Why Renaming Yourself Is A Sacred Act

“A good name is to be chosen.” –Proverbs 22. 

Many of our enslaved ancestors had their names stripped from them. After emancipation, renaming themselves was a spiritual reclamation of their identity and a way forward.

Have you ever considered renaming yourself? 

In some African diasporic cultures, a person receives a new name after undergoing a rite of passage. But renaming yourself in itself, is a rite of passage. 

We change throughout our lifetimes.  Renaming yourself is a way to honor those changes. The best part? You can change your name as many times as you want.

God is referred to by many different names. As we are reflections of God, we too are allowed to have different names throughout our lives.

There are many ways you could welcome in your new name, from having a renaming ceremony  with your community to legally changing your name. 

If you want a private ceremony, consider creating an altar. Light a candle, write your old name on a piece of paper and burn it. As it burns, chant your new name along with the affirmations for the life this new name will bring you. 

Every time someone speaks your name it’s like a spell. 

What magic do you want your new name to bring to the world?