Names should be descriptive of a person. Today, though, they are dependent on parents’ likes and dislikes. New parents spend hours hashing out possibilities, and it’s a lot of fun. I know; I went through it. Most of us, though, never receive any different name as we grow and express character, unless your fortunate enough to be known for some positive trait and gain a descriptive nickname. Of course, sometimes that can be negative.
Names have been significant for individuals in all cultures throughout history. I think it’s a bit ironic today that we, supposedly advanced civilizations, don’t put as much merit in names as past, more “primitive” cultures did, because names are part of our identity, and the more advanced we become, the more crucial it is we discover our spiritual nature.
Native American tribes valued this concept of bestowing names. Ceremonies and tribal rituals were built around it in many native nations. Some names were secret, only known by the giver and the named. Names changed several times based on character traits and achievements or skills or animal energy associations throughout one’s life. In fact, several tribes only referred to another person based on relationship: father, brother, mother, sister, and others. They reserved using someone’s actual name for really important times.
Yes, names are important, not because the name gives character but because the name describes what character or qualities exist in a person. The same was true in ancient times with Celts, Middle Eastern cultures, and the Far East. Yet, here we are today, so civilized that we do not think about concepts with spiritual, soul ramifications unless we relegate it to religion. Such a simple and sacred idea as a purposeful, descriptive name should be part of everyday life; the name should in some way come into play in our daily work and relationships. That’s how you know you’ve got a good name!
Allow me to get even more specific. For us today, we need to think about choosing and knowing that sacred, spiritual name even if no one else does. It should represent our self-identity, our personal truth, and be related to our created purpose.
As I have traced some of the themes in Paulo Coelho’s The Fifth Mountainthe last few nights, I would like to continue to reference it about this concept of names. Elijah the prophet of Israel lives in exile in Zarephath, which is in the land of Sidon (modern Lebanon), Israel’s enemies. When they are almost annihilated by the Syrians, Elijah becomes leader by default, and he recognizes the value and sacred nature of taking a name to carry on in positive purpose of reconstruction. The only people left in the novel are essentially the old, widows, and orphaned children. However, Elijah sees in them what they need to see by turning to their own Heart.
Whenever we face something that seems disastrous, we need to turn within, learn our true identity, and the attendant power of Spirit within. There is no other choice except for defeat. When Elijah is the only one who works to safely dispose of dead bodies and starts to clean up the city, an old woman basically tells him to just quit and let the plague from the rotting corpses finish off the rest of them. His thought? “The only solution was to forget a past of uncertainty and create a new history for oneself” (193). When we have such episodes, questionings, fears, doubts, this is the Heart-choice. Resignation is all Ego and leads to an insignificant existence, and nobody can be faulted for that but the individual. Let me repeat — Nobody else has the power to truly and ultimately defeat one except for a person’s own Ego and decision to resign self to mediocrity and defeat resulting from listening to Ego.
Elijah isn’t deterred, and the old and weak and children start little by little helping him, following his Heart-example and sensing his energy. He reflects on the significance and meaning of his own life and discovers what the people really need to continue. They need to come to know Self, meet their own Heart, and learn their own power and create their own purpose. He tells them that “he had fled from doubt. From defeat. From moments of indecision” (205). He knows the discouragement of Ego and the power of Heart, the Spirit.
He tells them what his Heart as Spirit God taught him about himself. His name is Liberation. He tells them to turn within and discover and declare their new name: “The essential point was this: to have a name…Each one has a name from birth but must learn to baptize his life with the word he has chosen to give meaning to that life” (205) and “there were as many choices as stars in the sky, but each one had need to give a name to his life” (206). Limitless possibilities exist in creating Heart-purpose, something worth getting up every day to fight for, to work for, to bless the Universe.
The people of Zarephath (Akbar in most descriptions in the novel) end up recognizing themselves — although originally old, weak, and defeated — as “the young warriors of Akbar” (229). They knew their personal truth and purpose was worth fighting their own Ego for every single day.
Who are you? What is your new name? What potential, power, passions, dreams from your Heart do you have that define in a word or two who your core Self is, something worth being a warrior for?
Set aside a time in a place sacred to you, even if it’s looking at yourself in a mirror, and speak to your Heart. Dig. Find it. Eternal value and worth abide in you. Name it. Choose it. Create it.
(All quotes from my version of The Fifth Mountain: Coelho, Paulo. The Fifth Mountain. Harper Collins, 1999 (Reissued 2009).)
Questions to consider:
How many times have you asked yourself or simply thought about the following questions?
Who am I, really?
What is my truth?
How do my actions reveal what I really feel and believe?
What would I do with my life if I could do anything?
What is my passion?
Why am I here?
How can I discover answers to any of these questions?
If you have considered any of these questions, I hope that my experiences and writing will give you some guidance. Please read my blog and comment and share your thoughts. I would love to hear from you!