Do you have a magical name, and how did you choose it?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 22 Mar 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

jlbvt	22 Mar 2003
I am curious to find out stories about magical names. I am in the process of trying to choose one for myself. I got the idea from D.J. Conway, who thinks it is rather important to have a magical name that you use during rituals. What do you think about the use of/ need for a magical name, what is yours, and how did you come up with it? Did you meditate on it, or did it just come to you? Tell me all about it! ;) If you would prefer to keep your name to yourself, can you at least tell me what "sort" of a name it is, eg. family name, astrological, plant, mineral, animal, etc. and what made you choose it. --- :THERM :TMAGE JLB

coldsuns	22 Mar 2003
A name you think is great and you like it? I've one..Sky. A silly and funny one. But if i just like to have this name. It is easy and simple too ^_^ SkY sKy SKY! =X

jmd	23 Mar 2003
There was also another thread which discussed this. As it contains comments by some members no longer posting, I thought it worthwhile to link: How do people realize what their craft (or spiritual) name is? Part of the difficulty in answering the question is that a 'magical' name may be given or used for different purposes. In my own case, I have various ones pertinent to the requirements of various initiatic societies - but also one very special one 'given' to me during an incredible meditative experience.

Ravenswing	23 Mar 2003
alright-- this is one i've answered before, but it seems to come up every so often. i don't know how to forward you to the previous posts, so i dug them up and stuck them in a word document in case somebody asks again. so here's my story-- parts 1 and 2... part 1************* Well... There's that one important moment in the life of those who re-member that they travel the path. The moment of initiation, of realization. Of dedication. I have finally had that moment. I didn't know it was that moment as it occurred; I have only recently re-called it. The moment itself was an innocent one-- a moment of the Fool. I was walking along the roadway , headed to do our grocery shopping (come to think of it, I was wearing a large backpack for the groceries; 'cept it was totally empty). A splash of shiny black in the midst of the grassy spring green carpet caught my eye. I stopped, stooped and reached out for it. It was a perfect raven's feather. <> I picked up the feather, looked it over, and, without thinking, tossed it high up into the air. It didn't float gracefully earthwards as I expected-- perhaps I had mixed feather with bubbles. Instead, it fell directly to the earth, but not rapidly. The sun's reflection flashed off and on, much like a powerful strobe, as it spun downward-- just like an overly large maple seed. It stuck upright in a patch of grass, glinting slightly. That was my moment. It took me quite some time to really realize it. This weekend, my wife and I went to her family re-union. The re-union was out in the woods of upstate Pennsylvania, hundreds of miles away from home. I am an early riser, always up before the dawn; this particular Saturday morning I went venturing along the forest pathways. Cool and misty, it was as if I were the only living thing about. Then, out of the mist swooped three raven. They perched on three seperate trees, and there was a heavy silence for a moment. Then, the one in front of me shreeched a laugh and they flew off. it was then I realized my initiation. Re-cognition has finally come. And with the initiation come a re-newed person. A fresh identity, a reflection of the path. And with the identity comes a name. A name that is a re-minder and a re-membrance. And so before you, my family, I make my claim: I claim myself one with the raven, carrier of majickal knowledge, Raven, who has placed its own feathers, its way of flight, across my path as re-minders of my path and my Self. In honor of my ally, and in re-membrance of its lofty flight, I claim the name Ravenswing. part 2******************** well... it's been about a month since my initiation into my path, and it's happened again. i was out in my garden, lying under our willow tree. a very hot lazy summer day-- we're in the midst of a drought-- with the air almost too heavy to breathe. an alice in wonderland moment. my path has led me to a more practical study of tarot. in other words, the reading end of it. i have spent most of my life dealing on the sword level, collecting and comparing all manners of' arcania. now, i am attempting the cup level-- feeling the cards, not just thinking them. and there i was, under the willow, wondering what was to come next. i was in one of the half-states, neither awake nor asleep, where the mind starts to drift. and something tickled my nose. i opened my eyes to find that a large tiger swollowtail had gently lit down on my nose, and was looking down at me. it slowly moved its wings back and forth, stretching out. then it turned around, facing my feet (and the east) the butterfly took off, fluttering aroung the garden for a moment before vanishing. well... what's a raven's wing? i guess it's a swollowtail... first the majick, then the transformation. i guess i'm doing pretty good here. so 'ravenswing' becomes 'raven swollowtail' i wonder if i get a middle name.....??? pondering the majick of it all raven ***************************** so, that's my story. i didn't quite choose the name, i was presented with it fly well raven

firemaiden	23 Mar 2003
Ravenswing, since you are an 8 of clubs, like me, I have suddenly developed an inordinate interest in what you are saying. Your story is bewitching. Did the initiation go any further?

