Having a Craft name is about having a name that is meaningful to the individual.
One of the primary reasons these days for having a Craft name is that it is another tool for putting your mind into a ritual headspace where magic works. Many of us live each day in a world that denies the existence of magic or even of the presence of Divinity. So when we step into circle we use a variety of tools to help our minds reach the point where we KNOW that magic does work and we KNOW that Divinity is present there with us. Candles, incense, certain rituals, ritual dress, working in a darkened room are all ways to open up the channels in the mind to allow that to happen. Likewise we have a name that we use in the mundane world and which identify the person who lives in that world. Our magical name belongs to the magical being which comes forth in circle.
In addition, our mundane name is one that was given to us by our parents. We may love it, we may hate it. We may not feel it fits who we truly are. Our magical name, IMHO, should be chosen to reflect the heart of who we really are or who we wish to become. And given time it will be come the real us. That's why the old magical traditions claim that true names have power. In most cases people chose their magical name for themselves. But in some Traditions you are given a magical name by your HPS or HP when you are initiated.
There are any number of ways to find your magical name. Sometimes it can come to you in dreams such as when my husband dreamed of talking badgers for three nights running. Or you can use numerology or other methods of divination to find your Craft name. Meditating on finding your name is another way to come by it. That's where my current magical name came to me shortly before my 2nd Degree initiation.
However you come by what you think might be a good name don't start using it immediately. Take a few days to let it sink in. Look at yourself in the mirror. Does the name seem to fit you? Do you feel foolish calling yourself that? When you speak your new name does it resonate throughout your body and soul as being who you are? Only if it feels absolutely and completely right should you assume it is indeed your Craft name.
Something else to consider. Many people try to take the name of a God or Goddess as their magical name. When you do that you can also expect over time that you will also take on the aspects of that Deity. So be very sure you know as much as possible about that God or Goddess to be certain you really want to reflect those qualities and live up to the standards of that Deity.
And on a final note, our magical names don't always remain the same. As we grow and change our names may come to no longer fit who we are or our aspirations. So don't be surprised if the name you initially chose is no longer right for you. For example, my first magical name was Phoenix because I was being reborn out of the fires I had gone through into a new and magical me. However, by the time I reached my 2nd Degree I had outgrown that name. And that's when my current magical name came to me during a meditation.
Thank you so much for taking such time to reply to me in length, I appreciate that truly. I have been running the name through my head all day and it may sound funny but, it does something inside me, no nothing fluffy and magical, but more of a, man, i dont know how to explain, but, not just a sense of pride something different all together, it is Wolf Mother. It isnt a name I suppose but, I am very much like a wolf, the traits and such, and I am a mother of 7 kids. Its not a name like others i have seen though.
Don't worry about whether it is the sort of name that others seem to use. What works for others is unimportant. What matters is that the name have meaning for you...that it describes who the real "you" is. If the name "Wolf Mother" does that for you then what others do or think is immaterial.
you are completely right, I take your words to heart and thank you! It really does feel right to me deep inside past my consciousness and touches me inside, not sure if it make sense but it touches me in the same place i believe magick comes from, that unknown part of the soul that science has yet to "analyze".
Adam, the only person who can decide whether that is your Wiccan name or not is yourself. One's Craft name needs to be something intensely personal and meaningful to you. It has to express who you truly are inside. So ask yourself what does this name mean to you? Is it truly the person you are? If it is then what anyone else things is immaterial.
I use my name my parents gave me. Because it is beautiful. I don't want to be someone I'm not. When I first practiced wicca.. I went by the name Arokala. And when you say to r you rowl the r as arrrokala. But I think I outgrew that name. Because I used it when I was with my ex boyfriend. He introduced me to wicca. So when we broke up. I switched my name to my real name. I vowed to be only me and no one else. But that's my journey to my life. Sometimes when you feel heart ache after a brake up. You go into a state where you write in a journal. And your heart tries to heal from a broken heart. The people you know in your life have an influence on you. And brings you experience. That's how you grow.
My Magickal name is Obsidian Haze. obsidian is a stone used generally for protection as well as my element is air. i simply chose a name from which resembled who i was and who i strive to be.
i tried numerology but sadly i hit a dead end there as my number was not there. my number turned out to be 10 if i recall.
My original Wiccan name was Relic (it fit with numerology) I used to have a book character named Saria Relics Athen. She lived the sort of life I want to lead and was a strong grounded individual I hoped to be. I went by Saria in school and lived with this name Relic for about a month after first learning about craft names.
Then came a change, I broke up with my girlfriend of eight years, at that time I changed my name to Paige. That very night I decided that I was turning the page in my book of life and moving on, through numerology the name was a dead match. I feel the name inside my chest and I know its mine.
