52 Topics again? Perhaps not as many again.
1) "I'm Lady Arianhrod Greenwood Moonseeker Willowbrook, Priestess of the Coven of Moon and Sunlight"
-I...have absolutely NO problems with people seeking out a personal name to use within a craft context. If someone wants to take on a new persona while working their ritual or whatever, more power to them. What I DO have problems with is the types of names people choose. Individuality is very important in such a craft, however I think people take individuality and uniqueness to a whole new (facepalm) level.
I'm sorry, but if I'm going to take on a name to use to communicate to my deity (even though I have no idea why I would need to as s/he would know me by my heart, not whatever name I go by), it's not going to be some silly, ridiculous name plucked from The Neverending Story or The Princess Bride. I'm all for individual names, unique names that no one ever thought of. If someone could come up with a name like "Arrwynn" or "Aeowynn" (sorry if I spelled them wrong) from Lord of the Rings BEFORE ever reading the story or seeing the movies, THAT would be individualism. Sunlight Moonshadow sounds like a name chosen with absolutely, positively NO thought whatsoever. Even the popular author "Silver Ravenwolf" seems to have put absolutely NO thought whatsoever into choosing her name. At least if I were to use my pen name as a personalized Pagan name for my craft my name, it would be truly unique (sort of). Ma'iingan is hardly a name heard very often. Ok, so it's not so unique considering Ma'iingan is Ojibwa for "Wolf", however it's a lot better than going around calling myself "Wolf".
People please (I call to those who are new to the craft, fresh spirits discovering something new yet old), PLEASE put thought into a name if you choose to get one (and please, do not be in such a rush to get one).
2) Confused Definitions
-We all know it...Witchcraft is the craft of the Witch. Wicca is the religion of Wiccans. Neither are one in the same thing. They are SEPARATE.
Here is a Picture Perfect example of why so many people are confused as to what a Witch and what a Wiccan is. A site that perpetuates the idea that they cater ONLY to "Real Pagans", chooses to carry on false definitions of what Witches are:
Firstly, the author "Shawn" (who admits to modifying this from a blog post by one "Sangraal") starts off with "British Traditional Witchcraft"...(aka Wicca...at least from the sounds of his definition). He states the most noted traditions IN this "Tradition" are Gardnerian, and Alexandrian. Both Wiccan traditions. Again, Wicca is NOT Witchcraft. Gardner called his religion a Witch Cult in the early beginnings, not WitchCRAFT.
Traditional Initiatory Witchcraft comes next, being both initiatory from lineage of an established tradition, but is not linked to the New Forest Clan. Still...the common traditions within this "Initiatory Witchcraft" are still Wiccan offshoots. Not Witchcraft.
Dedicatory Witchcraft is next, claimed to be "Neo-Wicca", "Solitary Wicca" or "Outer-Court Wicca". Again, Wicca isn't Witchcraft. Can we PLEASE stop confusing the two. All of these so-called definitions of "Acceptable" traditions only allowed on the site are NOT Witchcraft traditions...they are WICCAN traditions. Let's get it right people. (One reason why I will NOT join this site...they can't even get their definitions right).
When I picked my name I did research on mythical creatures of ancient Greece and than from that the different kinds of nymphs, there are many such as wood, freshwater, saltwater, swamp etc and I chose the name Naia, it comes from the word for freshwater nymph which is naiad. I am drawn to this name as I love lakes, I think it suits me well.
ReplyDeleteSilver Ravenwolf is very phoney and an example of what your name should NOT sound like.
Wow, that's a beautiful name...definitely NOT some random, all-too-commonly chosen, no-thought-at-all name. I love it. Thanks for sharing how you came to get it and what it means. I love unique names and I'd say that one is pretty unique :)
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