An Intricate Dance

“Of all the species on the planet, the human being alone has an inherent taste for enlightenment and the ability to realize it.”  Michael Bernard Beckwith, in his book Spiritual Liberation: Fulfilling Your Soul’s Potential, pointed this out in a chapter called “Minding Your Spiritual Manners on Planet Earth.”

In another chapter Beckwith mentions names, pointing out that “we are, in essence, formless and nameless.”  And he asks, if you could rename yourself today, what might you choose, and why? He also points out that: “Names do carry a vibration, which is why when monastics take vows they are given a new name that carries the energy of a spiritual quality or is associated with a saintly person.  All of this relates to our intricate dance with identity.”

Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now, writes:

“The word enlightenment conjures up the idea of some super human accomplishment, and the ego likes to keep it that way, but it is simply your natural state of felt oneness with being.  It is a state of connectedness with something immeasurable and indestructible, something that, almost paradoxically, is essentially you and yet is much greater than you.  It is finding your true nature beyond name and form.”

According to the well-known Sufi poet, Rumi, in his poem
“A Star Without a Name” –

That’s how you came here, like a star without a name.  Move across the night sky with those anonymous lights.

There is a certain liberation in moving beyond “name and form,” but I’m not sure how many of us have mastered that quite yet.  Or how many would want to move in that direction.  But in a world that seems to be trying to grow in spiritual directions, this might be something to think about.

Is there a story behind your name, a reason you use your initials, or not?  Are you named for someone special, a relative, a friend?  Are you named for a star, perhaps?

• My story is simple enough.  I’m named for my southern grandmother, Daisy, and my Dakota grandmother named Anna.  So Daisy and Ann were merged … although, I haven’t used Ann in years.  Some people believe we grow into our names, personality-wise.  Is that true for you? In looking back, I’m not sure why I stopped using Ann.  I love the name, but maybe I felt putting the names together wasn’t the best idea.  Or maybe it reminded me of being young, a child, when I was seeking an adult identity.  Who could say, really?  If I had to pick a new name today … just for fun … I’m not at all sure what I would come up with.  Sunrise?  But that sounds a bit presumptuous!  May have to stick with Daisy for now.
• When I looked up “daisy” as a name, this is what I found –

The name Daisy pronounced Day-zee is a popular name of Old English origin and means Day’s eye; it also comes from the Daisy a flower with a yellow center and white petals.  The Daisy is also used as a nickname for Margaret as the French name for the flower is Marguerite.

F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote about Daisy Buchanan; Henry James wrote about Daisy Miller.  Of course we all know the bicycle built for two song called “Daisy Bell” and if you would like to dip back in time, find Jud Strunk singing “A Daisy a Day” on YouTube.  A hit in the early 70s, let’s see I was in high school about that time and don’t recall hearing the song then, but later in life, there it was … just like all the other references to Daisy.  So much for having a unique name.

But, luckily, in trying to move beyond ego and name (the journey of a lifetime and not really possible in the literal sense), I’m glad “daisy” is everywhere, because it’s that much easier to realize my spiritual role in the cosmos.  To accept the impermanence of this incredible mortal experience.  And to remember that we are all connected on some level.

• The other day I even realized that while I would love to see all of the most beautiful places on the planet while I’m here, as a form, it didn’t really matter.  Others were seeing those places; others were experiencing all the things I never would.  It’s all good.  All part of the same mystery.  And I don’t need to experience everything firsthand, going through life wishing for the “perfect place” or the “perfect moment.”  This moment, as Tolle reminds us, is enough … just as it is … and “I am” is also enough.  It’s impossible to ever see the entire world anyway, so why worry about the impossible?  Why worry, at all?
• Granted, it takes some time to find peace and contentment with such ideas and realities, but it is possible.  And definitely freeing.

Ornamental Kale

However, when it comes to fiction, I understand that names are of vital importance.  We need to know our characters, as writers, and readers want to know our characters — want to find them endearing, yet complex.  Someone we might like to know, despite his or her flaws — the failed starts, the frustrations of life that have led to obstacles, a crisis, or confusion.

• So next week, November 7th, you will have the pleasure of meeting my 3rd guest here in SunnyRoomStudio, Roz Morris.  Her real name is Rosalind, but she assures me no one has called her that in years.  Roz is a professional writer with nearly a dozen published novels to her credit.  She is a ghost writer, at times (perfect in follow-up to Halloween weekend), but also beginning to write under her own name.  And she will be sharing her thoughts on naming characters.
• Roz also freelances for a leading critiquing consultancy in London.
• If you want to get to know her before next week, you can find her on Twitter @dirtywhitecandy (one evening, poking around a friend’s bookshelves she read that in 18th century London, Fortnum & Mason sold a confection called Dirty White Candy.  She thought it sounded like an album title.  But decided to use it for her twitter name because she loves stories that surprise readers with something unexpected that we can still connect to … characters who are just like us but not like us.  And because inspiration comes at random from the most unexpected places).  Roz is also on Facebook and, for her blog, which I recommend to anyone who is serious about writing fiction, go to Nail Your Novel
• In fact, recently on her blog, Roz shares her role as an “extra” in the new Clint Eastwood movie, Hereafter. Also starring Matt Damon, Roz says it was a very special creative experience and part of her life commitment to trying new things.  Growing up in a the small village of Cheshire, UK, she went to college in London and loves to ride horses, even owning a “rather majestic Irish draught thoroughbred cross.”  She loves to keep fit, has dabbled in martial arts and music, and loves various avenues for creative expression.  At the age of 40, she decided to learn to dance … find Roz below in the comment section, as DirtyWhiteCandy.

Also I would like to again thank K.L. Stover for his wonderful guest post: Metamorphosis via Art.  If you haven’t had a chance to read Keith’s blog post and thoughtful replies to all the intriguing comments, it’s most worthwhile.  You can also find Mary L. Tabor’s guest post on the sidebar menu — an excellent guest post about her recently published memoir with links to her blog, website, and so on.  Thanks to you again, as well, Mary.

In this sunny space for kindred spirits — innovative, creative voices with a desire to connect with readers are most welcome.  And appreciated.

Thanks so much for stopping by SunnyRoomStudio today.  I look forward to seeing you here again soon.

• In the meantime, how do you feel about your name — have you changed it over the years, would you change it if you could, or are you mostly indifferent?
  
• What is the role of a name in a spiritual sense?  Could you move beyond name and form, not in the literal sense, but on a philosophical level?
  

Blog posts by DazyDayWriter @ work in SunnyRoomStudio: all rights reserved.