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Survivors Guide to the Magical
World
PART 4:
"Which Witch is 'Persona-Color-
Predator-Planet-God-Organ'?"
by Azzerac
Once upon a time, a witch's name was a Witch's NAME. Now it’s as if everyone is
drawing from the same "Find Your Witch's Name" java applet. There are so many
"Merlin Silver-moon Otter-Claws" out there that they become so
very....forgettable! The nature of the human mind is one that lends it's self to
recognizing patterns. It seeks to find these patterns so as to stop the world
from 'surprising it'. Where the problem arises is that naming-conventions are so
prevalent and routine as to suck any mystery from the individual.
“Cultivating Mystery” is a substantial part of our potential power. "Secrecy" is
our Mode and Modus. Other people's expectations add an extra level of
anticipation (and, therefore, 'mutability of reality') to our workings. Their
anticipation and uncertainty adds an emotional excitement to any working,
without an imposition of "Active Doubt" (an aggressive magical defense, known as
"Nega-Psi") . If one falls within a Stereotype of Paganism, then every failure,
which others have had in their workings, will be directed as Active Doubt, to
all who share that stereotype. They will assert their Will to your failure. If
you’ve seen ONE "Crystal-star Tiger-brain Indigo-child”, you’ve seen them all!
How can one develop any air of mystery with an off-the-rack name?
Remember Myrddan (The origin of "Merlin") ? Baba Yaga? Nimue? Rasputin?
Aleister? (My Spellchecker is going nuts, right now! ~L~) These names are
infamous! They hold their fame through originality! There will only EVER be "One
Rasputin", One Merlin", and "One Morgaine"! Why do so many seem afraid to stand
up and stand out?
There will only Ever be one YOU!* How can anyone make a name for themselves when
a java applet spit that same handle-fragments out at countless others? "Morgainne'
Purple-Flower Timber-wolf Raven-moon" isn't a name, it's a mask. It's a flag.
It's a banner to stand under that says, "Look! I'm a witch! Just like all these
other people! Hate Me Too!" Even from within.
The lack of creativity on the part of the contemporary practitioner is, at
times, an embarrassment.
It's not as though it even serves a purpose anymore! The Inquisition is in a
coma (Note: I did NOT say 'Dead'!) , and with the help of the Internet, we know
that our numbers are now without measure. You've no one to hide from anymore!
Even if there was, there's so damned many of us, "We could Take 'em", if it came
to it!
These names are where we get the opportunity to re-define ourselves. They are
where "Joe Smith", and every failure he's ever had, gets left behind. Your new
name is a Rebirth in its own right. It is the way of saying "I start here"!
You see it throughout history, in countless cultures: Every child, upon their
Thirteenth (-ish) birthday, would put their childhood behind them, and begin
their life, anew, as an adult. Part of this tradition was to abandon your "Milk
Name", and choose or accept your Adult Name. This was the name your exploits
would be known by. When you think about it, you were named by a person who'd
never even met you. Who's better at naming you than you?
...but, how can you be known for your exploits when so many others are lumbering
through life, reaping failures in that name? Take a look around, and you will
see that many names are already "Taken". Take a look, and ask yourself: with so
many "Black-bear Silver-Wind Fire-Dragon Moon-Ravens", do you really even want
that name?
Care for a little perspective? Here are the statistics of certain "popular"
names, just on Witchvox, as of the writing of this article. Next to each name is
the number of pagans who have simply that spelling of the name within their
pagan names:
"Air" 422
"Aradia" 65
"Aleister" 0
"Ash" 20
"Aspen" 16
"Azzerac" 1
"Bane" 29
"Bear" 191
"Black" 344
"Blade" 44
"Born" 30
"Brigid" 22
"Butterfly" 92
"Carmin" 1
"Crystal" 170
"Dragon" 953
"Earth" 212
“Eye” 200
"Faerie" 104
"Fairy" 137
“Fang” 23
"Fire" 756
"Flame" 115
"Flight" 14
"Fyre" 126
"Gaia" 44
"Gold" 85
"Green" 225
"Hawk" 357
“Heart” 212
"Luna" 413
"Lady" 1155
"Lord" 133
"Lilith" 71
"Merlin" 24
"Moon" 2049
"Morgan" 186
"Nimue" 18
"Oak" 144
"Odin" 24
"Pixie" 82
"Rasputin" 1 (...but I have my doubts that it's The Rasputin) .
