posted January 08, 2008 01:17 AM         

This is from an 2005 US News and World Report article. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/tech/nextnews/archive/next050121.htm

I just did a quick Google search, but I'm sure there are more recent and more advanced studies available.

The above article is something I've read in many books on male/female differences.

Gray also talks a lot about "connective tissue" between the two hemispheres of the brain. A quick look says that they used to think women's corpus callosum was larger, but that new studies have shown that isn't true.

quote:

---

The major pathway that connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres is called the corpus callosum. (The corpus callosum is the fiber tract made up of 200-250 million axons that is cut in split brain patients.) Some claims have been made that the corpus callosum is bigger and more developed in women than in men. These claims have even been reported in the popular media (Time Magazine, Jan. 20, 1992, pp. 36-42; Newsweek Magazine, March 27, 1995, pp. 51). However, other studies have told a different story. Using magnetic resonance imaging methods, some researchers have found no differences in the size of the corpus callosum of men and women or that the corpus callosum is larger in men than in women (Allen et al., 2003).

---

posted January 08, 2008 01:28 AM         

Loved your post Eight!

Mystic,

I have too many Neptune aspects to my personal planets, to feel any important differences in the air between men and women. Neptune muddles everything up in a way.. It feels nice at times because it makes you feel like "we're all one", but on the other hand it blurs the lines a bit too much sometimes.. so maybe you have a good point but I can't see it clearly.

I understand what you are saying about brain differences and their research is interesting - but this isn't just the brain.. Our entire bodies ARE different - obviously lol We've all passed our health classes in school (I hope , and learnt those stories about the birds and bees lol .. But I don't think any physical differences make a major change on a spiritual level.. and things like love hurts/losses - what we need, what we want - they are on a deeper level than the physical.
This is why I think books that shove people into gender boxes (or other boxes) miss the point sometimes.. There is something very elusive about the human spirit that can't be confined to a specific pattern imo A brain is made out of flesh.. and soon enough, it will decay and die.

Ultimately, I think our connections (romantic or otherwise) take place in the spirit or soul.. We all desire similar things at the end of the day. The particulars are different - for instance a girl might want a bouquet of flowers to make her feel special.. Another girl might want a kiss on the cheek.. Andrew might want a hug - while Tom wants a letter.. I think this is where Eight's post comes in.

I have a hunch though (and this isn’t backed up by anything scientific, just a hunch) that all of the male/female physical differences (in all species) are in some, yet unidentified, way perfectly complementary.

Like I said on the other thread - I envy your Virgo Mercury lol

posted January 08, 2008 02:15 PM         

I think I read once that you are an Aries or have Aries as one of your main with maybe double Capricorn for the other two in the big three, is that right? (See, I've been paying attention) Anyway, I am always drawn to your posts so it may be the similar energy mixed with the opposites. It's like, "Yeah! That's what I think too!" mixed with an admiration for the intriguing style you present the ideas with. I have also seen some posts and though "WHOA!" she (I think you are a "she") got mad FAST for a Cappie (the first energy I thought you said you had that I remembered and identified with thinking we were similar) and then I thought I "heard" you say Aries somewhere so I had an "ahhhhhhh, now I understand the difference/tension!" moment.

Anyway, about the spirituality...

I have a holistic view of Universe, both microcosm and macrocosm. I see physical, emotional, mental, and active/creative energy combining to make "spiritual" which I see as the entirety of our being. Those correspond to earth, water, air and fire combining to create the Whole (as I see it).

Earth and Water are the feminine and receptive elements which are "acted upon" by the masculine elements, air and fire. Or said differently, our physical selves and emotional selves are malleable to our mental and active/creative selves. Physical/Emotional (earth/water) are feminine and as Tim (Wilson the astrologer/teacher), and Eastern philosophy call them, "Yin". Mental and Active/Creative (Air and Fire) are masculine and "Yang" in Eastern philosophy.

So, the feminine in us somehow responds and identifies with the feminine "gender" and the masculine energies within us identify with the masculine "gender". It seems that there is a preponderance of females who have a higher balance of feminine energy throughout history and the same with masculine/masculine. It is true that people then judged (and some still do) anyone who deviated from the norm. When I speak to people I always assume they have transcended these kinds of judgments, especially here in LindaLand or when speaking to college educated people or professors, but I am reminded again and again that it is important at times to address the subject thoroughly so that what I write is effective for ALL readers, not just who I believe is my intended audience.
So, yes, it is wrong to group all women into preconceived ideas of what a "female" should be and how she should act (same for men) and everyone is different. Now, let's figure out HOW different and to what degrees. Let's explore in ourselves and others how the energies play out, not holding on to any past dogmas of thought but recognizing the validity of (Pisces you just taught me something! :^D As I dissect it all to figure out how each component works together, you see it as a Whole and are content with that. Very beautiful.) erm harumph, what was I orating on about? Oh yes, the validity of the essences of each energy and how each has a place in our lives. And the validity of essence of the philosophies of others who have come before us. See, I do get THAT Pisces way... I can take someone like Gray and see the essence of what he giving and understand that I and others must separate the grain from the chaff, and simultaneously find the beauty in both. See, there I go again getting "out there" and floating around holding two "sides" in my mind at once and trying to mentally "connect" them, fibrous gossamer strand by strand and sometimes I can just stretch them together and they streeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetch and connect. I think Pisces people might see the connection but not either side? Or something? You tell Me.

