Alonergy Defined

Loyal reader Hayna has recently benefited from Alonergetic practices and dutifully sang praise to this phenomenon on her blog, with sundry friends and family chiming in via the comments section. In above posting, she decries the lack of a formal definition for the movement. Rightly so. While I did my best to help her understand the nuances of Alonergy by responding in the comments section (reproduced below), I was unsatisfied with the strictures of that form and with my hastily written reply. I consulted the only man I know whose Alonergy Star Efficiency Rating (similar to the Energy Star Rating used by the EPA and DOE) approaches 100%--in other words, the man who captures nearly all of his Alonergy potential. His name is Feed. My comments and his response below.

A note of caution: stop talking, blogging, or emailing about Alonergy or, in the words of one wise adherent, "Before you know it, we are all alone together and Alonergy as we know it disappears."

My original reponse:

My dear young practitioners/followers/believers:

I need to clarify several points.

1. Alonergy is not a theory, not an element of life, it is life.

2. I did not invent Alonergy as a theory, for it is universal and eternal. Nor was I the first to promulgate its principles, that was Feed

3. The opposite of Alonergy is not Togethergy, it is Synergy. Alonergy (1=3) was coined to express the opposite of Synergy (1+1=3).

4. You can't enjoy both Alonergy and Synergy any more than you can serve God and mammon or be both an extrovert and an introvert. If you think you enjoy both, then you are really a follower of Synergy who needs some time to recharge. If you are truly uncomfortable--always --when around other people, then Alonergy is, by definition, what keeps you going.

5. Quick Test: If you surf the web for pictures of Siberia or the Northwest Territories while at work so that you can fantasize about being in a place where you know there is not another living soul around for hundreds of miles, then you are a true believer. And if so, may I recommend www.trekearth.com.

Feed's response:

I do approve. Be mindful, though, that in communicating Alonergy to the community you do not become tempted by community, and give in to the sickly sweet seduction of synergy.

The basic, newly updated, definition of Alonergy, as I indicated on my blog, is: The non-interaction of agents or forces such that their effect is greater than if they had interacted. A heightened state of awareness, happiness, or effectiveness achieved by being or acting alone.

Alonergy is not a religion or a way of life. It is an observable phenomenon. Nonetheless, it is best discussed as a religion or a way of life.

The persistent (but never taxingly so) Alonergist will begin to see signs of encouragement and recognition from unlikely sources. For example, googling "Alonergy" brings up your blog, jenni's blog, and this kin of yours, but not myself as the real source. As an advanced Alonergist I am respected and left in peace by Technology, for we have much in common. I would hope that some day Technology will accord you similar respect.

A true Alonergist can be deeply, profoundly alone not only in a crowd, but with an intimate group of friends, or even a pet.

Never forget that Alonergy is a source of energy -- that invigorating breeze from a closing door as people vacate a room, the restorative sigh as one realizes one is at last truly free -- but the amounts of energy involved are normally very small. It is only the relative change for the better when one is alone that matters. Some of the greatest Alonergists are those with the least overall energy.