"Raven" 1080
"Rune" 46
"Shadow" 657
"Silver" 774
“Tail” 19
"Thorn" 139
"Venus" 29
"Wind" 340
“Wing” 156
"Wolf" 1460
This is just a sample of the name-fragments used in profiles on the Witch's
Voice, just from performing a Pagan Name-Search. It doesn’t scratch the surface
of unregistered and broom-closeted pagans. It is NOT intended as a shopping
list! Every practitioner goes to great lengths to make a name for him/herself.
It's not for you to simply walk up and claim their Mantle! The task that falls
upon you is to make a name for yourself.
Find the name that sings in your soul, and embrace it! If you've done just that,
then all is right with the world: This one, your personal world, and the next
world. You are doing and being what you' are. The issue is when people just
claim a name for the "Cool-Factor".
My name, Azzerac, was the word that woke me from a deep sleep, at dawn, on my
thirteenth birthday. Four years later, I found it in a conjuration. That was 30
years ago. Whether I chose it or it chose me still remains to be seen. So be it.
Be careful, though. Others have tried to grasp the power of a name. Take the
Legend of Fionn mac Cumhaill as an example. An old man, who knew that the man
who was to eat the salmon of knowledge (becoming the wisest of the wise) was to
be named "Fionn mac Cumhaill", took the name. He saw it as insurance of his
claim. Blind, he was, and he never thought to ask the name of the roving man who
was helping him prepare the fish. This man, after burning his thumb, and thereby
tasting the salmon of knowledge first, had chosen that very name for himself,
without foreknowledge. He was the Real Fionn mac Cumhaill. Attaching yourself to
a name of power is no guarantee of gaining its power.
Now we enter into the Law of Names and Words.
Long ago, it was asserted by Aristotle that the Name of a Thing was that thing.
By knowing its true-name, you had a powerful connection to it. Some would insist
that that was power over that thing, but, as with sympathetic magic, it is
simply a connection, and the door goes both ways. Simply because you share a
doorway, it doesn't mean you own it. Such is the nature of this Law. Are you
stronger than a god?
Took the name of a God, did you? OUCH!
That's binding yourself to the service of that god or ancestor (which can be
worse) ! Steal a name of power, for its power, and you're stuck in the back
seat, with its rightful owner behind the wheel: So much for free will. You’ve
signed yourself over to a "God of...", and you did it willingly!
Gods are bad enough, but what do you really know about that historical figure
you’ve bound your true name to? “Myrddan” (Merlin) is reputed to be a loony, and
a Drug Fiend, and a baby-stealer, AND a Dirty Old Man! “Morgaine” (Morganna) is
reputed to have seduced her brother and destroyed Camelot! “Lilith”? WAY-OUCH!
We all know how she handles a "First Date"! Looks like you better learn to like
living alone!
Names are Personal: Get Your Own!
What about the Law of True Names (OTHER than lashing yourself to the mast of an
Insane, angry, lecherous, alcoholic, etc, ...Deity, that is) ?
You may worry that if others have it that they will have access to your soul.
True. It goes with being a magic practitioner that you have the power to be a
magic practitioner. If you don't, why are we even talking here? I suggest you
Study, Study, Study! Earn the ability before you wear the title of witch or
wizard. Know how to defend yourself before you jump into the ring! This is where
the rubber meets the road.
That being said: Screw 'em!
Anyone who wants to 'Tango' with you, using your True-Name, is asking for,
begging for a "Slam-Down"! Anyone attempting to use your true name to
manipulate, control, or curse you is doing ill. Anyone who would use your true
name against you is incurring retribution. Your name in their head is as
powerful a connection as you having their true name. Anyone that uses mine
learns not to do it twice!
Don't be "Random-Words, Strung-Together, Sounding-Cool". Be You! Show that you
“Got-A-Pair”, and NOT a "Full House"! (The world already thinks we aren't
playing with a Full Deck!)
Azzerac
*-Certain Ideologies, not withstanding!
Copyright: Lodestone and
Lady's Mantle, 2008
Copyright Lodestone and Lady's Mantle 2005-2009
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