Channeling Saidar

I don't know how relevant this is, but I noticed in this book a few references to Elayne being able to channel and Nynaeve not being able to see it. It is pointed out several times in the books that women who can channel are able to see others around them glow with Saidar when channeling. They cannot see men do it, only other women. Here is the most recent time Jordan states that Nynaeve cannot see Elayne channel.

Toward the end of ch. 17 Elayne and Nynaeve's party are trying to get passage with a traveling circus. Elayne climbs up on the tight rope and walks across it. This is Nynaeve's inner monologue "She could not see the glow of Saidar, but she knew Elayne had woven a path between the two platforms, of Air, no doubt, turned as hard as stone."

It makes me wonder if Elayne, Nynaeve and even Egwene are taping into a new sort of Saidar. From the prophesy's all three of these women will be able to channel more strongly than women have for centuries. It leads me to wonder if they can channel with out other's seeing, then it can be a huge advantage over their enemies.

I think the reason that Nynaeve can't see Elayne is because Nynaeve is a wilder. She doesn't have control over her abilities so I am pretty sure that is the reason. Either that or she was too far away. I know there is a range. Especially if Elayne didn't use a lot of the power.

From what I understand there is a range on how far away a woman can feel Saidar being used, and yes it is affected by how much is used, but there's no range on being able to see the glow surrounding a woman channeling. I think maybe Nynaeve couldn't see the weave either because she wasn't angry, and therefore was unable to channel herself at the time, or because Elayne may have tied off the weave. Sensing a weave that has been tied off may be different than watching one as it's weaved. *Shrug... just speculation hehe.

Thanks for all the ideas. It makes alot of sense now that you put it that way. I didn't know there was a range on the ability to see saidar. Well that could be my problem. I seem to understand it as "seeing" rather than "sensing" or "feeling" saidar. I have taken a short hiatus from reading the past week. I have been too busy with baby books lately. Hopefully I will be returning in the next day or 2.

Channelers definitely "see" the weave as it's woven. Jordan describes it as a complex knot of energy that settles into itself, which then forms the specific power or effect. I think Dark1's answer concerning Nynaeve being a wilder is right on. However, I find it strange that just because Nynaeve isn't holding onto the One Power that she can't see it. Channelers don't need to be opened up to the Source in order to see a weave or at least the aura of another woman as that woman opens herself up to the Source. I'm going to have to look into this more.