Have you ever wanted to learn how to “read energy”? If you’re anything like me, you thought about it in terms of psychics and mediums.  Even after I started channeling and taking mediumship classes, I didn’t recognize or trust this innate ability. That is until I realized that I was already reading energy and you probably are too. 

Today I’m going to share various ways in which you are probably reading energy without realizing it. 

Normalizing Reading Energy 

To begin, I want to normalize and ground this conversation.

Many of us think something is supposed to look or feel a certain way. So much so that we aren’t even aware when it’s happening.

I saw this often in myself and in my eating disorder clients. Thinking recovery looked a certain way prevented any acknowledgment of growth.

Reading energy is quite similar.

To start: have you ever said, “Ooo, this is a vibe!”

That is reading energy.

Vibe = vibration = frequency = energy.

The fact that this language is part of our everyday vernacular speaks to how many people are already reading energy without consciously acknowledging it.

Notice if you can often feel the vibe, yet struggle to explain it to someone else. That is the nature of energy. It is often experienced beyond words.

Grounding Woo Woo In Science 

Now that we’ve normalized this concept, let’s ground it.

A quote often attributed to Albert Einstein is: “Everything is energy, and that’s all there is to it.”

For example, we live in a world of color. When we perceive color, we are interpreting wavelengths of light. Light is made up on photons which are packets of electromagnetic energy.

Consider solar power. We derive usable energy from sunlight. And it’s not just for humans. It sustain plant life through photosynthesis.

At the most fundamental level, our material world is made up of atoms, which are forms of matter that contain energy.

Atoms are comprised of subatomic particles, which are excitations of quantum fields that possess both mass and energy.

Since subatomic particles make up atoms and atoms are the building block of our entire existence. Thus, everything is energy. That’s science, not “woo woo.”

For now, let’s release the need to label or limit this ability and simply explore how you’re already reading energy. 

Dating

Dating is a tricky one because we often override our “energetic read” when it comes to matters of the heart. This is especially true when unhealed wounds are present. If you’ve ever dated or had a friend date a “walking red flag”, you know what I mean. 

So let’s look at the dating realm through first encounters. 

Have you ever gone on a date with someone who seemed perfect on paper, yet you knew it wasn’t a fit? You might have even said that there was no spark or chemistry.

Have you ever swiped through dating apps and sensed whether or not someone was truly looking for a relationship based on the photos they chose or the words they used?

Have you ever met someone who seemed aligned on the surface, yet something felt slightly off?

These are all examples of reading energy.

Relationships

The same is true for any relationship, be it family, friend, roommate, co-worker, neighbor.

How do you know “the right time” to ask your boss for a raise or time off? You’re sensing their energy.

Why might someone communicate directly with one family member, yet use kid gloves with another? You could say it’s because you know them. And that knowing is based on reading energy and understanding how best to communicate with them.

Speaking of communication, have you ever told someone something and you knew it went in one ear and out the other. 

Or has a friend said they were “fine,” and you knew they weren’t?

You’re reading their energy. 

You could also describe this as reading emotional states — which are, in essence, energy.

While writing this piece, I became curious whether this idea was widely recognized. And you may want to sit down for this one:

Emotions are often described as energy in motion.

Energy (E) in motion.

E-motion.

Emotion.

I don’t know about you, but that kind of blew my mind when I read that.

Thus, reading energy can be seen as a form of listening with emotional intelligence.

This is also why this concept may feel difficult to grasp if you are not yet deeply connected to your own emotional landscape. And I say that from experience.

Socializing

Consider social environments.

Have you ever walked into a room where you could “cut the tension with a knife”? People say this often without realizing they are describing energetic perception.

Similarly, how often do we “read the room”? This phrase literally means sensing the energy of a space.

Do you have a friend who tends toward anxiety? Do you ever notice yourself feeling more anxious around them?

You may be tuning into their energy.

An important distinction is remembering that sensing someone else’s emotional state does not necessarily mean that state belongs to you. 

This is another reason why I always say to stay curious. 

Homes

Let’s explore this through another avenue, homes.

Have you ever visited a home to rent or buy that was perfect on paper, but just didn’t feel right? Or the opposite — a place that instantly felt like home, even if it didn’t logically make sense?

That is reading energy.