Oh, and so, this is what I mean when I say that when I read stuff like Gray I read it as Feminine Energy when he says Woman or Venusian and Masculine Energy when he says "Man" or "Maritian". It could also be called Women are from the Moon and Men are from the Sun.... :^D But hey, that would tick off the Leo women and the male Crabs. Because it is of course, an absurd generalization. I think as students of astrology we can use the information to our benefit if we think about it correctly. I don't expect EVERYONE to understand this. Just looking for extra connections using the Whole LindaLand mind, if you know what I mean.

posted January 08, 2008 02:23 PM         

quote:

---

Did I hear the word "middle"? You are singing my song!

---

posted January 08, 2008 03:17 PM         

I'm going to use your post to more specifically illustrate some of my points since you made the connection so nicely for me, being in the middle there.

"Cancer will feel"
Cancer = feminine
"feel" = emotion = water = feminine energy

"Sag will simply consider"
Sag = masculine
"consider" = active thought = fire and air = masculine energy

Now these are just the energies activated in each woman. Until the man reacts back (viewing this scene as frozen in time because of course, there WILL be a reaction, we just don't know which one unless we know the male's energy pattern and how his mental and active energy act on his own inherent energies), the Mars/Venus thing doesn't come into play.

posted March 30, 2008 03:37 PM         

A woman's greatest fear is that she is not worthy of love.

Women are afraid of receiving and men are afraid of giving.

posted April 01, 2008 05:48 PM         

I added the healing part between the hearts.

posted April 13, 2008 01:49 PM         

"in and out" Gray says something about the "in and out" thing being natural to men (you don't saaaaay?) He is referring to emotional closeness and then independent distance.

Sounds positively erotic to me... physical, emotional, and mental closeness orchestrated by our spiritual centers as they become closer and more intertwined. A dance, a rhythm, music, a joining, a meeting and a parting, a blending...

Slowly understanding and seeing... less fear... more enjoyment of the experience, the moment.

When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the broken hearted people
Living in the world agree,
There will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is
Still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be.

Let it be, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Yeah, There will be an answer, let it be.

Let it be, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
(instrumental break)

Let it be, let it be.
Let it be, yeah let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the night is cloudy,
There is still a light that shines on me.
Shine until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music
Mother Mary comes to me
There will be no sorrow

Let it be, let it be.
Let it be, yeah let it be.
There will be and answer, let it be.

posted April 26, 2008 07:32 PM         

More of my thoughts from another thread regarding the loose version of a "Love Spell" or asking the Universe to bring you a partner. I liked what I wrote.

My first post included the lyrics:
"Be careful what you wish you might regret it
Be careful what you wish you just might get it"

and then my following post (below) was in answer to a question about that first lyric.

****************************

It always works. And the Universe always sends the perfect person for you (at the moment) who will invoke whatever situations you need to learn to love more and forgive more and open your heart and accept more... no matter how painful. The perfect person to make you look at exactly who you are, regardless of what you hope to be or sometimes are strong enough to be.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vYQI2csHv0

NICKELBACK LYRICS

"How You Remind Me"

Never made it as a wise man
I couldn't cut it as a poor man stealing
Tired of living like a blind man
I'm sick of sight without a sense of feeling
And this is how you remind me
This is how you remind me
Of what I really am
This is how you remind me
Of what I really am

It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story
This time I'm mistaken
for handing you a heart worth breaking
and I've been wrong, i've been down,
been to the bottom of every bottle
these five words in my head
scream "are we having fun yet?"

yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no
yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no

it's not like you didn't know that
I said I love you and I swear I still do
And it must have been so bad
Cause living with me must have damn near killed you

And this is how, you remind me
Of what I really am
This is how, you remind me
Of what I really am

It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story
This time I'm mistaken
for handing you a heart worth breaking
and I've been wrong, i've been down,
been to the bottom of every bottle
these five words in my head
scream "are we having fun yet?"

yet, yet, yet, no, no
yet, yet, yet, no, no
yet, yet, yet, no, no
yet, yet, yet, no, no

Never made it as a wise man
I couldn't cut it as a poor man stealing
And this is how you remind me
This is how you remind me
This is how you remind me
Of what i really am
This is how you remind me
Of what i really am

It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story
This time I'm mistaken
for handing you a heart worth breaking
and I've been wrong, i've been down,
been to the bottom of every bottle
these five words in my head
scream "are we having fun yet?"
yet, yet
are we having fun yet [3x]

