Signe Myers Hovem has created homes on five continents over twenty years, raised four uniquely sensitive children, pursued a special education lawsuit appealed to the US Supreme Court, volunteered in a hospice in Texas and an orphanage in Azerbaijan, worked as a spiritual counselor in Houston Texas, and taught workshops and trainings in the art of being an empath and the power of language in many countries around the world. Her new book “The Space in Between: An Empath’s Field Guide” is written for people who identify as highly sensitive, as empathic, or as empaths and is a map to cultivating both self-awareness and connectivity with the greater world.

“The Space in Between” begins with an Introduction where the author shares an experience she had with a guard (she felt a stinging sensation on the back of her hand) when traveling to Angola to illustrate what it is like to be both empathic and an empath, or as she calls it, being a functional empath. Her goal in writing this book is to share her experiences in the hopes that it will help others like her manage their own experiences and understand how they influence their surroundings. She calls this book a ‘field guide’ because she sees herself as a guide whose goal is to help others create a more authentic, empowered, and empathic self. It is divided into five parts: Part I: The Field of Reflection, Part II: The Field of Definition, Part III: The Field of Sensing, Part IV: The Field of Experience and Awareness, and Part V: The Field of Mystery. Each “field” grounded her and helped her understand her empathic self. Before each one, there is an introduction that explains the themes of the chapters involved, and a “Questions for Reflection” section at the end.

For those who identify as empaths or highly sensitive people, daily life can be intimidating and overwhelming. Signe Myers Hovem does an excellent job of helping readers navigate through this often difficult journey by providing personal examples and stories. Her intimate experiences as a functional empath serve as a guide and inspiration for others to get to know themselves better. The subject matter may get confusing at times but she uses plain language that anyone can understand. A major focus is on journaling, self-discovery, and improvement. Her tone is soothing and insightful which puts readers at ease. Highlights include Chapter 9: The Sponge Factor where she defines the differences between a Highly Sensitive Person and an Empathic Person and the ‘Questions for Reflection’ sections at the end of every chapter which encourage readers to pause and reflect on what they have just read. The Resources section at the end has a list of sources she recommends for further guidance and information. It is important to note that this is not a ’how-to’ book on how to become an empath but rather a guide to help others in their path to understanding and coping with their own empathic abilities. “The Space in Between” is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding and developing their empathic abilities or just genuinely open to learning more about the subject.

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.