#craft names

[afledglings-guideto-witchcraft]

Craft Names

A craft name or witch's name is a pseudonym that a witch may use while presenting themselves to other witches, it's a name connected with their craft.

A witch may have several craft names, and their purpose for each name is up to that witch. Typically there are at least three categories for a craft name; public, coven and private.

A public craft name is often used by witchy authors, or by those witches who are active amongst other witches, whether in private or online. Some people consider the name that is on their birth certificate to be their public craft name.

A coven craft name is typically given or chosen when a witch is initiated into a coven, and is to be used only by fellow coven members during rituals or gatherings.

A private craft name is chosen by you and is used between you and your deity, a family member or by close friends.

Craft names can be used when someone wants to seperate their craft life with their every-day life, they can also be used as a shield/ward from those who wish to do harmful spells against you.

When someone wishes to do harm upon another person through the use of magic, there are a few things that they must know/have in order for their harm to manifest. Things such as your name, your star sign, your birthdate as well as having something physical that can connect the harm to you such as a taglock. Having a craft name can protect you from that harm or make the effect lessen.

Anyone who chooses to have a craft name may do so, and you may typically see a craft name among religions like Wicca. There are many Wiccans who choose to go by their craft names. However, not all those that have a craft name may be Wicca. Many craft names may sound really cool like "Luna Ravencrone", or they can be as simple as "Stormi Starkweather" (that's mine lol).

Many witches choose a craft name through their interests as witches, mine is actually taken from what I was going to be named at birth (Stormi), a character from a book that I was reading at the time I started getting into witchcraft (Stark, from the HoN series), and my friend made a joke that my mood changes with the weather. So putting that all together I came up with Stormi Starkweather.

Your craft name can be any name that you choose because its unique to you, its something that you are able to connect with and that connects you to your craft.

[chaotic-heathen]

I've been thinking a lot about names recently, and the role they play in my beliefs.

I've always had a distaste for my legal name, like it doesn't really fit me. So, when I began my journey into witchcraft and paganism, I jumped on the chance to get a new name.

It's another aspect of the craft that gave me an opportunity to actually make decisions for myself. It also helps me to get into the right headspace for witchcraft, and to compartmentalize my life.

I have 3 names: my legal name for everyday life, my "craft" name for online spaces and witchy interactions, and a third name that I don't share with anyone. The third one is what I use in my personal work, and work with Freyja.

Each name has its purpose and meaning. And I quite like the idea of having an identity that no one knows.

[moonfableflor]

I am considering changing my name to Lune... hmmmmmm

Buttt I'm not really that suuuureeee

I want a name that's earthy but also kinda celestial but the only name I know that's like that is Tara but that's my birth name soooo

PLUS I'm a Celtic Pagan so I'll have a craft name that I get to choose as part of the grove (basically Celtic Pagan church) stuffidy-stuff so I'm considering just using whatever craft name I pickkkk

BUTTT I don't even know where to start with picking a religious craft name and both my parents (also Celtic Pagans) just say 'oh you know you just do a bit of research and you know you figure it out' so that's not helpful

FGHDHKVDJNRGGG

[citrinemystic]

Magical Names

I have fairly vivid memories of spending a couple weeks with my grandparents when I was fourteen or fifteen. My grandparents lived (and my grandmother still lives) in this little town in the middle of nowhere, where there were only two things worth doing: going down to the river, and going to the library. 

The library wasn’t too much to speak of, though in retrospect it was fairly large, considering the small size of the town. Most importantly for me, it had computers available for use, and a decent enough teen’s section. And that little teen’s section, for whatever reason (maybe the librarian was secretly a witch) had a few books on witchcraft and astrology. 

It was in one of those teen-focused witchcraft books that I first saw mention of the concept of magical names. At fourteen or fifteen, that was a concept that greatly appealed to me. I was still trying to figure out who I was becoming, and I liked the thought of choosing a name, rather than making do with the one my parents had given me. 

I’ve since come to love my given name, and it resonates with me in such a way that I consider it to be my True name, and I tend to use it for most of my workings, especially since I don’t tend to work with the kind of entities that I should be wary of giving my name to. 

