"Shivaite" or "Shāktist"?

Ardhanareshwara

 (from "Kashmir Saivism: The Central Philosophy of Tantrism")

Kamalakara Mishra: Metaphysically, Shaivism and Shāktism arose from the same root. The ontological position of both schools is the same. Shiva is Shiva and Shakti in one person. In fact, the Primary Reality, which is called Shiva or Shakti, is Consciousness (chiti, or samvit ).

This Consciousness is comprehended as an active force, and this activity (dynamism) of Consciousness is called Shakti. So, the Essence is one, regardless of the name - Shiva or Shakti. By analogy, we can see flowing water as water, and we can also see it as a flow , that is, the flow of water. Similarly, Consciousness can manifest as Shiva (jnana), or as an active force, Shakti (kriya). Shiva and Shakti are two aspects of the same Reality.

The only difference between Shaivism and Shaktism is in the emphasis. Just as one sees flowing water as water and another sees it as a current or stream, so Shaiva sees Reality as Shiva and Shakta as Shakti. There is also a slight difference in the form of worship. Shakta reveres God as Mother in the personified form of Durga or Kali. Shaiva can worship God in the personified form of Shankara on Mount Kailash along with his consort Parvati. 

But these are all symbols. They may differ, but this does not mean a philosophical difference, since they describe the same Reality. The difference in emphasis cannot lead to any significant philosophical difference, since the general position remains unchanged. Shaiva does not say that Reality is not Shakti, Shakta cannot say that Reality is not Shiva