Magickal Names

Sometimes, when a Witch dedicates her/himself to the Craft, he/she takes a new name symbolizing his or her rebirth, much like receiving a Christian name at a Christening.

Not everyone chooses to take a magickal name. And one isn't limited to just one magickal name or the same magickal name for all life. Sometimes we feel the need to adapt our name as our lives change.

How do you find your magickal name? Well, it's different for each person. The name you choose should say something about you. Some people research, others do mediation, some just flat out know. Do you have an affinity to a specific Deity? Is there any animal, plant, tree, stone, etc. that you are drawn to?

Magickal names can be derived from anything. The common themes are taking the names of Goddesses or Gods or choosing a facet of nature that represents you.

Some Witches start out with a single-word name and then add additional ones as they progress in the craft. Some Witches have multiple names - one for their Coven, one they use in solitary workings, one for "the public" (for online, networking, etc.)

One thing to keep in mind though: The titles Lord and Lady are usually reserved for those who have reached a second degree initiation. Some Witches believe they are titles that should be earned, not assumed.

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Just for fun (or maybe spark an idea)

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How Apythia chose her name:

I originally didn't feel the need for a magickal name. I happen to really like my birth name and thought it suited me. I was "out of the broom closet" to most everyone so I felt no need to separate that part of my life.

But the deeper into Wicca I got and once I started to make contacts for this Web site, the more I thought I wanted a magickal name. One, I wanted to have something that would help me transition from the mundane to the spiritual when doing ritual or magickal workings. And two, for a more practical note, we all know that there are rather closed-minded fanatics out there and frankly, I didn't want to make myself or my family vulnerable to them by placing myself out as a target with this Web site.

Then one night while working on this site, I was watching a program on the History Channel about the Delphi Oracle and the pythia priestess and -- bam -- it hit me. The Pythia - A Pythia - Apythia - a priestess that brings the information of the gods to the people. It fit my goal for this site, to act as a medium to share information on the Craft with others. I am not the omnipotent, merely the vessel.

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How Lady Phoenix Found Her Magickal Name(s):

Shortly after I began working through the exercises in Silver RavenWolf's "To Ride a Silver Broomstick," I knew I wanted to give myself a magickal name, but I had a hard time coming up with one. I wanted it to really mean something, but everything I came up with sounded trite, or wanna-be, or stupid. Or all three.

At the time I was just out of college, living in a small town on my own, and I had no local friends, so I spent a lot of time walking and riding my bike around the town, learning my new home. One day, I found a creek with a nice little wading spot, and I started going there to sun myself and to relax on my days off. And it occurred to me, finally, that I should use that spot to meditate on what my magickal name should be.

As I sat listening and concentrating on my breathing, the sounds of the moving creek waters entered my consciousness like a song, and it was a small leap from there to my first magickal name, Riversong.

I used that name for several years until I was dedicated into the Black Forest Clan. As I worked toward my first degree, I knew that I wanted a new magickal name to signify my new path and work with BFC. I started playing with using Flame, which had been my nickname in college. Gradually, I played around with it, and I tried other ideas out. But ultimately, I wanted to stay connected to the Fire element, which is the one I work best with. And I have always been drawn to the idea of the phoenix and its legend of rebirth out of the ashes of the dead. When I received my first degree, I took the name Phoenix MoonFlame, and I find that I am more comfortable with that name than I ever was with Riversong.

The "Lady" title was added on once I received my second degree. (As previously mentioned, it can be considered a breach of etiquette to use "Lady" or "Lord" in your magickal name if you are not at least a second degree.)

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How Maera chose her name:

Several years ago (after I discovered my Witchy side) I decided that I needed a Pagan name, one that would represent me and my emergence into the magickal world. Names always seem to be more difficult to pick when you have a choice, but in this case it truly did call to me. I happened upon a book I ordinarily wouldn't have picked up and when I cracked it open… there it was, Maera.

There are actually a couple references to the name, Maera, depending on where you look.

Greek mythology: Maera was the faithful hound of Icarius, an Athenian follower of the wine god Dionysus. Icarius was the father of the maiden Erigone. Dionysus had taught Icarius how to make wine.

One day, Icarius travel on the road in a wagon, when he met some shepherds. Icarius shared his wineskin. The shepherd fell into a drunken stupor and when they woken up, they thought Icarius had tried to poison them. The shepherds bashed Icarius to death and buried him under a tree.

Erigone became concern for her father's whereabouts, set off with Maera to find him. Maera led the maiden to the grave. The hound howled in its grief, before leaping off the cliff to its death. Erigone was also distraught over her father's death, hung herself from the tree, above her father's grave.

Dionysus taking pity on his followers and the hound, placed them in the sky as the constellations Bootes (Icarius), Virgo (Erigone), and Maera as the dog star Sirius. Other say the constellation Canis Major or Canis Minor was Maera.

Dionysus did not let the shepherds escape for murdering Icarius. Dionysus caused madness in Athens, where all the maidens hung themselves. The Athenians found out from the oracle what had caused this phenomenon. They captured the murderers and hung them.

From that time onward, the Athenians held annual festival in honour of Icarius and his daughter during the grape harvest, where the girls swung on trees in the swings.

As a side note: Canis Major denotes a battle hound.

Latin mythology : Maera was the daughter of Atlas. The translation of the name Maera is 'the strong one'.