It's funny how people find "wise men" over and over to follow, and there is always someone presenting the evidence of his "other side" and yet people continue to expect wise men to be all love and light. The stronger you are... the more darkness you are capable of transmuting. The outside circle just gets bigger. Asking for a deep, intimate relationship is like being at the point where you finally feel you can handle the balance of Light/to/Darkness ratio you already have and you are looking at the Void and saying "BRING IT ON ***** !" If you aren't getting it you aren't ready and should be thankful to the wise Universe for having patience with you and gently patting you on the head and giving you a little less. I know I wasn't ready after my divorce and it was a blessing to be Deep Intimacy Free. But I did ask from time to time. And there was a point when I did send the equivalent of "Bring it on!" out into the Universe. And as always...
It was Brought.

Now I've got work to do. We all do. The question is... can you handle MORE work. Because that's what a deep, intimate relationship invokes. If you are actually trying to Love the person, and not just using them to your benefit and their detriment. Which a lot of people do often, some not at a conscious level, and everyone can do from time to time.
Most people get married, not recognizing or understand the deep work true marriage takes... and then bring children into the marriage also not understanding, recognizing or consciously committing to the actual "work" required to forge a deep, intimate relationship with the people they have been given. Right in front of them. That is why everyone is so lonely. No one understands what it means to love and no one teaches their children through conversation or example. Well, "no one" is too inclusive a term, but apt enough it seems.

We have a hard enough time loving the people God puts right in front of us. That's why adding sex to it (Polyamory) is completely unwise and simply another effort to "fill" yourself with earthly pleasures/things instead of actual Love. I don't believe all of those people are actually loving each other deeply and intimately. I believe it is just surface.

But then...
I'm a deep girl.

Sun, Mercury and Pluto in the 8th House
Venus/Uranus in the 9th in Libra/relationship
and all of them connected by conjunctions

Saturn ruled

posted April 27, 2008 02:26 PM         

"Why Men Don't Listen and Women Can't Read Maps: How We're Different and What to Do About It" - by Allan and Barbara Pease

Ever wonder why women can brush their teeth while walking and talking on various subjects while men generally find this very difficult to do? Why 99 percent of all patents are registered by men? Why stressed women talk? Why so many husbands hate shopping?

According to Barbara and Allan Pease, science now confirms that "the way our brains are wired and the hormones pulsing through our bodies are the two factors that largely dictate, long before we are born, how we will think and behave. Our instincts are simply our genes determining how our bodies will behave in given sets of circumstances." That's right: socialization, politics, or upbringing aside, men and women have profound brain differences and are intrinsically inclined to act in distinct--and consequently frustrating--ways.

posted April 27, 2008 02:30 PM         

"To get a man to listen, give him advance notice and provide an agenda," write the husband and wife Peases in this pithy, attention-grabbing guidebook to the differences between men and women. Originally self-published in Australia to wide acclaim, the book weaves together facts from the latest brain research, theories from evolutionary biology and a treasure trove of anecdotal events and conversations collected by the authors during a three-year research trip around the world. Sociobiology has rarely been so entertaining.

The Peases say that a woman's brain is wired to be able to speak and listen simultaneously, for example, and they are geared to talk through problems. Men, by contrast, need to clam up. "He uses his right brain to try to solve his problems or find solutions, and he stops using his left brain to listen or speak."

These brain differences took shape in cave days, according to the authors. Men were hunters and defenders who evolved tunnel vision (as compared to women's vision), while, as nurturers, women not only had broad peripheral vision but sensitive relationship skills. Channel surfing and newspaper skimming are modern ways for a man to cut off from others to privately mull problems, advise the authors.

posted April 27, 2008 03:27 PM         

quote:

---

Most people get married, not recognizing or understand the deep work true marriage takes... and then bring children into the marriage also not understanding, recognizing or consciously committing to the actual "work" required to forge a deep, intimate relationship with the people they have been given. Right in front of them. That is why everyone is so lonely. No one understands what it means to love and no one teaches their children through conversation or example. Well, "no one" is too inclusive a term, but apt enough it seems.

We have a hard enough time loving the people God puts right in front of us. That's why adding sex to it (Polyamory) is completely unwise and simply another effort to "fill" yourself with earthly pleasures/things instead of actual Love. I don't believe all of those people are actually loving each other deeply and intimately. I believe it is just surface.

But then...
I'm a deep girl.
_______________________________
*bold mine

---

Yes, you are!

Mel, I was saying something VERY similar to someone recently. You said exactly how I feel/think so very well. I got a little thrill from reading that. It's nice to know and hear others "like you". Thank you, !

_________________________________________

note: The posts arent showing up after hitting Refresh (about a hundred time) in this thread. grr. The last one I can see it: posted April 26, 2008 07:32 PM

Looking forward to seeing the others and catching up with this whole thread; reading it more thoroughly later on after work.