Phoenix McFarland

Table of Contents:

The New Book of Magical Names - Reviewed by Psyche
The New Book of Magical Names - Reviewed by Mike Gleason

Title:	The New Book of Magical Names
Author:	Phoenix McFarland
Publisher:	Llewellyn Worldwide
ISBN:	0738703958
Pages:	415 pp. (Incl. bibliography, list of names, and index.)
Edition:	Second Edition, Revised
Copyright:	2003
Reviewer:	Psyche
Contact Information:	psyche[at]spiralnature[dot]com
Category:	Neopagan, Reference
Review:	"Magical names harken back to rituals deep in our past when we first named ourselves, when we first looked at ourselves and knew that we were sacred." (pg. xv) McFarland opens with a brief descrption of the history of nomenclature and its social context from the ancient Celts of 1000 CE with names like "Aelfraed", derived from aelf meaning elf, and raed council (the modern equivalent "Alfred" lends a new perspective to Batman's butler and confidant), to the more bizarre and occasionally amusing Puritan reign where such names as "Kill Sin Pimple" appear in court documents, to the current day, and even offering predictions for future naming trends. Regarding the relatively recent trend inventing names, McFarland notes that "on one hand we are creating a generation of meaningless names (which does say something about the culture in which we live); on the other hand, others are simply spinning out new generations of older name clones (which also says something about that culture). So by the very nature of our superficiality or resistance to change, historical nomenclature is socially significant as ever." (pg. 23). There is a large practical section devoted to naming rituals, spells, exercises, meditations, and for divining and empowering one's chosen name, whether naming oneself, a child, or a coven or group. Also discusses folklore surrounding naming customs, rites of passage, initiatory, for each degree, etc. McFarland lends a wide variety of sources available for choosing a name: common archetypes, names from birds, the sky, space/time, light/dark, names that are traditionally last names used as first names, natural and elemental names, and name sources, places, garden, floral and fauna, as well as a huge section dedicated to selecting names from fiction: from The Lord of the Rings to The Mists of Avalon and everything in between. Though many names are left with little or no explanation beyond their historical time period or who the characters are. However, there are no "harsh" names, no mention of Kali, or Pluto, Chaos or Discordia, everything is left quite light-hearted. While it's nice to keep things positive it's not very balanced. Offering much more than a simple compendium of names, this book will be a valuable resource in any library.
Review submitted:	29 July 2003

^ Table of Contents

Title:	The New Book of Magical Names
Author:	Phoenix McFarland
Publisher:	Llewellyn Worldwide
ISBN:	0-7387-0395-8
Pages:	364 pages + Index
Edition:	Second Edition, Revised
Copyright:	2003
Reviewer:	Mike Gleason
Contact Information:	gleason.mike@verizon.net
Category:	Neopagan, Reference
Review:	Quite honestly, I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I opened this book up. Of the 364 pages which compose the body of this book 39% (143 pages) are simply lists of names, many of them without meanings attached or associated with them. Information is provided on mythological, herbal, and mineral sources. Many of the names are drawn from other cultures, however, and it would be beneficial to have a bit of background on what they may mean in their original context. Phoenix also provides some nice meditations and "evaluations" to help you narrow down your choices. There are amusing anecdotes and quotes to brighten your reading, as well as historical background on some sources. She offers suggestions to help you in your search for a name. It is important to realize that not all these names are intended to be used in the "outer" world. Some, like the pet names lovers have for one another, or the nicknames used by close friends and family, are simply intended to help forge tighter bonds between individuals, or between various levels of your own personality and/or psyche. Some of them are intended to be adopted, for longer or shorter time frames, to help us with our own development. After reading this book, and thinking about the premise, I have to say that I am really glad I got it. You may find names here which will inspire you in the naming of your coven, your child, and your own stages of evolution. At $19.95, the price may seem a bit steep for a spur of the moment purchase, but trust me on this one, unlike the "Lady Pixie Moondrip's Pagan Name Generator" found on the Internet, this one will give you some real inspiration.
Review submitted:	3 August 2003

^ Table of Contents