Naming Ceremony
Bring a red quilt, sister, and offering
and a blanket for each person you bring.
Cook a feast for friends and those that gather;
traditional foods are best, but else if you’d rather.
A feather that has been gifted you, place in your hair
and spend night before in solitude considering kind and care.
Rise and walk out into morning’s face
and stand before your namer and your naming place.
A namer can not be a stranger nor give one to yourself, alone,
because it won’t hold spirit to it, nor will it know your home.
Go and speak, you, to an elder and learn the ways of names.
You can not do it over the internet, for that is just child’s games.
Consider a dream you’ve had, since you were young and fair.
Meditate on stone, a plant, a water source, or type of air.
You’ll be asked to tell this element to the person chooses you.
Through fasting will the namer know, and tell you what to do.
Facing the newest sun, a story will be told;
then to the South, and another tale unfold;
next to the West, an anecdote is shared;
then to the North, and the name is then declared.
A stick of certain wood is laid just before your feet
and when the name is given, a push, so new destiny you meet.
No more will you walk with earthly name with earthly care;
This new walk you walk is one with the spirits that you share.
What name it is, what name should be, I can not say, I can not know
because it is not quickly chosen unless the spirit bids it so.
I do know your wings do spread, like Monarch-winged soul
with dreams and fifth sense things, a part of your dear role.
This name is sacred. This name is holy. This name is like no other.
For in this name, it connects you, dearest, to our heavenly father and mother.
And from this date, you do not walk away, nor from the sacred roam.
This name is the name, my friend, that will fly you safely home.
In a list
A contest entry
- I Need An American Indian Name by Red Red Rose.
700 points, ended December 22, 2006, 14 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 8 of 8
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when you are ready, ask and I can tell you what I know of what to do...it will take some time to know which one to appraoch and ways to know them/him/her. -
absolutely awesome
dearest carol,
your wise words reflect exactly my intuition on name-giving ... it is a sacred ceremony and only a spiritual elder would have the spiritual power to perform this ceremony.
since linda is very sincere and here desire is profound and serious, I am sure that she will call upon her an elder who will offer her a new name.
in the spiritual traditon of india, only a sadguru (a qualified spiritual master who can lead his disciple to the goal) has the spiritual power to give you a new name. your spiritual name will signify your highest spiritual potential in this life, and may either represent a deity, spiritual quality or any formless name of the Divine.
the new name will immediately realign the disciple's spirit with the highest truth and help him or her reach the goal of self-realization.
also, through such a ceremony, the individual soul is attached to the tradition of this spiritual master (or elder).
I am so happy to see the parallels between the native indian tradition and the tradition of india.
much love,
maa
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Yes, not just anyone can give a name, nor can it be simply chosen....as in my notes in the replies to the others....it is very sacred..and youa re right...it does give you something to model and mold your life too.
I would think, if we looked closely at naming ceremonies in ancient aboriginal tribes of any race...we would find very simliar ways and beliefs.
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So it must be in your sisters group sessions you hold.This is the method used to name attendents? I've often been curious who and how a Native American child gets their tribule name.This piece gives a by title a clue that no one might have a name until it is supplied by a grouping of family and or tribule congregation.I love the line,"Rise and walk into mornings face".Suggestions are suggesting I tell you about rephrasing an awkwarsd area,yet I must admit.I find none.This is an acceptionally well versed and thought out spiritual piece as it stands.I adore the background Tee Pees and hued aliveness of it's presentation too.~~~Suseann
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No...this is how a name is given by one who names.....not ever in a simple circle...but follows mych quest and much thought and prayer....on the seeker's part. to find the right person is the next. to give offerings and to go through the ceremony takes many days....in the end, one is pushed over into the new name....One can have a baby name ( given at about three months, as was my granddaughter and culture god-daughter - for lack of other words to describe it), an adult name and an elder name...if it is chosen to be so.
It is very sacred and I believe it to be the name the Creator would call us by if needs be....
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there is something spiritual and universal in your poem .the whole thing is elevated to another plane starting with an ordinary name...really enjoyable and enlightening and giving insight into many things..
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thank you nilav....this is how it is done in some tribes......
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