Naming traditions: Native America

Howgh everyone! More naming traditions...

Today, Native America!

"May the warm winds of heaven blow gently on your house, and may the great spirit bless all who enter. May your moccasins make happy tracks in many snows, and may the rainbow always touch your shoulder."

Native American naming traditions, vary a lot from tribe to tribe but many are drawn from nature. 

"Look to the Earth 

And to the Skies 

The Sun, the Moon, and to the Stars You who would be wise.

For they contain the full measure of man 

The height, the breadth, the depth, the span of his entirety. (...)

Look to the Earth 

And to the Skies 

In Spring and Summer, Winter and in the Fall.

Watch life begin, unfold, then fade and die 

To rise anew 

Time and again for 

Time Untold

You who would be wise..."

~ Kenneth Meadows

However, Native American Baby names could also be descriptive or chosen as nicknames like "Little Black Eyes". 

An Apache women is more likely to have poetic names that reflected their physical beauty, like Morning Star, or that reflected their temperament, such as a firey temper or a mild manner, or after a physical tribute like small hands or feet, but they could also be named after some noteworthy deed or a skill they were particularly good at.

According to Lakota tradition, the Naming Ceremony was one of the Seven Sacred Ceremonies given by White Buffalo Woman.  

Have you ever been asked about your spirit name? One Grandmother, Waynonaha Two Worlds, explains that to a native person this is much more important than the legal name. A person’s spirit name tells you something about their personality and their mission in this life.

A baby name changes with adulthood and is actually often chosen to mark major events in life, changing with new achievements, life experiences and accomplishments.

A Cherokee boy now approaching manhood sent a gift and asked for an adult name. 

"I am praying that Grandfather will give a name for him with sweet grass and sage prayers, drumming, meditation and fasting. When the name is given in a dream or simply know in the heart, in a ceremony, the name shall be given to the man."

Names given by Grandfather through a person on the spirit path are considered prophetic. Any name earned as a result of good deeds for the people is considered significant.

Protective Totem animals, found by astrological study of the time of birth, can also inspire a name, as they believed that not only could one possess the traits and qualities of their own birth totems, but also explore and experience the traits of any and all of the totems at various times in life.

Native American Names often had "so personal and sacred a meaning" that they were never used as familiar or ordinary address.

 

This, inspires me.

What about you? Inspired by nature and animal names in your family traditions?

A beautiful prayer to honor sacred beginnings...

"Now you will feel no rain, 

For each of you will be shelter to the other. 

Now you will feel no cold, 

For each of you will be warmth to the other. 

Now there is no more loneliness, 

For each of you will be companion to the other. 

Now you are two bodies, 

But there is one life before you. 

Go now to your dwelling place, 

To enter into the days of your togetherness. 

And may your days be good and long upon the earth."

~ The Apache Wedding Prayer

... a prayer for a couple but... Can you read your mother&baby LoveStory in these words? I can <3