Naming

At Red Cliff there is a tradition of giving students and staff an Earth name to demarcate a change peers have seen in you. The Earth name honors positive characteristics, and sometimes encourages further change. For the students an Earth name is often a powerful milestone in their journey toward their better self. Staff are often given an Earth name when they become head instructor. 

Being named is a huge gift. The people responsible for naming an individual devote lots of time and thought to the person they are naming. It is a really touching experience, and I usually cry when I see someone get named.

Below is the story of Mike’s naming.

First everyone around is asked to make a circle, and then the person being honored is asked to step into the center of the circle. The person who contributed most to the write up will often read it. Mike’s write up, which explains his name is as follows.

Watered Steel-blade.

The world Perfection calls.

Drunk with The Viper poison

Foes appalls

Cuts lively, burns the blood

Where’er it falls;

And picks up gems from

Pave at Marble halls.

A poem from the Baroque Cycle (Mike and his friends read this series)

Steel. Steel tells a story. All steel from the ground is taken and molded into it’s shape. Singing with it’s maker, becoming whatever it’s told to. Except one steel. No one can make ever make it perfect. No one can bend it to their will. Always it will take on the characteristics of it’s own choosing. At once lost. Though still ancient. The way this steel shines is captivating. A work of art. Creativity within itself. 

Damascus.

Noble, generous, cheerful, you have shown your colors to us all. Quick with wit and always ready to help. Containing a valid opinion on all subjects. Your strength and intuition have guided you well. The elm tree is valued for it’s strength. It’s interlocking grain which makes it resistant to splitting. Resistant to decay. With permanently wet trunks, like Damascus, which ill hold an edge for years. The Elm will grow stronger year after year.

Mike, for your creativity, devotion to bettering yourself, strength, intuition, and much more, we offer you the name, Damascus Elm.

After the reading Mike is asked if he accepts. When Mike accepts then he is symbolically cut out of his old self. When he is ready, he takes a step forward toward his better self.

 

Then the write up is put inside a puwaka made of leather. Finally Mike yells “To the East, I am Damascus Elm, to the North, I am…, to the West…, to the South…., To Father Sky I am Damascus Elm, to Mother Earth I am Damascus Elm, to myself and all my relations I am Damascus Elm.” Then we all hug each other.