The Mystical Nature of Names
The Mystical Nature of Names
Until relatively recently it was not a common practice to use
your given name among strangers; instead a pseudonym was used
for public display. It was once widely believed that sorcery and
witchcraft could be performed upon a person's true name in order
to control that person or have power over them. The use of given
names was reserved for close friends and confidants.
Medieval demonologists believed that to know the true name of a
demon was to have power over it. This is a common theme among
mystical teachings. Kabbalists are known to seek the mystery of
God's true name, a name believed to hold infinite power and
wisdom. The "Key of Solomon" a medieval book of magic or
grimoire contains a listing of the names of angels and demons
for use in conjurations and magic.
The belief in the power of names is also common among various
cultures. Some Native Americans have two names, one of which is
never made public because of the power it would give another
person over them. The people of Indonesia may occasionally
change their names after they have suffered some misfortunes or
have had a serious illness. They believe a new name will confuse
the evil spirits that brought them grief. Similar beliefs in the
power of names can be found in all parts of the world, from
Egypt to Alaska.
The tradition of chanting or repeating divine names has a
special place in most religions. For example, in Buddhism, the
Tibetan traditions place much emphasis on the chanting of
mantras. It is said that the heart opens with constant
remembrance of the divine. This idea is known as Zikr in Arabic,
a term which means "to remember". It is thought among many
religious practices that when divine names are repeated the
chanter becomes closer to the qualities and nature of the
divine. In Western traditions many families partake of a naming
ceremony or christening ritual upon the birth of a new child.
The sense of personal identity and uniqueness that a name gives
us is at the heart of why names seem so important to us as
individuals and to our society as a whole. In spite of their
importance, though, most people know very little about names and
about the effects they have on us in everyday life. In a very
real sense, we are consumers of names.
Names are largely overlooked in the modern world as instruments
of great spiritual power. However, the mystical power of names
to affect change in the universe directly has been a
long-standing tradition in ancient wisdom. What can we learn by
examining the mystical significance of names? Perhaps we can
come to a better understanding of how names can be used in
manifesting our reality.