, say things that’ll cause outrageous reactions, but that’ll make people think in the process.

15) People are sometimes unsure of how to react to you

Now, we’ve mentioned a few times how you may rub people off the wrong way.

Through your honesty, your sense of humor, or by mirroring what they want to avoid.

But the truth is, sometimes people push you away before they realize that you’re trying to help them.

It’s not always easy for them to understand your motives. Unlike other types of empaths who take a softer approach to healing, your methods can be quite controversial.

So, if you find that even though you have good intentions, people still act wary around you, it could be that you’re a Heyoka empath and they just haven’t realized it yet.

But the most important thing?

You don’t let people’s reactions put you off. Yes, in the moment it might feel hurtful to be pushed away or challenged by the very people you want to help.

But you know deep down that you won’t stop being the way you are. You know your purpose in life is bigger than making people feel comfortable with no real progress in their lives!

16) You’ve got a sharp eye for spotting liars

And finally, another sign you’re a Heyoka empath is you’ve got a good eye for fibbers.

It’s not only because you value the truth so much, but your energy radar is good for picking on a lot of things. Lying included.

You can sense when someone isn’t as sincere as they’re trying to come across. You can also sense when someone is telling little white lies to protect you or cover their back.

And the truth is, you don’t have time for it. You don’t even like to humor or entertain it.

Again, you probably annoy people by calling them out on their lies, but in the end, you still make them think about their behavior.

You highlight a flaw in them that can be changed, so long as they are willing to face themselves and make the conscious effort to change.

And like that, you apply this method to everything you do. It’s what makes your healing powers so powerful!

Common traits shared by Heyoka empaths

Now that you’ve read the signs, there are a few other giveaways that could signal you’re a Heyoka empath.

These are traits that most Heyoka empaths share, and each contributes uniquely to having these super empath powers.

Some of these traits include:

• Being left-handed
• Having dyslexia
• Being born breech
• Appearing young for your age
• Being exceptionally open-minded

Now, you may be wondering, what does dyslexia, the position you were born in, and being left-handed have to do with being a Heyoka empath?

The truth is:

These are all just ways that you reflect and mirror the conventional way of life. The majority of the population is right-handed.

Babies are normally born head first, but many Heyoka empaths were born feet or bottom first – again, going against the norm.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean all left-handed, dyslexic, or breech-born people are Heyoka empaths. These are just some of the common traits they share.

You may still be a Heyoka empath even without any of these traits.

However, there is one thing that all Heyoka empaths will have in common. And that’s suffering from emotional overload.

Read on to find out how to avoid this….

How to protect yourself as a Heyoka empath

One of the signs you’re a Heyoka empath is that you need alone time. As I mentioned before, this is because you absorb the energy and emotions of others.

And this is no easy ability to live with!

The sad truth is, all empaths suffer from emotional overload or from becoming emotionally overwhelmed.

This leads to feeling tired, irritable, and in general, burnt out.

So what can you do to protect yourself as an empath?

Here are a few tips:

• Always ensure you take time for yourself – recognize when you’ve had enough of being around other people and spend quality time by yourself
• Practice grounding – use meditation, breathwork, or get out into nature to reset your emotions and re-energize yourself
• Set healthy boundaries – you want to help others, but you don’t want to be taken advantage of. Get comfortable saying no or avoiding place/people who overwhelm you
• Start a journal – this is a great way to get all of those thoughts rushing through your mind down onto paper, and it could help with insomnia too

Looking after yourself as an empath is extremely important. You feel things deeply, and if you don’t regulate your emotions and give yourself regular breaks, you may suffer the consequences.

Final thoughts on being a Heyoka empath

By now, you should not only know if you’re a Heyoka empath or not but also how to adequately protect yourself and make the most of your incredible powers!

But the most important thing to take away from this article is that being a Heyoka empath is a rare gift.

You can transform people’s lives. And half the time, you don’t even realize you’re doing it!

So regardless of whether people agree with your method or style, you must trust in yourself and trust that your spiritual connection runs far deeper than what you may realize.

And finally, embrace being a Heyoka empath!

You’re destined to do good in the world and to help those who are unable to help themselves.