Ravenswing	23 Mar 2003
firemaiden-- Well, once initiated, it becomes time to move down the path.... So far along the way i've stumbled into Laurel-- the two of us are creating a tarot deck. External matching... And then, out of the blue, another Raven flew into my life. Not only a Raven but a bearer of Mantis Majick. (Take a look at my avatar-- my name and symbol were sign enough for her to contact me) The connections and depth of understanding we have shared in the short time since first contact--which is a little over a week-- are amazing. Mirror images in a way. Internal matching... I have been re-directed back to a path I left a long time ago. I'm working on the completion of things begun 10 or 15 years ago and just let go when my external changes greatly affected my internal directions... I am back to establishing a majickal system, complete with a kabala and tarot of its own. check in the tarot creation section. gematric tarot-- that's a part of it. but no, i haven't found a middle name -- yet. fly well raven

firemaiden	23 Mar 2003
transfixing, Ravenswing! And how will I (and others) know if we have been named... and the initiation has begun? Will we just know? Signs hurtle themselves at you? And you suddenly notice you've started to hear them?

Ravenswing	23 Mar 2003
well firemaiden-- I can't really tell you what to expect. I didn't know what to expect-- or that I was even expecting. LOL!! My framework of reality includes the belief that the omniverse gives you everything you need. The basic problem is re-cognizing : ***note: re-cognizing = thinking over again **** 1) what you need 2) when you get it If you notice I did not initially re-cognize the moment. I had to re-member (put back together again) it at some later point. The mind and memory are funny things. You will only get what you believe it is possible to get. Your personal reality determines your bounderies. Notice your questions. They are part of your beliefs and bounds. You have already determined how you will re-cognize your initiation. Evidently you find sound important. Perhaps God/dess will speak directly to you... :) Keep aware (I'd say keep your eyes open, but I think for you, it's keep listening...) It's out there (or in there) somewhere. fly well raven

firemaiden	23 Mar 2003
so Raven...thank you. Wow, deep answers. Another question. It sounds frivolous maybe.... did you know what you were being initiated to? Or was it a mysterious journey that became clear in retrospect. Or it what one is being initiated to part of the mystery? not to know... but to discover along the way?

jlbvt	23 Mar 2003
jmd, thanks for the link to the old thread- it's not that old, I'm surprised I didn't find it. And Ravenswing, thank you for sharing your story here! JLB

Ravenswing	23 Mar 2003
firemaiden-- Guess you might ask if the Fool jumps in or just plain falls off. Initiation into lots of different "secret societies" has the Neophyte enter hoodwinked-- blindfolded, if you prefer. I think that pretty much says it all in my case. I just wonder sometimes whether the blindfold's off or not. And if it really matters. At times I see better without the eyes... (Just imagine the Fool playing blind man bluff...) over we go, tumbling down... fly well raven ps-- Keep the questions coming. It's a good way to discover where you are. "You only ask what you already know." --that's a quote from my first wife.

Cerulean	23 Mar 2003
I really think Ravenswing Evermore Swallowtail has an enchanting tale. Quite beautiful. Sounds like a personal tarot journey of majors will dance in the mind and heart...and I bet only two of the wonderful experiences were shared here. I used to think that one or two natural experiences in a week were magical and would give me a theme for the next few weeks or months...turns out I can only remember a few each week. I hope the following is related to your question. I'm trying to grow into a name that would work with some projects that I'm developing. The name is Ai-damselfly...I thought I was using an abbreviation for a certain vivid blue...my sister told me that I choose the Japanese term for love (ai). So my latest name that I am growing into is aidamselfly...and I've been noticing when the skimmers settle near. Many white egrets and lesser grebes have been swimming near me lately. I've been trying to increase these experiences with quieter practices. They are used to humans, but it's a form of soft interaction for me to be more quiet, composed--so this Spring, I choose a hopeful name for personal growth.

Kiama	24 Mar 2003
I found my magical (Prefer to call it my soul-name) name when it just came to me... I was reading a book about Aborigine language, and I opened it to a page randomly one night, and my eyes rested on a word which seemed to scream at me... I read it over and over, before looking in the index to find out what it meant... 'Great spirit' it said. 'Hhmmmm, I like that', I said. Great spirit made me think about the immense possibilities and opportunities available to everybody in life... It made me realise how much potential each person has, and how every single persn has the chance to be a great spirit, through many different things... A great spirit can be one who simply cares for others, one who forgives easily, one who never harms, or it can be one who saves lives, stops wars, raises global awareness... They are all as great in spirit as each other. And when I began using the name more, a good friend pointed out to me that if you took away the first and last letters of the name, we were left with the two words: 'I am.' These mean alot to me, since I am always trying to be nothing except myself, and I always try to be true to myself. Eventually, through usage of my soul-name, I found myself becoming more like it, and now I always think of myself with that name. My real name is Kim, but my soul has the other name, and nearly all my friends, especially those I have spiritual ties with, know me by my soul-name. My soul name is... :D

coldsuns	24 Mar 2003
My soul name is Sky!! I choosen coldsuns as a nick. It is known as "Sky of coldsuns". A sky with many coldsuns! Dont you find it nice?