Have you ever browsed hotels or Airbnb listings and instinctively known which ones felt appealing?

You might attribute this to aesthetics — yet aesthetics also influence energetic perception.

For example, painting a room pale blue creates a different feeling than painting it fire-engine red. Same furniture, same layout — yet the color alone can shift the experience of the space.

Why?

As mentioned earlier, colors correspond to specific wavelengths within the electromagnetic spectrum.

This is one reason fast food brands often use red and yellow. Red may stimulate appetite, while yellow can evoke feelings of warmth or positivity.

This principle also forms the basis of chromotherapy, or color therapy.

My experience with AirBnBs and Intuition

Fun fact, two uncomfortable airbnb experiences in 2024 were the catalyst for realizing I was reading energy and the basis for this piece.

The moment I stepped foot into both, I knew something felt off. 

And in both cases, I left early – thankfully getting a refund for one! What blew my mind was realizing that I felt very frazzled and on edge for “no reason” the morning we drove to them. It wasn’t a coincidence or hormones, I was reading the energy in more of a precognition fashion.

This also set me up to intentionally attune to the energy of the Airbnbs through the listing. Less than a year later, I booked an Airbnb and while there, a home that was/is beyond my wildest imagination found me through a dog. It’s a crazy story that I’ll share in time. For context, there are cascading waterfalls and crystals on the land. I still pinch myself every day!

Driving

Driving provides another way to explore energetic awareness. If you don’t drive, please explore it through the perspective of being a passenger.

If someone has ever tailgated you, you likely remember how it felt. You perhaps sensed their urgency or frustration, and it possibly impacted your own state. This is very true for me and something I’m working on personally.

Have you ever sensed a car was about to merge into your lane, despite not having their blinker on?

Even if you don’t drive, imagine the difference between cruising down an open road versus sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic. The energetic quality of each experience is quite different.

Visualization can be hard for many. If that’s you, notice how you feel looking at each image below.

You’re feeling the energetic expression. That friend, is reading energy!

Driving in Neutral

Driving can also help illustrate how energy can be interpreted neutrally.  With that said, that may not feel true for you depending on your history with cars and driving.

Let’s explore how we can see this with neutrality or at least through various perspectives.

Some people love to drive fast. Some people find it very anxiety provoking. 

The same external situation — two very different internal experiences.

Neither is inherently better or worse. It depends on the individual’s relationship to speed, adrenaline, control, and safety.

It’s also dependent on a myriad of factors. 

Are you late or super early? Is it a luxury car or a jalopy? Is it an open road or a school zone? 

When you begin to see the same situation through various lenses, you can also begin to see it beyond the binary and as a neutral observer. Overtime, this skill can translate to more emotionally complex areas of our lives like relationships.

Reading Energy 

Hopefully, this piece helps you recognize how often you are already reading energy.

It does not have to involve seeing apparitions (aka ghosts) or predicting future events. Often, it simply means being attuned to how something or someone feels in the present moment.

Presence and attunement.

If you want to strengthen this awareness. Begin to notice all the ways in which you are not present: distracted, dissociated and disconnected from your body, your feelings and your gut instinct. 

It’s equally as important to recognize when you are present and attuned. 

The more you observe when energetic attunement feels accessible and when it feels blocked, the more clearly you can understand your own unique way of perceiving energy. And with awareness and understanding, you can begin to trust it as well. 

I rarely mention my offerings here, but if you are curious about exploring energy through the chakra system, both of my chakra courses are available inside the Alignment membership for $18 per month.

Until next friends, stay curious! 

You Might Enjoy

• How to Find Alignment Through Presence
• The Misdirection of Energy: A Path to Finding Balance
• You Are the Frequency: Soul Expression Through Form
• Collective Frequencies & the Soul of Each Decade

Creative Offering:
If these words serve you, let them fly.
If you teach from them, may they bloom again.
Credit is kind. Integrity is everything.

Blair is a registered dietitian, certified intuitive eating counselor, E-500 RYT and Reiki Master. She integrates spirituality with modern day science to help people heal and reclaim their relationship with their body and food. 

Disclaimer:
These are my current musings — proofread and edited by AI. You can read the transcript here. This content is intended for informational and inspirational purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the support of a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional regarding any concerns or conditions.