Physical Symptoms of Discernment
Sometimes you can experience physical sensations in your body that tell you something is going on in the unseen realm. Has this ever happened to you?
A reader of the blog sent me this question:
“I sometime will feel the sensation of worms or ants crawling under my skin. Sometimes it will be all over my body, other times just on my head or back of shoulders. I know I’m sensing something demonic and it partly has to do with the enemy speaking lies and trying to manipulate. Why do I feel it in different places and what is the Lord trying to tell me?”
Good question! I had never experienced this before so I sent this question to a few friends who are gifted with discernment and have been walking with the Lord for a long time. Three people told me they had experienced it before. Two people said it was related to witchcraft. Witchcraft is a form of manipulation.
Regarding why it is felt in different places – one person replied that the location on the body didn’t make any difference to him. It was just God’s way of getting his attention that something wasn’t right and he needed to pay attention. Another person responded that the different locations are likely tied into the type of witchcraft – perhaps one is atmospheric witchcraft (on the head) whereas the one on the back is a specific person manipulating you.
Very interesting responses – I like that each person had their own experience of this and was able to provide some insight. We see in part and know in part (I Cor 13:9-12). This is why I started this blog – to open the conversation regarding this topic because none of us has it all together!
This question made me start thinking of other physical symptoms of discernment – what I mean is you have a physical sensation in your body and this tells you something spiritual or unseen may be happening. Often you also get a certain kind of “knowing” that it’s not just a physical sensation, especially if it happens suddenly. There are no “rules” that say, “This symptom always correlates to this particular spirit”. I know that makes it hard for those who are just starting out. The key is to never assume. Just ask the Holy Spirit – He will tell you what you need to know. If you don’t get an answer, maybe you don’t need to know. Or sometimes you might be asking the wrong question.
Why aren’t there “rules”? Because spiritual gifts are meant to draw you closer to Jesus. You become more dependent on Him as you seek Him for understanding. If there was a simple chart or book that explained it all, then why would you need to depend on Him? You could just lean on your own understanding – not a good idea, when it comes to spiritual warfare and discerning what it happening in the unseen realm.
That being said, here are some symptoms that people have experienced in relation to specific spiritual influences. This might help you as you ask the Lord what is happening – if nothing else, it might make you feel better that you’re not crazy and you’re not alone. (One of the main reasons this blog exists, by the way!)
Witchcraft:
Sudden sharp headache – might feel like an ice pick in one side of the head
Ringing in the ears, also means something is shifting in the spirit realm (usually not good)
Sudden Nausea
Painful pressure on the chest
Fear:
Butterflies or knots in the stomach
Tension on the back of the neck, tingling up the spine
Eyes twitching/burning – May be blocked from seeing in the spirit
Ears irritated/plugged – May be blocked from hearing from the Lord
Feeling of being squeezed – Python/Divination
Pain in the lungs when breathing – Needs filling with the Holy Spirit, related to Python perhaps?
Sharp pain in lower left stomach – Rejection
Heaviness on the shoulders – Carrying a heavy burden that was not meant for them
Sudden drowsiness – Leviathan, a spirit that comes against leaders & their followers
Sometimes when you experience one of these symptoms, the discernment is for YOU. To warn you to pay attention and pray for more clarity. Sometimes you are discerning something for another person. It’s very important that when physical symptoms suddenly come that you ask the Lord to help you figure out whether it is for you or for someone else. Also use some common sense and determine whether your body is responding to something in the natural realm. Don’t ignore physical symptoms. But also be careful not to over-spiritualize them. If they are part of the gift of discernment, then the Lord will give you clarity as to what to do with them. Once you take the action He tells you (pray, decree, bind, loose or whatever), the symptom will disappear. If it doesn’t, it might just be a headache. Rest, drink water and it will go away. 🙂
Was this post helpful? Please leave a comment below. If you’ve experienced a physical sensation related to discernment, please let us know.
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Posted on November 26, 2018, in Educational, Sensing, Spiritual realm and tagged Demons, discernment, senses, spirits, unseen realm. Bookmark the permalink. 121 Comments.
Discernment of the Supernatural Realm 
I have extremely strong discernment for both good and bad. I am experiencing a lot of pain in my body on the right side at this time. My leg and arm are attempting to be manipulated. This is new.
The pain on top the head is back again too and I know it’s because of curses against me from witches I work with in a doctors office. Its been going on since last October. It comes and goes. I cast it off but it keeps trying me. It’s in my house too. It was like I heard the house split apart back in October with a loud boom. I was working with a lot of people openly practicing witchcraft at the time. A lot of them quit after I continued to pray the angel of the Lord chase them.
