Happy Valentine’s Time!

One of the everyday ways we can express the love we feel for our homes is to call them by their true names… Here, WSFS teacher Becky Iott shares her experience of naming her home sweet home…

I invite you to share the name of your home with me and those around you. It breathes new life into your abode every time you do. My new home was immediately forthcoming with her name: Earth Haven.

Living In Love,

Terah Kathryn Collins

Welcome Home! by Becky Iott

When we moved into our home a few years ago, I wanted to name her right away. I loved her at first sight and wanted to celebrate her. Although she is not necessarily female, “she” and “her” came to my mind whenever I considered her identity. Lovely and elegant and welcoming, she needed a wonderful name.

I suggested what I thought were some great names. I tried some with animals in the name–like Raven House because some of our nicest neighbors are ravens-and descriptive names, like Skyview. She didn’t like any of them. Months passed with many more ideas offered; fruitless! None of them resonated with her. I would walk in the front door and say, “Hi, Beauty Girl” and feel no Yes from her. Just a giggle.

I am a student of the I Ching and decided to consult the Sage about this. The Sage, the Helper who speaks through the I Ching, will never tell you what to do and gets grumpy when you want to predict the future, but loves to help you understand yourself and what’s happening at a deeper level. The Sage indicated that the name of our home was the name of the Cosmic Helper helping us here and now, that our home was an embodied Helper named Helper of Happiness. We live in Helper of Happiness Home!

At first I thought it was kind of a long name. But it feels good to say it. “Hi, Helper of Happiness Home.” “Welcome home,” she says. And it’s a true name. Every day here, we learn how to be more deeply happy.

Name your home. Or find the name of your home. Or allow your home to whisper its name in your inner ear. It may help you get to know one another, and it may help you experience more deeply what’s up for you, here and now.

Join the conversation on FaceBook! What is the name of your Home? One of our contributors will win The Bagua Map Virtual Course. Share with us by February 21st, and it could be you! 

Photos by Suzette Lau, joyfully scattered throughout this newsletter and at www.growstudiogallery.blogspot.com