| Choosing a Craft Name A craft name is a name you use specifically for your magickal workings. Some people have multiple craft names. There are also many different ways to chose, or recieve a craft name. Hopefully this will clear up what a craft name is, it's purpose, and how you can chose one. A craft name is a name you use to associate with magick. There are many advantages to using a craft name. First, there are many belifes that your name holds a special message about you and if someone knows your real name they can somehow have power over you. This could be why many parents when they are upset will say a person's entire name. If you have a craft name this may not be a problem for you magickally speaking. This is how craft names become a defense against adverse magick. Also, craft names become a mind trigger to get you into a more magickal and less mundane frame of mind, just like any other tool. If my craft name were Claudia then addressing myself as Claudia would put me in the frame of mind for magick. Another use for craft names are found within the coven setting, or occult community. You could use your name within these groups of people and it would be a good idea if you are still in the broom closet about your practicing. Some authors even publish books under their craft name. In past times craft names were important for that reason. In antiquity witchcraft was illegal in many places all over the world and still remains a taboo in some today. Some people feel having a craft name shows your dedication to the craft because it is a link between you and your deities. Just as there are many reasons for having a craft name there are different ideas on how you deal with a craft name also. As I mentioned before, some authours use their craft name to publish their books. Some people go by their craft name within occult communities, online, and in person in and outside of the circle. Obviously, if you chose to take on a craft name to keep your practice a secret this would not be ideal, but if you chose it for other reasons this is something to consider. I personally tried this and I felt too many people knew and used it outside of the circle until it no longer helped me become focused on magick. I also felt that so many people knowing my craft name took away from it's power, and so I changed my craft name. Many people who use craft names keep them secret. This practice is ecspeically used when the craft name was acquired upon coven initiation and remains a secret between those in the coven. Some people have more than one craft name. One they chose to give to people, one that is chosen by them for private use, and one that is never spoken aloud. Really, in today's world, no one way is best and you will have to make up your own mind about if you will have a craft name and how you will handle it. After you have made the descison to use a craft name, you will then have to go about acquiring one. Many newer practioners chose a craft name. My first craft name I chose, and my recent name is one which I have chosen. People chose names for a reason. Some people simply chose a cool name, however personally I think there should be more to it than this. Other people name themself after a totem animal, spirit guide, patron deity, or sacred plant. I will say that I don't think naming yourself after a deity is ecspecially wise, keep in mind some deities get jealous and may feel as if you're intruding in on their territory; if you go this route I'd suggest asking the deity for their permission or blessing before you do this. Another way to come about a craft name is to chose a name for it's meaning, meaing to you, or after a person who you would like to be more like. I chose my current craft name from a book, it was the name of a character who had many characteristsics I'd like to develop in myself. In covens sometimes a craft name is given to you in some way during your initiation. My first coven I was initiated in I was given a craft name by the priestess, and this was my craft name. In some covens you will be asked to give yourself a name by uttering the first word, or sound, that comes out of y our mouth at a given moment and that is your name. In these sorts of settings you are usually told to keep your name secret and only use it when working magickally and within the coven's circle. Sometimes a deity will bestow a craft name onto a person. This is generaly kept very private and never spoken aloud. However you arrive at your craft name I wish you the best of luck! |