Female Circumcision

1. A medical procediure in which the clitoral foreskin is incised or excised to free the clitoris to permit fuller sexual stimulation.
2. In many parts of the world, especially Islamic Africa, circumcision is also performed on girls. In many instances it involves the excision of the clitoris and the labia.

(see Circumcision, Female Circumcision)

(See also: Female Circumcision, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Female Principle Once the unmanifest One becomes the Duad, duality pervades the kosmos, often represented as male and female, or as active and passive, spirit and matter, mind and body, positive and negative.

These latter expressions are much to be preferred because of their lack of personal attributes. Synonyms for the female principle are root-matter, mulaprakriti, the eternal cosmic Virgin, Great Mother, womb of nature, cosmic ark, etc. The physical distinction which furnishes this symbol to human minds is that of duality; and if we reason from below to above, we may easily fall into the error of assigning attributes of physical human nature to the celestial beings and formative powers of the kosmos, resulting in phallicism and the degradation of sacred symbols.

The male and female principles are not entities in themselves but aspects of a unity; and since every element is compound, the words male and female as applied to any element signify merely a temporary predominance of the one or the other quality. Again, the distinction is not one of fundamental nature but of relationship, so that what is female in relation to one thing may be male in relation to another.

(See also: Female Principle, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Priestess

A female priest.

(See also: Priestess, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

There are many types of women in our society, but the one that cries out for the healing the loudest is the Female Warrior. She longs to transform herself into the Goddess and yet doesn't even know it. Nor does she know how.

Who is the Warrior? The Warrior is powerful, independent, self-reliant and successful --because she has to be. Yet, she resents all of the responsibility and obligation that goes with her role. She's the only one around who can get things done, and get things done fast enough and perfectly enough.

Read more here: » Women's Spirituality: Warrior to Goddess - How to Transform the Feminine

Recently, at a theological meeting in Rome, scholars had a heated debate on the subject of the ethnicity and nationality of Jesus. One by one they offered their evidence:

Read more here: » Spiritual Jokes: Spiritual Jokes - Jesus was...

The Markandaya Purana and the Vamana Purana chronicle how Mahishasura, the wicked buffalo-king, a demon possessing monstrous power and deadly weapons of destruction, waged a war against the gods and defeated them.

Mahishasura dislodged Indra and occupied the throne. Indra fled to save himself. This shook the celestial world and so enraged Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva that they began to emit fire from their eyes. From the fusion of these beams of fire, carrying the radiant divine energy, a female figure, Goddess Durga, was born.

(See also: Durga, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

The lakhs of Shiva temples all over India include the famous temples at Amarnath in Kashmir, Somnath in Gujarat, Vishwanath in Varanasi and Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain.

The names of these Shiva temples define Shiva's various divine functions, exalting Him as the Supreme Soul. The linga is worshipped as the very image of Shiva. The linga indicates that Shiva has neither male nor female human form like do the other deities; the Lord is an incorporeal point of Light. This is why, the 12 well-known Shiva temples in India are also known as Jyotirlinga Mat h signifying his form of Light.

(See also: Shivaratri, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

A curandero (or curandera for a female) is a traditional folk healer or shaman prevalent in Latin America, and especially in Mexico and in Chicano communities in the southwestern United States. They are often respected members of the community, being highly religious and spiritual. Literally translating as "healer" from Spanish, curanderos often use herbs and other natural remedies to cure illnesses, but their primary method of healing is the supernatural. This is because they believe that the cause of many illnesses is ...

Read more here: » Curandero: Encyclopedia - Curandero

The word yoni is the Sanskrit word for the 'female reproductive organ'. Translated directly into English, it could mean vulva or vagina. It also has a wider meaning in religious and spiritual contexts, where its meaning is 'creativity'. The yoni is also considered to be symbolic of Shakti or other goddesses of a similar nature. Yoni is perhaps the most misused and misunderstood word from the ancient Indo-Aryanic language, Sanskrit. The word yoni was originally used more often in a spiritual sense rather than as a term to ...

Including:

• Yoni - Historical perspective
• Yoni - Yoni worship
• Yoni - Yoni massage
• Yoni - Other

Read more here: » Yoni: Encyclopedia - Yoni

Goddess worship is a general description for the veneration of a female Goddess or goddesses. Many New Age Goddess devotees prefer the term goddess spirituality, avoiding the term "worship" for a faith that does not distance the Divine into a remote, hierarchical separation. Goddess veneration may be also used instead of "worship", as it can imply respect and intimacy without undue deference. In such contexts, "spirituality" is often preferred to "religion" because major organised religions have not typically nurtured go ...