Ravenswing	24 Mar 2003
Mari-- Sometimes things are right before your face and you don't even notice... I thank you for your observtion. Seems I gave myself the middle name without noticing. the "...evermore" beneath my avatar. So it's Ravenswing Evermore Swollowtail. Sounds good to me :D fly well raven

marlowe	26 Mar 2003
my magickal name is currently "NonLoSo", which means "I do not Know". I came up with it as an attempt to curb assumption, presumption, and arrogance. :)

wolfen045	26 Mar 2003
I came to my path and my magical name somewhat indirectly. First, through a reading of history texts in college. I took several courses in medeval history and became troubled by what I began to learn about the Burning Times. I started at the same time to leave my Catholic upbringing by the way side. I started reading books about the Craft (mainly by feminist authors) . As I read the Spiral Dance and early works by Mary Daly, particularly Gyn/Ecology I began to Re-Member. I knew I was/am an old soul who Lived throuh the burning times as a healer and teacher of the Old Path. I meditated upon my Self and my magical Name came to me: Sapphire Eagleowl. Sapphire for the color of the sky and pure waters as well as the beautiful gem stone and the Eagleowl for the bird which is the largest member of the owl family and the owl's connection to Athena, the Greek Goddess I have always felt drawn to. Blessings and Joy to All, Wolfen

jema	08 Apr 2003
i was asked to come up with a name for myself upon joining a group, most of them had latin names so they asked me to think if i wanted one in latin - or something else. i thought about it for weeks. nothing really spoke to me. until i one day sat down and did it the other way - i thought about what qualities i wanted to strengthen with this group. i wanted it to be something lasting, something with a deep change, something that really mattered to me - a way of life. and i had the first part = Vita. and my reason for seeking out a group to join was not to gain wisdom or status or anything like that - but it was to connect with others, to find others with the same interest, to create bonds. so the second part of my name was = Amicitia so my new name - that symbolise what i strive for in this new phase in my life thus turned out to be: Soror Vita Amicitia i am sure i one day will change it as i change. as i grow and find new things to focus on after the old ones have become second nature so the name i choose for myself will mirror that.

tanis	09 Apr 2003
My chosen name is Tinŕnia Werwofen. It' my name in elvish. i found it out at www.lordoftherings.co.uk it realy jumped out at me when i saw it first.

Menmay	09 Apr 2003
I think its really up to you if you want a magical name or not ^_^ I myself do have one its Menmay. If you do decide on having a name pick one thats just fun and really speaks to you!! Hope this helps ^_^

Victoria	09 Apr 2003
I've collected names ever since I can remember, in different 'categories' Mundane, neat sounding Mundane-with-meaning Magical/purposeful One of my favorite sources of magical/purposeful is "Magical Names" by Phoenix McFarland, and that is where I came across my current purpose name. It's "A bright, earth-based personality. One who loves the turning of the wheel of the year and who rejoices with its changes" Beacuase rejoicing in those changes is what I wish to achieve. If/when I do, I may choose another name. You don't have to worry that you'll 'pick the wrong name' - you can choose another anytime! You may also wish to have a few - different names to invoke for different 'projects'. There are a number of suggested ways for finding a magical name - from vision quest to simply deciding. One example I liked was of someone who wanted a name for a fairly long 'journey'. The names chosen (I think in advance) were along the lines of 'Sapling, Oak, Ancient Oak' or 'Spark, Flame, Fire' to be taken at various stages of accomplishment.

firemaiden	09 Apr 2003
(from the lord of the rings link posted on the last page) (thanks!) and if I were an Elf, my name would be Isithradë Sówen I like it!

Celtic_Dragon	10 Apr 2003
I never wanted to really choose my name and rather, have an experience very similiar to Ravenswing's something like a gift, to make me feel like someone or something divine said, "here, this is for you. A gift to show you how much you mean to me." Because I've never really thought of putting a name together for myself. But I guess you could also see it as that same divine spirit saying,"go ahead, choose which ever one you like...." *image of a child in a candy store* or *a beginner tarot-reader in a tarot library-type store* I've used Celtic Dragon as a sn for two forums now and I've gotten used to people calling me celtic or cd. Like a second name ~smiles~ So I guess now all I'm waiting for is an affermation something to tell me, "yes! that's your name" or "sure if you like it" So, seeing as how I didn't know that there was a tarot deck called Celtic Dragon *and* I'm completely drawn to it's images....I'm thinking that I'll wait for a close friend or relative to give me the deck as a "gift" for my iniaition. Of corse, I could also enjoy being iniaitied (sp) in my dreams by a tribe of Dragons. <>

The Do you have a magical name, and how did you choose it? thread was originally posted on 22 Mar 2003 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.