But back to the story: The magical name I chose as a teenager while staying with my extremely conservative Christian grandmother (because clearly I enjoye the thrill of sneaking witchy books into her home without her knowledge), was Ceres Rhodanthe. Ceres, for the Roman goddess of agriculture (because I’m a virgo and I read somewhere that the ‘virgin’ the sign was named for was Demeter, but I liked the Roman Ceres better) and Rhodanthe because it means rose blossom in Greek, and I, like many other millennial women, have Rose as a middle name, and I liked that it was kind of like Rose, but different. In retrospect, the fact that I was mixing Roman and Greek together like that is kind of hilarious. 

The choice wasn’t really something I agonized over. I probably spent, at most, an hour deciding that that was what my “magical” name was going to be. And personally, as an adult, I think the name sucks. Not because I dislike those names, but because the reasoning behind the names I chose was so shallow. Furthermore, I’ve since learned that it is disrespectful to take on the name of a goddess as I intended to do as a teenager. 

I still find the concept of a magical name compelling, but personally don’t feel the need for one at this point in my path. As mentioned above, I don’t work with the kind of entities that make using your real name questionable, and I don’t belong to a coven of any sort, let alone one where you choose or are given a magical name. 

“But Citrine” I imagine an indistinct voice call, “you go by Citrine in witchy circles online, doesn’t that count as a magical name?” 

I really don’t consider it to be a magical name. It’s a username, equivalent to the one I use in the fandoms I follow. The name has meaning because it’s what I use to communicate in online spaces, but I holds no more meaning than that. 

I think my ultimate point with this post is that Magical Names are not a requirement to walk this path. It can be helpful when working with certain entities, and can be useful to tap into the more mystical side of one’s self, but in my opinion and experience, it’s about as required as a robe or a broomstick. 

[traegorn]

The Bullshit-Free Witchcraft Podcast: 25. Feedback/Q&A Special 2020

It’s July, and that means we’re doing another Q&A special where I answer questions from listeners like you. And this year I remembered to record it before I hid in a cabin for a week! We talk about your questions about Witchcraft, the show in general, and just stuff I guess. Watch what happens when I get fact checked! It’s neat!

(And, of course, don’t forget this show is part of the Nerd & Tie Network, and funded by listeners like you via Patreon.)

Music “The Man With One Eye,” (Trae Dorn)

Listen to the episode / Subscribe on iTunes

[afledglings-guideto-witchcraft]

Fairies AKA the Fae (p2)

In a previous post, we went over the mischievous little nature spirits known as Fairies, or The Fae.

In that post we discussed some fae lore and orgins. In this post we'll go over some basic fae work, this is if you wish to work with them or how to politely decline working with them.

Recap: Some lore say that fairies are beautiful while another lore says that they are ugly. However most of the lores found say that the fae do no like to be seen and will only be seen to those select few, so descriptions of the fae are scattered and far between.

When the fae wish to contact or work with someone they will begin to leave gifts. These gifts can be anything from little shinnies, flowers or mushrooms growing in ones yard, or even items being misplaced and then suddenly appearing somewhere else.

Now, if one does not wish to work with the fae it is encouraged that you deny, politely but do not use words such as "please" and "thank you" as these may confuse or anger the fae.

Even when one wishes to work with the fae they should be cautious when speaking with them as some words or phrases mean one thing to humans but another to the fae.

For example, giving your name to the fae is a huge no no as it's seen as actually giving them your name, thus rendering you nameless.

If you wish to allow the fae to know your name it's good to use a fake name or even a craft name.

Working with the fae can have some great benefits such as; if you own a garden then the fae may help it grow, like with crows giving them food may also result in them giving you gifts. In general, if you're kind to the fae, then the fae will be kind to you.

Whether or not you plan on working with the fae it's always in your best interest to be kind to them and the nature that they inhabit.

With all the posts on this blog, please make sure that you're doing you're own seperate research if the subjects interests you.

[nerdandtie]

BS-Free Witchcraft: 25. Feedback/Q&A Special 2020