I have been contemplating taking a magickal name for a while now. One that I've been mulling over and considering for several months is Nimue. I really identify with the water nymph aspect, as well as her being a student and learning the magickal ways, and her teacher was Merlin. Well, a girl just joined WitchGrove, and her name is Nimue. So now I feel like I can't use it. Not that I *can't*, because I know I could, but that I don't want to. I feel very selfish about it, I want a name that's unique to me. So, perhaps there is a reason I've been holding off on taking Nimue.

The other night I was doing a reading using the Faeries' Oracle, and I turned over a card and gasped out loud. The fairy was Nelys the Alchemyst. I got such a powerful feeling from her immediately. So then I opened the book *ducking as Mab heads over for a sound flogging*, and read what was written about her.
Everything I read resonated with me:
Alchemy of the Fae is described as "the study and practice of transforming the soul from the lead of primitive conditioned reactions to the gold of spiritual and practical attainment" [emphasis added]. This is exactly what I've been striving for over the last year, and continue to do so (it will be a lifelong endeavour).
Nelys "understands that daily life is a spiritual exercise". I have been working toward this as well - incorporating the sacred into my everyday life, because if I didn't, I wouldn't have any time for the spiritual at all.
And, she is carrying a rowan wand, which is a tree that has been sacred to me for years (I once named my short-lived web design company Rowan Tree Design). I also have my lovely rowan wand sitting on my altar right now.
I really identify with the following as well: "Personal inner change is the truest transformation of all - and in the long run, it is the only change that really matters."
Perhaps by taking the name of Nelys, it will help to bring about more of the personal inner change that I've been working on (and struggling with).
Hmmmmmm....