I have dealt with both leviathan and python in the past. And the witch on the back targeted by an individual( 2 at the moment at work). I always know who it is coming from and it’s because they see me operate in the Spirit to protect. They always know I see them…
I have a new witch at work and she is actually projecting herself onto me at work during the day!! I feel it in my right arm and leg…..please pray. I’m worn out.
The demons in a couple people cause me great irritability as well.
Leslie, thank you for sharing your experiences with us. I am so glad you have sharp discernment! I will pray for you – I know it is hard when you are targeted by witchcraft. It’s exhausting. I want to offer two posts that may help you reduce the effects of the attacks. You can get a restraining order in Courts of Heaven against anyone who is harassing you: https://supernaturaldiscernment.com/2023/03/08/courts-of-heaven-where-justice-prevails/. And here’s a way to cancel personal attacks from people you know: https://supernaturaldiscernment.com/2025/03/22/personal-attack-how-to-overcome/. I hope these are helpful. God sees you and you are not alone in this battle. God bless you. 🙂
Hi, wow, where to begin? I’m a minister in an independent living facility. There are staff who practice witchcraft here.
Tonight, I have a rolling buzzing energy wrapped all over me, it wraps tighter around my lower legs, around my ankles. I sense something like an animal crawling around me in places. Worm-like things protruding from the center of my palm outward. My leg, knee, hip, rear shoulder muscles continually twitch and spasm. Like waves of attacks. Can someone help please?
Wow, that’s quite an attack you are experiencing! I would start by saying out loud, “I come out of agreement with witchcraft. I am covered by the blood of Jesus. I cancel this attack of the enemy and command every spirit to leave now, in Jesus’ name!” I think you could benefit from gaining some knowledge and experience in how to deal with this environment at your workplace. I recommend that you read Victory Over the Darkness by Neil Anderson (Amazon link: http://amzn.to/2bYP1ED). I would suggest you pray through Steps to Freedom in Christ after you read that book. It is also by Neil Anderson. Links for both books are on this page: https://supernaturaldiscernment.com/resources/books/ . Thank you for sharing your experience. God bless you! ❤️
An Unholy Encounter in Kensington, Philadelphia.
I was walking through Kensington to cop, not high yet, just sick and focused on getting well. If you know Kensington, you know it is the largest open air drug market in America, the kind of place where a lot of darkness gathers. It makes sense that evil would flock there.
On the way back from the spot, I saw two people walking toward us on the sidewalk. A man and a woman. At first I did not think anything of it. As we got closer, something started to build in the air around them.
The only way I can describe it is unholy. I’ve had spiritual experiences where I’ve felt “holiness” before. This was opposite of that.
It did not feel like regular street paranoia. It hit me in my body first. My stomach turned. I felt a little dizzy and off balance. There was a heavy pressure around us, almost like the air got thick. It felt sick and filthy, but there was no actual smell. It was like the emotional reaction you have to a terrible odor, without the odor itself. Like you were covered in sticky filth.
Inside, it felt like the opposite of anything to do with God. Empty, joyless, like all light had been sucked out and replaced with something rotten and corrupt.
We did not say anything as we walked toward each other. We didn’t even acknowledge them. The feeling got stronger the closer we came. When we finally passed them and they were behind us, it snapped off. The pressure was gone. My head cleared. My stomach settled. It was just normal again.
I was still trying to process it when my friend suddenly stopped and said, “WTF was that? Did you feel that?”
I had not said a word about it. I said, “Yeah, those people, right?”
She said, “Yeah. What was that?”
All I could tell her was, “I don’t know. I’ve never felt anything like that before.”
I’ve had other weird experiences before but this was probably the most objectively evil feeling I’ve ever had in my life. And the thing was they didn’t look weird, it was just the aura that they gave off. Not sure whatever that means, but I’ve never felt anything like it before or since, and would recognize it in an instant if I ever did again.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Budd. That IS creepy. One of those people (or both) must have been tied to the darkness somehow – either actively practicing witchcraft or a family business/inheritance in darkness. When you practice rituals like that, the aura sticks to you day and night. Like a demon on your shoulder or a cloud of smoke that chokes the life out of you. I’m sorry you experienced that and I’m glad the feeling left after you passed them by. God bless you – you are a fighter and I’m glad you are here. 🙂 P.S. I just downloaded your book. Thanks for sharing the link.