Learning As We Go - Growing in Unity Group

In this post, I will touch on the idea that there's more to our names than what we sometimes imagine and how we might use that awareness in our journey of remembering who we are.

What Do I Call Myself?

When I was younger and learned that my name means "rock", just like the Apostle Peter, I was pleased. At the same time, I had a lot of challenge connecting with my name most of my life. In fact, I was 26 when I accepted that this was the name people associated with my identity and that I might as well get used to it because nothing else I came up with stuck. But, deep within, I always felt that there was another name that matched me more.

Being named after my father who my mom was none to pleased with, in my household, the name Pedro took on a whole lot of other meanings besides, "rock". None of which are suitable for this post. 😅 So, I longed for another name that I felt was my own. That's why when I learned that Unity Columbine (CSC) had a White Stone Ceremony, happening on Jan 4, I was thrilled.

The white stone comes from the Book of Revelation (2:17)--one of the most misunderstood books in the Bible. Filled with allegorical and metaphysical treasure, the book has been turned into a scene from people's nightmares by some people who try to use fear as a motivator. I know people who are so terrified of it that they won't even go near it. Fortunately, the Unity approach to these lessons is more invitational and encourages us toward the inner revelation of who we truly are.

Toward that end, in Revelation, when it says, "To everyone who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give a white stone, and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.", we are invited to consider the "hidden manna (food)" to be spiritual substance that sustains the reality of who we are and the new name to be an ever evolving expression of our individual self concept that shifts as our relationship with ourselves and God shifts.

In ancient times, people were very mindful of what names meant. And in Unity folks like the Fillmores read these materials with the deeper meanings in mind. Names aren't just sounds that we aim at each other to get a person's attention. Like all words, they hold a frequency and an intent. What your name means is reflected in how you show up in the world more than anything. But, it also holds the history and social currency of the society you are apart of. For example, if you were named Hannibal Lecter, many people would have have something to say about it. Or what about people who experience themselves differently than the names or genders assigned to them at birth? Or people who are descendants from slavery who hold the names of the people who once "owned" their ancestors?

When I think about remembering who I am, I am always mindful that my very being is symbolic. The same is true for all of us. When people call out our names, there is something that will come to mind. My hope is that despite history, social contracts, and other people who with whom I share a name but may not share other attributes, when people hear "Pedro Silva" (the John Smith of Latino names) and think of me, they will associate that name with someone who is committed to remembering and reminding and living from as loving a place as I can.

What do you hope people think of when they hear or say your name? How can our relationships with one another in Unity facilitate that? If you were to give yourself a new name, what would it be? Has there been ways that the name you now are called by has added to or posed a challenge to remembering who you are?

These are not questions that you necessarily have to share here. But, perhaps questions that you can ponder in your heart. Sending love and light.