A widespread practice in the Tarot community continues to puzzle me: the adoption of “magickal names.”
Go to any Tarot convention, and you’ll meet Master This and Lady That, Madame Star Whistle and Sister Flower Spirit. Others forego titles and choose one-word crunchy-sounding “Cher”-type monkiers, like CrystalShower and SummerGull.
I confess the whole business of making up a magical name just fails to appeal to me. My upcoming Tarot book — probably all my Tarot books — will just come from Mark McElroy. Maybe that’s less memorable than GalaxyStomper or PondDaddy … but that’s my name, and I’m sticking to it.
I’m told some folks adopt these names because they don’t want clients looking them up at home. That’s cool. Others tell me that going by WindHammer or GrassTrickle makes them feel more mystical; putting on the name is like putting on a robe. Others are given their name by the spiritual workgroup they attend.
One or two folks have been honest enough to tell me they just thought they needed something that sounded cooler than “John Wilson.” Who wants a Tarot reading from John Wilson? John Wilson doesn’t sound like someone with psychic or intuitive abilities. John Wilson sounds like a guy who would know how to grease an axle.
If someone wants to call herself LightTwinkle FancyPants, I’m fine with that. It’s an option. Part of why I’m involved with Tarot, though, is to make it clear to everyone that Tarot can be used by anyone … even by folks with bland-sounding Irish names like mine.
Hmmmm… What would my Tarot name be? InitaTrailer? Sewerwater? Shallowmale? Lightintheloafers? Nellybelle? Butchbutnottoobutch?
Uggh. If only SummerGull wasn’t taken! I swear I had that name first!
I honestly believe most people see these names and the people attached to these names as flaky or not very serious about their craft. What does it say to me? It says these people are not able to fully stand behind their beliefs and actions…. Somewhat like “anonymous” posts in forums that state “I stand behind my words”.
I prefer Mark McElroy easily! It’s definitely more original then Sunflower Moondrop though not as hip as Initatrailer. 😉