Including:

• Goddess worship - Examples of goddess worship

Read more here: » Goddess worship: Encyclopedia - Goddess worship

The Basilideans were a Gnostic sect founded by Basilides of Alexandria in the 2nd century. Basilides claimed to have been taught his doctrines by Glaucus, a disciple of St Peter. The sect had three grades – material, intellectual and spiritual – and possessed two allegorical statues, male and female. The sect's doctrines were very similar to those of the Ophites and also had similarities to Jewish Kabbalism. Members wore stones or gems cut in various symbolic forms, such as the heads of fowl and serpents. The Basilideans wo

Read more here: » Basilideans: Encyclopedia - Basilideans

A dakini (Sanskrit: "sky dancer") is a Tantric priestess of ancient India who "carried the souls of the dead to the sky". This Buddhist figure is particularly upheld in Tibetan Buddhism. The dakini is a female being of generally volatile temperament, who acts as a muse for spiritual practice. Dakinis can be likened to elves, angels, or other such supernatural beings, and are symbolically representative of testing one's awareness and adherence to Buddhist tantric sadhana. Dakini - Origin. According to legend ...

Including:

• Dakini - Origin
• Dakini - Doctrine
• Dakini - Iconography
• Dakini - External link

Read more here: » Dakini: Encyclopedia - Dakini

The Dakini (lit. Sky Dancer) is a Buddhist Tantric concept particularly upheld in Tibetan Buddhism. The Dakini is a female being of generally volatile temperament, who acts as a muse for spiritual practice. Dakinis can be likened to elves, angels, or other such supernatural beings, and are symbolically representative of testing one's awareness and adherence to Buddhist tantric sadhana. Many stories of the Mahasiddhas in Tibet contain passages where a Dakini will come to perturb the would-be Mahasiddha. When the Dakini's ...

Including:

• Dakini Buddhism - Iconography

Read more here: » Dakini Buddhism: Encyclopedia - Dakini Buddhism

Nondualism is the belief that dualism or dichotomy are illusory phenomenae. Examples of dualisms include self/other, mind/body, male/female, good/evil, active/passive, and many others. A nondual philosophical or religious perspective or theory maintains that there is no fundamental distinction between mind and matter, or that the entire phenomenological world is an illusion (with the reality being described variously as ...

Including:

• Nondualism - Terminology
• Nondualism - Nondualistic world views
• Nondualism - Nondual religious and spiritual traditions
• Nondualism - Zen
• Nondualism - Buddhism
• Nondualism - Dzogchen
• Nondualism - Advaita
• Nondualism - Taoism
• Nondualism - Individuals subscribing to a non-dual view of reality
• Nondualism - Ancient Western philosophers
• Nondualism - Medieval Western philosphers
• Nondualism - Modern Western philosophers
• Nondualism - Asian philosophers and spiritual leaders
• Nondualism - Authors
• Nondualism - Musicians
• Nondualism - Source

Read more here: » Nondualism: Encyclopedia - Nondualism

Monasticism (from Greek: monachos—a solitary person) is the religious practice of renouncing all worldly pursuits in order to fully devote one's life to spiritual work. Many religions have monastic elements, including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Jainism, though the expressions differ considerably. Those pursuing a monastic life are usually called monks or brothers (male), and nuns or sisters (female). Both m ...

Including:

• Monasticism - Buddhist monasticism
• Monasticism - Christian monasticism
• Monasticism - Hindu monasticism
• Monasticism - Islamic monasticism
• Monasticism - Jain monasticism
• Monasticism - Monasticism in other religions
• Monasticism - External link

Read more here: » Monasticism: Encyclopedia - Monasticism

Priestess

A female priest.

(See also: Priestess, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Creatrix

A female creator, the mother Goddess

(See also: Creatrix, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

PARTNERSHIP SPIRITUALITY - cooperative male or female spirituality that preceded and surpassed historic religion and philosophy. (Riano Eisler) (NAD)

(See also: PARTNERSHIP SPIRITUALITY, Wiccan Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Sex

The biological differences between male and female. The social and psychological systems related to or derived from this difference.

(See also: Sex, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Succubus

A female spirit or being who takes the form of a female to have sex with a man during his sleep. The purpose being to drain him of his "vital energy". The idea arouse to explain "wet dreams".

(See also: Succubus, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)