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Every day of our lives, even without knowing it we use our names to define who we are. The first thing we do when we meet someone new is introduce ourselves: "Hi, I'm Susan- who are you?" It's such a common place thing that for the most part we don't even consider it. Think about it, every time you introduce yourself you are affirming qualities about yourself. Do you know what these are? What characteristics are hidden in these words that are so close to you, you believe they are you?

We are about to take a journey that will lead you on the path to discovering what pearls of wisdom are behind the names that you call you.

Names have always held special significance. In times past it was common for a person's name to identify their profession or special qualities they had. Karen Carpenter for example, would have meant Karen the Carpenter, not Karen the singer! Today it is still possible of course to tell place of origin and lineage from names but they also mean much more.

In some spiritual traditions the power of names is still recognized. Students are given a special name by their teacher that signifies who they are. This name is seen to illumine characteristics of the student or even bestow qualities. In some Sufi traditions, names are even changed as a person evolves.

So what does your name say about you? Here are some tips for discovering the hidden messages behind your name.

Start by looking up the meaning of your name. You can look at baby name books or even on the web. Look at several sources, as you are likely to find some variations. The name Susan for example, depending on what internet site you look at can mean "lily, or rose, or trusting."

Free associate. "Lily" or "Rose" make me think of gardening, of growing flowers, of growing beautiful things. Think of the qualities of the objects have- they are rooted in the ground. Both have strong and intoxicating fragrances. A rose makes me think of love and romance. Lilies strike me as the actress of flowers- they are very vocal. You don't need to see a Lily to know it's in the room- their fragrance is so powerful.

What pathways does this free association lead you down? How do these words or concepts fit your life? Investigate how these links pertain to you. Use a dictionary or other reference sources to look up the words that have jumped out at you and see what other meanings or highlights they bring.

Research the famous people who have had your name. One website notes the name Susan associated with a "woman who

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