SpiritSisters

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ordinarily be able to talk about." She adds, "Some of the women are into shamanism, some into more metaphysical. Some are more pagan." Metaphysical, she explains, is a broad area that can cover psychic stuff or divination or channeling or crystals.

At the meeting, ten women sit around a six-sided table in the basement of a church. Actually, it's a church-synagogue, which is an interesting concept in itself. Many of the women have candles burning before them. In the center of the table is a lovely candleholder. Three women with long braided hair sit facing the flame. They remind me of me and my two sisters.

The women introduce themselves and catch up on what they've been doing. One recalls some advice she recently gave her daughter, "Smart women are impressive, but cookies conquer all." The next woman says she started on a Native American path thirty years ago, tried out everything else, and is now back to Native American — with a Christ base. "Mainly, it's all about Girl Power," she laughs.

Another woman left Jehovah's Witnesses and is on a quest for something spiritual. The next is looking for spiritual diversity. When she says this group isn't like the others, the older woman next to me raises her fist in the air and yells, "YEAH!" This startles me, not because she looks like my grandmother, but because she's so darn powerful. Sweet, I think. She should do that in mixed company.