I hate the word “Re-Branding”. It sounds so corporate and unspiritual. I prefer the term “Re-Birthing”.

There are times in our lives when change becomes necessary, and we realize that certain names or titles we used in the past are no longer relevant. The time comes when we must revisit how we present ourselves to the community. Any true spiritual path is always growing and evolving. After a recent series of eye-opening revelations (both personal and spiritual), I have made a few changes. If you have visited this blog in recent days, you may have noticed that things look different. I have given the blog a new name, Stirring The Cauldron. I want to make it more personal and share things that are important to me, in addition to articles about witchcraft and pagan spirituality.

I have also changed my name, for a number of reasons. Only my closest friends know that Potter is not my birth name. I used it for a very long time, it was a name that I chose long before the J. K. Rowling fiasco, and is how a lot of people know me. While I still adore Harry Potter, the name Potter has become, well…problematic. I still use it on Facebook, only because changing one’s name there is a fiasco in itself. I never use my legal birth name unless it is absolutely necessary. My father’s name means nothing to me-he was absent for most of my life and I have no connections at all to his side of the family. I turned my back on the family name long, long ago. Also, since the world is becoming increasingly hostile to witches and pagans, it is always a good idea to be known by a magical name rather than a legal birth name. Since the name ‘Potter’ is no longer a suitable choice, it was time to revisit what I should be called. I look at it as a sort of “Re-Birthing”. In my druid studies, I learned that many practitioners take on a ‘Bardic’ name. Sometimes they choose it themselves, sometimes it is chosen for them by others, and for many, it is revealed through meditative practices. I contemplated different names, but none of them seemed right. Then one day, during a time of reflection, it came to me suddenly. Oakwise. It was perfect. I am currently revising my books to reflect this new name. It is primal, mystical, magically potent, and suits me perfectly. I love it. It may take time for some people to get used to it, but then again, I don’t exactly have thousands of followers and as a small-fry (and self-published) author, my little books are not exactly best sellers. However, this is my world, this is my path, and you are invited to walk it with me.

Sincerely,

Oakwise