Yoni Power!

[meensy.livejournal.com]

Recently, I took a poll in my own journal about the words people preferred for various "taboo" body parts. Surprisingly, only one person besides me chose the word Yoni for the female genitals.I love the word yoni. It's just right. It's not crude. It's not disprespectful. It's not clinical. It doesn't offend anyone that I've ever noticed.

If you read the Kama Sutra (and I don't advise it, as most if it has nothing to do with sex, really... ) but if you read the Kama Sutra, the word Yoni is used there. Its counterpart is the lingam, which is the penis. I got confused by this when I first learned these words long ago, because to me, lingam looked like it had the same "ling" root as linguistic, etc. Meaning tongue. As in cunniLINGus. So I looked it up, and I believe it had a different linguistic root.

So anyway *reminds self that other people are not as word-obsessed*

I've long called my own yoni a yoni, and I wonder why it's not a more popular word. I mean, why use those derogatory words (*MY* pussy purrs and enjoys catnip, thank you very much) or those words that make you feel like you're getting a pap smear ("Please lick my vulva, honey?") when there's this lovely word. It's got the -i ending so it sounds affectionate when you say it. Yet it's got a long, respectful, dignified, dare I say WORSHIPPED history. It's a very powerful word.

Comments

[yuunalesca.livejournal.com]

Oh, yoni. I like that word. I don't really like the other words either, but I DO like yoni. ^_^

[4hour-ramona.livejournal.com]

(i wonder if you and i read the same version of the kama sutra...)

[tree]

i was thinking that myself.

[4hour-ramona.livejournal.com]

yeah, cuz, see... it's a very very very sexy and sex-filled book. that's it's job.

[meensy.livejournal.com]

Well, I've read the real one, and I've read a few little knockoffs. There's one called The Pocket Kama Sutra that just takes the sex advice that still applies to modern culture (modern western culture anyway) and puts it to pictures. If you've read something like that, yeah, you'd think it was sexy.

But that isn't the Kama Sutra. There is tons of social stuff in there about how to live that has nothing to do with sex. And then there is a lot of sex/relationship stuff that's laughable or outrageous by our standards.

Anyway, the name Kama Sutra evokes ideas about sex, and so a lot of little handbooks will use that name but really only take a couple ideas from it. It's kind of like the way we use brand names for everything, I suppose.

[4hour-ramona.livejournal.com]

ummmm. i don't think so - even the so-called "pocket" versions take their reference directly from the original. that's how they are able to call themselves any derivative of kama sutra. granted, they are often poorly written and highly derivative/watered down, but still...

it's too bad you found the original version "laughable." i'd suggest reading it again. keep in mind, it is sex, it is social; it is a guide to sociality and sex that gives a very in-depth look at indian culture from back then, with lessons that can be applied to now.

[kreie.livejournal.com]

Why is 'pussy' derogatory?

Or cunt, or anything else, for that matter?

They're only derogatory if you allow them to be.

[shadowfae.livejournal.com]

I actually like the words "pussy" and "cunny" for women's private parts.

Both "pussy" (cat) and "cunny" (rabbit) refer to animals sacred to the Moon Goddesses of many cultures.

I also use "quim" from time to time as well.

w0rd.

[hokahey.livejournal.com]

i think it's just that people USE them in a derrogatory way.. as in "you're such a pussy" to denote that someone is weak.
then again, has anyone ever listened to "Pussy Manifesto" by Bitch and Animal? If not, DOWNLOAD THIS RIGHT AWAY!
Of course there's also Cunt by Inga Muscio, which is a highly recommended read.
You can reclaim the words, obviously...
however, the negative connotation has already been placed in my head through culture.
Yoni is a word that connotates respect. I've never heard it used in a negative light. "I love my yoni!" hehe..

Re: w0rd.

[kreie.livejournal.com]

I've heard the word 'yoni' shamelessly criticized for being an odd word.

[l1v1ngdeadgurl9.livejournal.com]

"Cunt" is related to words from India, China, Ireland, Rome and Egypt. Such words were either titles of respect for women, priestesses and witches, or derivatives of the names of various goddesses:

In ancient writings, the word for "cunt" was synonymous with "woman", though not in the insulting modern sense. An Egyptologist was shocked to find the maxims of Ptah-Hotep "used for 'woman' a term that was more than blunt," though it's indelicacy was not in the eye of the ancient beholder, only in that of the modern scholar.
(Walker, 1983, 197)

I snatched that from Cunt. Hope it helps. ^.^

[tigerfemme.livejournal.com]

Funny, I like words some people think are derogatory...to me, "pussy" is cute and affectionate (or sexy), and "cunt" is both powerful and hot.

But that's just me. I'm glad the derivation of the latter, at least, isn't derogatory - but even derogatory words can be reclaimed - like by me, a proud fat dyke who's very proud of her pussy. ;)

[hokahey.livejournal.com]

that's funny because my nickname for my boyfriend is "pip"