How do you find your spiritual/witch name?

[onyx208]

Any suggestions? I could use some guidance. Thank you!

[SnowCat]

I'm still looking for mine.

Snow

[Silversong]

Honestly, when I started thinking about it, mine came to me in about three or four seconds. I pushed it away and kept looking, but as the right name (or crystal, for that matter) tends to do, it kept coming back and nudging at my mind like a very friendly cat wanting attention. At last I accepted it.

For most people, I don't think it's that easy. I've no idea why mine came so easily, but I can feel in my bones that it's right.

You can make yours out of words with their own meaning, that appeal to you - for instance, the pagan author Silver Ravenwolf (fairly sure that's not their real name).

Some people use the numerical value of their own name, and have their magickal name have the same numerical value, but I don't think that makes much of a difference honestly. A chart for that:

You'd add up all the numbers: for instance, in Silversong, it adds up to 50. Bad example, as it happens. You'd then add up those numbers: 5+0=5. That's the final number. (Most people would add up 11 to equal 2 and 22 to equal 4, but some leave them at 11 and 22.) A better example, perhaps: Onyx adds up to 24. 2+4 = 6 = final number.

In my case, my name doesn't follow either example (at least, I don't think they're the same numerical value... actually that'd be freaky if they were by complete chance *checks* no they aren't). Mine is just a random word that means nothing on its own, but came to me out of the blue and appeals to me. You'll know when you find the right one. Trust me. It'll keep coming back to you, and poking you, until you accept it. Even then, occasionally when you haven't thought about it in a while, it'll come back and you'll hear it in your head out of nowhere.

[ShadowCat]

I'm way too new at this to be giving any advice, but unless your legal name is Onyx, perhaps you've already found it - or at least part of it. For many reasons, I was Shadow for decades. When I realized how critically important cats are to my emotional wellbeing, I added the Cat part. It fits far better than my legal name ever could. ShadowCat is my authentic self.

[onyx208]

Thanks y'all. It ended up coming to me in an epiphany very strongly.

[Silversong]

Good, I'm glad. :3

[ShadowCat]

Do people generally share their witch names? This is something I haven't read about yet.

[Silversong]

I've read that you're not "supposed" to, ShadowCat, because it can theoretically be used against you (names are power and all), but I've also met plenty of people who don't mind tossing theirs out there. That said, I also know people who have more than one (more than a few!) names, used for different purposes... myself, I have a lot that I respond to but only three that I truly accept as mine (and that therefore have power over me): my given name, the name I use for most online things and also for certain other things (Dragonheart), and my magickal name, which no one knows save the God, the Goddess, and me. (I suspect that Silversong will eventually become what I call myself among the Wiccan community, should I ever join other Wiccan forums and such, though it's not my true magickal name.)

[SunshineintheDark]

I haven't chosen my community name, I don't think. I thought that I had found my witch name, but then I read yesterday that some people feel you should make your name match your numerology number, so I spent like 3 hours trying to create a name that added up, but I am having trouble accepting it, because the name I had chosen myself has been with me all along, and fits me. So I don't know. I have heard many different ideas on how to choose one, lol.

[ShadowCat]

The replies are interesting. I have some concerns about decisions made based on "supposed" to. "Supposed to" seems to belong in the realm of organized religion and all the bondage that goes with it. Instinct seems to serve us well. So I think we need to do what feels right. That said, I don't see a problem with having multiple names based on assorted methods of finding them. In fact, that journey of discovery sounds fun.

[Naudia Threng]

It all depends on which "Witch Name" you use. There are many different variations depending on your path. In some beliefs, you have a true name (Which you sure with no one and you may never find out yourself. Egyptians called this the Ren.) Then you may use a ritual name (Its a name of your choosing, only to be shared with your coven, or if you practice solitary, you can share it with your local(or online) wicca/pagan community(that means us). You may also be talking about your Magickal Name (Again, a name of your choosing. But its more or else pre-ordained by the universe. This name can be shared freely, as in theory it can be found out through scrying.) Its honestly up to you. I tell mine to everyone. Hell, its my username. I actually have two. And neither are secrets. I use one in general, and one in rituals. Theres just not enough space to make my username Azure Lily / Moon Orchid. I could care less who knows it. Because since magic is all about intent, if you wish to negatively affect someone through spells, you just have to intend for it to affect them, name or no. Its purely preference and trust.

[Silversong]

Good point, ShadowCat. The point is, some people are comfortable with sharing their magickal name, and some aren't. (I happen to be in the latter category, and you in the former. Nothing wrong with either one - just different feels for different people, kind of like most of the rest of the Craft. I think that may actually be part of the problem most people have with defining the Craft XD)

That's an excellent point also, Azure, actually... the name not really being needed for such things. (Also kind of a scary thought.) I suppose I just have always been taught "names are power," admittedly by public media (*cough*Percy Jackson*cough*), so it's kind of an instinctive thing by now. Names for special use are kind of a personal trust thing for me.

Sunshine, I think if you have a connection with your previous name, then you should probably leave it. Some people feel they need their name to match their number, but I haven't met that many who subscribe to that idea, to be honest. I don't even necessarily agree with that. I think it's an interesting bonus point if it happens to, but I also think it should probably be more by feel.

[SunshineintheDark]

Then I will leave it for my magickal name, because I had already committed it in my BOS . I have been using SunshineDancingInTheDark for years, and I wanted to use some variation of it for my community/ritual name, but it's too long, so I am still trying to figure that one out.

[Naudia Threng]

Sunshine, ive had that same problem. When i came up with Azure Lily, its because there wasnt enough space for "Blooming River Lily of Azure Petals". So, the best thing to do would be to find some type of symbolism. You could do something like "Dancing Starshine" Since stars are in the dark (the sun is a star) and your dancing. Thats just an example though.

[SunshineintheDark]

Sunshine, ive had that same problem. When i came up with Azure Lily, its because there wasnt enough space for "Blooming River Lily of Azure Petals". So, the best thing to do would be to find some type of symbolism. You could do something like "Dancing Starshine" Since stars are in the dark (the sun is a star) and your dancing. Thats just an example though.

Thank you! It's so nice to know that there are other people that understand the importance of keeping the symbolism. Without finding the right combination, it takes away the meaning, which is the important part, you know? Wow, it really speaks for the quality of my real life conversation availability. Lol.