@billiam wrote, "I was noticing just this past Wednesday, how different the woman's hand in my left hand felt to the man's hand in my right."
I enjoyed reading your comment, and your shamanic circle sounds pretty great. I think I'd like to find something similar myself.
🌞
I was participating in a Litha celebration yesterday, and was holding hands with a man on my right and a woman on my left and involuntarily noticed a difference as well. I let that thought drift away and thought no more of it until reading your post reminded me. Thinking more now about the energy I felt from each of them highlights to me why I enjoy cuddling with both women and men.
@billiam
I really like your point about how there's a different kind of energy with men and women.
I think you have a really good balanced post. It shows that touch from men can be very helpful, and is a lot better than getting none at all. But, while still acknowledging that it may not be enough to satisfy many mens' touch needs, and how there's something different about experiencing touch with a woman.
I think where I get hung up so much on this topic is separating out romantic feelings vs. platonic feelings. I think what seems to be clear is that even with no sexual intent, men still feel the need for affection from the gender of people they're attracted to. Because looking at it that way, then it explains why men are so much more touch starved than women, because it's a very similar situation to dating. I mean, even if we're viewing the touch as more of familial type thing, it still fits. Because if it was just looking for a mother's type touch, for example, then women would always be wanting to cuddle with women for the same reasons men would, and that appears not to be the case.
I guess that's where I've gotten so hung up. My mind has always tried to completely separate out romantic vs. platonic feelings. And maybe there's just more of a combination and mix than I've wanted to admit. It's tough because when cuddling, you have to be so careful not to develop those romantic feelings, but at the same time you want to enjoy the entire platonic experience.
Still kind of hard to wrap my head around the whole thing. I'm probably over thinking it. It's just kind of interesting to me. I always like to kind of figure out puzzles and find structure in everything.
Great post, @billiam Your comments reminded me of my own experiences---all great memories from my youth---with various scouting and church groups.
It’s simple biology. Straight men don’t desire affectionate touch from other men, perhaps with the exception of family members. No need to ascribe feelings or deeper meaning or biases to this fact. Simple biology, that’s all. Ofc greeting a good buddy who you haven’t seen in a while with a hug or embrace is the most natural thing to do, but wouldn’t necessarily call that affectionate in the way OP seems to be asking about. Good topic though 😊!
@Will564
I can get confused feelings too. But not at circle. I didn't mean to imply that I don't. I think my phrasing was poor.
My main point with that was that I can want physical touch from a woman and it be platonic.
@HarleyGirlKate Thanks for letting me know I'm not the only one!