Conference turris::womannotes-v2

The first time I felt such energy from a group of people was the first
time I attended a General Conference of the Universal Fellowship of 
Metropolitan Community Churches.  It was during Sunday morning worship,
in Los Angeles, and there were approximately 3,000 gay and lesbians 
there, with assorted heterosexuals mixed in.  I could almost SEE
the energy.

I have also experienced this type of energy in concerts of women artists
who perform "women's music".  I believe I first noticed it there at a
Holly Near concert.  

In both situations it is *wonderful*.

        Carol

    Yes, I think there is such a thing as group energy/female energy.
    
    Years ago when I participated in anti-war demonstrations I felt great
    energy, particularly at the really big ones, a million people in NYC's
    Central Park for instance chanting "Bread not Bombs."
    
    Or at the Washington DC pro-choice rallys last year. Wow.
    
    I think its partially affinity energy --- all those folks have
    a certain defined thing/feeling/objective in common. And that thing in
    common is the focus for the gathering.  Lots of energy seems a logical
    result of a focused gathering.
    
    I don't feel woman energy when I go to church for instance.  Even
    though the congregation is often 30 women and only 2 or 3 men.
    I think this is because women is not the focus, religion is.
    
    It's also a lack of fear.  Although I am a big, strapping woman I admit
    to feeling safer in an all-woman or mostly-woman space.  Somehow, going
    to the Boston Garden for a Celtics game (which I love doing) never
    feels as safe as going to a woman's music concert. Kinda like a
    story Richard Pryor tells about being in Africa for the first time.  He
    got a kick out of seeing white folks in the minority for a change.
    
    *********Digression warning***************
    For, although women exist in equal numbers (+-1%) with men, we
    are treated as and therefore operate as a minority.  As James Tiptree
    (a woman author who uses a male pseudonym) described it, women are like
    possums in American society.  We exist just slightly below notice and
    go about our business largely unnoticed. Possums exist in large numbers
    all over America.  Actually are millions of them in NYC.
    
    FYI:  Title of short story is "One of our Possums is Missing"
    can be found in SF collection titled _More Women of Wonder_
    

    Another vote for the D.C. Rally. But even then there were men and they
    did not go unnoticed. I felt an energy. The bigger the group the more
    powerful the energy. 
    
    But I must qualify myself by saying that I really can't identify with
    this need for women only this and women only space and restaraunts and
    energy for the sake of it. I can understand it in battered woman
    therapy or rape therapy or something but in general I prefer mixed
    company.
    
    Kate
    
    
    

In agreeing that the energy exists, is there a difference between female
energy and <any-other-group's> focused energy?  If so, what makes the 
difference?

I suspect the difference is like flavors.  Salt and sugar have flavor but
they are very distinct.  Then again, I am not sure how I could describe
the taste of salt (or the color of blue to a blind person) to people who
don't have a salt-taste experience.  And maybe I am asking the impossible.

    I know that, in general, female energy is different from male energy.
    *How* is it different? Well, ya got me. I dunno. Seems less frenetic,
    somehow.... although if a mixed group of folks is meditating, I don't
    notice the difference so much.  Maybe as the frequency (or whatever)
    gets down to the levels one reaches in meditation, the differences
    lessen or disappear.
    
    How you would discern the energy difference probably depends on the
    individual. Some people "see" energy (colors, or whatever) some people
    "feel" it (buzzing in their hands, heat or cold). But a scientifc test
    is probably out of the question, since science probably has a raised
    eyebrow for people who can feel energy.
    
    --DE