Your chosen name defines who you are; changing it can be a difficult task when done quickly. So what are the name modification pitfalls and how do you avoid them?
Names are very important. I know that seems obvious, but can you explain why they are so important? The answer most give is along the lines: "Because that's what you are called." This a good, if simplistic, reason yet it is not the major reason. The real and major reason has to do with what a name is.
A name is a word.
Think about it. Without everyday, common words, we cannot communicate - at all. Sign languages like Auslan, written language, symbols, mathematics, meaningful whistles - all use words. the written word is more powerful numerologically because committing anything to paper renders it more permanent than transient.
If an order is given vocally, but not written, the order can be misunderstood, misheard, ignored, changed, reversed, denied, etc. However, if the order were written there is less chance of there being the above adaptions applied to it. Make the order an official document, signed sealed, and hopefully delivered, and then the words are even less likely to change, and they gain superior strength - called authority.
Names are very important words because they are written and spoken, rememberd by others, and most importantly, responded to by you. You give this particular word its dynamic value; when you change the name, you change the value too.
There is a comedy sketch that has a man caled Henry, who to be different, spells his name "HEN3RY" - the 3 is silent. This is rumoured to be a very prevalent theme in the USA, particularly in California, as parodied in the Steve Martin movie L. A. Story.
However, it is not that far-fetched. Name changes from sensible, staid, and seemingly monotonously common names (Dennis, Mary, etc.) to exciting, daring, and seemingly uncommon and/or invented names happen all the time; especially in the so-called New Age society. Dennis becomes Dorian because he reads that Dorian, the major character in the novel The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (1891), never aged and remained youthful and elegant. If Dennis did more research and actually read the novel, he might reconsider, as the protagonist Dorian was a libertine, rake, and suffered a foul end. The name Dennis though is derived from th eGreek god's name Dionysos; if he changed it to this, again seemingly to be prefered, he had better check what the name alludes to - the orgiastic behaviour, within a libidinous cult. However, change it to Dionysios and it becomes the name of saints.
Numerologically DENNIS (455591) adds to N=2 (sharer, team leader), C=6 (worker, methodical), V=5 (fighter, adaptable), DIONYSOS (49657161) and DIONYSIOS (496871961) add to N=3 (communicator, creative) C=2 (sharer, team leader), V=1 (leader, controller) [see my previous articles in Spheres for how to work these out.] The The value set of Dennis is not appalling, but if a change to one of the other names was desired, Dionysios is the better, even though it is the same on base numerological grounds. Check the flow of the letter/number patterns and you'll find Dionysios has a better rhythmic pattern and harmonic flow, due to the twin IO sets.
The third pitfall is choosing a name that you can't or won't readily respond to. A farcical version of this is a man, Dennis, calling himself Margaret, whilst not having homosexual, transsexual, or transvestite tendencies.
The fourth pitfall is taking the name someone else selects for you, whatever reason.
The final pitfall in this short list is expecting instant results from the name change. Remember that names are words we respond to as identifying us personally: they imbue a fantastic (and usually unrecognised) power and authority over us. If we were to instantly have change in our lives due to a name change, then the power of our egos must be very weak. The The name change is, however, slow to take effect, sometimes needing years to fully nestle into our psyche. There are occasions when the original name is too ingrained, and however much a person tries to change the name, they still respond to thier original name.
In the next article we will explore whether or not to change your surname (as in marriage).