Glossary-F

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Fairies are mythical beings of folklore and romance. They are often depicted as diminutive winged humans with magical powers. The tooth fairy exchanges presents, usually coins, for teeth left out or under one's pillow at night. Fairy godmothers are protective beings, like guardian angels.

Faith is a non-rational belief in some proposition. A non-rational belief is one which is contrary to the sum of evidence for that belief. A belief is contrary to the sum of evidence for a belief if there is overwhelming evidence against the belief, e.g., that the earth is flat, hollow or is the center of the universe. A belief is also contrary to the sum of evidence if the evidence seems equal both for and against the belief, yet one commits to one of two or more equally supported propositions.

Feng Shui - For thousands of years the Chinese have studied the dynamic relationship between humans and the surrounding environment. Knowing that natural elements and electromagnetic energy currents affect the quality of people's lives, they learned how to live in harmony with these forces in order to attract the maximum possible health, wealth and harmonious relationships into their life. This practice is known as geomancy, the art of placement, or Feng Shui, pronounced fung shway. Literally meaning wind and water, Feng Shui is now some 4,000 years old, and still used to locate the perfect site for a new building, to make simple interior adjustments and major architectural choices for homes and offices. An environment with improved Feng Shui can help to increase productivity and income, improve sleep, create more income, more harmony in relationships, resolve conflicts, and help one feel more energized in life.

Fetishes are objects such as stones, teeth, or carvings, supposedly possessing magical powers that can protect one from harm, cure disease, etc. Some fetishes are thought to be magical in themselves; others get their magic from some divinity. Some fetishes are believed to be so powerful that only special individuals are allowed to handle them. For all others, the fetish is taboo.

Flower Essences all work on the premise that diseases of the body are symptoms of disturbances of the mind, the heart, and the spirit. Leaf, twig, or flower essence remedies directly correlate to specific moods or mental attitudes, and serve as catalysts for the subtler levels of the healing process. Dr Edward Bach, the pioneer of flower essences, found that patients with similar personality traits responded similarly to the same remedy, although their outward manifestations of illness differed. Capturing the essence of a fresh flower may involve gathering the plant at sunrise and placing it in a bowl of pure, undiluted water within direct sunlight for several hours. Dr. Bach's book The Bach Flower Remedies is a wonderful introduction to this form of healing. And Machaelle Small-Wright's book Flower Essences : Reordering Our Understanding and Approach to Illness and Health will give you another perspective on essences.

Fortune telling or Divination is the attempt to foretell the future or discover occult knowledge by interpreting omens or by using paranormal or supernatural powers. The list of items that have been used in divination is extraordinary.

The Freemasons are an international secular fraternal order. Freemasonry is not a secret society, cult, religion or sect, although membership does require belief in a Supreme Being.

Free will is a concept in traditional philosophy used to refer to the belief that human behavior is not absolutely determined by external causes, but is the result of choices made by an act of will of the agent.

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