The power of naming
As an expression of identity and relationship
Hi friend,
Before I suggest some mind-training exercises to help us (re)connect with the Divine, let’s chat about what the process of naming means generally. Also dive into the “SO WHAT” question - so what difference does a name for God make?
The power of naming
In the Pixar film “Coco,” the main character - a young boy named Miguel - encounters a stray, street dog. His Abuelita warns Miguel, "Never name a street dog, he'll follow you forever." We experienced this at my mom’s house when a couple of stray cats began coming by. My mom started putting out food and water for them, and after a while she named them. And she built little houses for them from styrofoam coolers. And put antibiotics in their food when it looked like they had eye infections. And fed their kittens … and grand-kittens, and great-grand-kittens until she had a colony of over 20 cats all with names!
A name has tremendous power. As soon as we connect with a being by name, we are in a relationship. Whether we bestow a name, give a loving nickname, or learn a name, a name is a thread of connection.
Even in circumstances of temporary relationships, names (or the lack of learning names) can dramatically shift the dynamic of a situation. When we are eating in a restaurant or shopping at a store, we learn the name of our server as quickly as possible. They are working hard and deserve to be treated with the respect of being addressed by their name. And when I share my name, I am asking for the same respect.
Hearing your name called in a confusing or uncertain situation can bring an immediate feeling of grounding. I remember getting off a flight with our youth group, exhausted and desperate to be home. As we waited for our luggage, being jostled by the crowds and overwhelmed by all the noise, I heard my name. Bob, the person picking us up at the airport, was calling “Libby!” Instantly, a flood of relief flowed through me. We were one step closer to home.
In John’s gospel, Jesus’ resurrection appearance to Mary Magdalene begins in a haze of tears and fear and confusion. She realizes that the man standing before her is not the gardener but Jesus when he calls her by name - Mary! Love floods her and the seeds of new life are planted.
The Abuse of Naming
Throughout history, when people were captured and sold into slavery, their new “owners” simply recorded their gender, approximate age, and possibly their region of origin. In the 16-18th centuries, ship manifests rarely recorded African names, essentially eradicating their identity. If people from similar home regions found themselves working together, then they may secretly call each other by their true names. Many enslaved Africans in the US South were assigned Anglicized first names and then the slave owners’ surname. Frequently, enslaved African peoples were simply referred to as “boy” or “girl,” without the respect of any name.
While the loss of identity experienced by enslaved peoples was nearly complete, refusing to use someone’s name can be a slow erosion of personhood. In my early 20s, I was a teaching assistant at the University of Virginia and worked with a professor in his 70s. He was “old school,” meaning sexist and racist. I watched him call on white, male students by name and merely point at Black students when they raised their hands with questions. Throughout the entire semester, he never once called me by name. I was “honey” or “sweetie" if he bothered to address me at all. I was treated as his help, and not as a person worthy of respect.
Participating in the Naming of God
Historically, the naming of God as a male figure distorts how we might encounter the Holy One. A quick glance at the image above and I see the male names, “Son, Father, King, Prince, Second Adam, and Master.” There are some words whose roles were traditionally male (rabbi, high priest, judge), many names that are not explicitly gendered (friend, bread of life, light of the world), but not a single female name for God. Even though there are many examples like Ruach (breath of life), Shekinah (She-who-dwells), El Shaddai (many breasted one), Sophia (wisdom), Mother Hen, and Compassionate Mother that appear in Scripture, none have been listed above.
Why Feminine Names for God
There is no way that I could begin to write as eloquent a post as Daneen Akers on this topic. If you find yourself questioning the masculine names you were given for God and wonder about feminine forms, PLEASE read this amazing article: The Divine in Feminine Form. Daneen Akers draws on a wide variety of scholars to help us understand that God as feminine is in our sacred stories, but these expressions were suppressed for millennia.
Given the negative impact of dominantly male language for God on so many people (not just those born female), it is critical to introduce some feminine language into our vocabulary for God … especially when feels wildly awkward. I have a complicated relationship with both of my biological parents, so referring to God as “father” or “mother” never felt comforting. But calling the Holy One “breath of life” or “Spirit of Wisdom” and using the pronoun “she” slowly helped me recover from these early and persistent patriarchal wounds. Now I mostly use gender neutral expressions for the Divine, AND deeply appreciate the call to feminine names of God.
Some training exercise to help expand our minds
Grounding in our Bodies: Walking Around Questions
Building on our practice from week 1, as you move through your day and experience wonder and delight, practice saying:
Each day, choose a different name for God and practice walking around with it. Do some of your own research and feel what’s right for you. I have tried:
Spirit of God, Sophia, Flowing Light, Source of All, Ground of Being, Divine Love, and Daneen Akers uses Mama God
Journaling
How has naming been important in your life? Have you changed names? How did that shift your sense of yourself?
How does knowing someone’s name, or being called by name, shift the relationship?
How have male expressions of God’s name affected you?
What do you experience when invited to explore different names for God?
Prayer / meditation
If you pray, especially using written prayers, actively replace male names for God with feminine names or gender-neutral names and pronouns
Settle into a quiet space, perhaps with a small altar, and set a timer for the amount of time you want to pray. In a gesture of gratitude, remind yourself that the Source of All / Divine Flow / Spirit of Life is with you and in you and all around you, supporting you. Choose one name for the Divine as your sacred word. Breathe in and out, slowly, resting in silence. As your thoughts drift, repeat your sacred name for the Divine as an anchor to call you back to Presence.
Thank you for joining me and trusting me to be part of your spiritual journey.
Abundant blessings of peace, joy, love, and hope on the Way,
Libby