Women and Power

[Lighthouse]

Okay,

I have a few questions for you... men and women.  As I become more authentically myself, my personal power is significantly increasing... to the point where people who I have never "met" in the physical sense are starting to comment that they can "feel" me.  I have had a few amazing experiences with this recently and am starting to understand that we are MUCH bigger than our bodies.  Because of this, I am personally harnessing and putting out more POWER (sorry folks, it's the only word that adequately describes this.) Another side effect of harnessing and putting out more power is that I am becoming more LOVING too... Basically, I feel very Free, Loving and POwerful... very nice feelings to have about ones self.

I just had an experience this afternoon on another discussion board where we were talking about creating conscious community and someone felt threatened enough to basically (not in these words) tell me to shut up and stop spamming the forum.  Those of you who know me know that even though you might not agree with me, I generally have very well thought out posts and try to be as sincere as possible.  

I am also aware that sometimes I come across a bit strongly... this I can not help and will not change because I am merely expressing who I am.  

Someone else from that board said to me that the man who felt threatened was obviously afraid of strong women.  Why is that?  Why are men allowed to be ALL POWERFUL and it is even a desirable traitfor men.  But when women are seen as powerful, they are seen as domineering or as B*tches or as wanting to "be like men" if they claim their own power and freely express it?  I'm perfectly comfortable with my femininity, in fact, I'm always searching for ways to claim more of it (try Bellydancing)... AND since our cultures see femininity as weak... I'm making it my greatest strength.  Why is it that being a POWERFUL WOMAN is seen as threatening or bad???  HOW FRUSTRATING!!!!

Is it only Strong, Secure Men who can appreciate Strong Women?  Why can all women appreciate a strong man, yet the opposite is not the case?  

It's quite the limiting double standard.

Sorry for the rant.

Kerri