I thought your name was.....

I wear a lot of hats: daughter, wife, aunt, former belly dancer, former snake charmer, witch, occultist, artist, writer....it goes on and on. To add to my many hats....I have two names....and I answer to both.

So why do I have two names?

Well, naturally, I have a birth name. The name I was given when I was born on November 1st many moons ago. My birth name is Melissa. Mostly, my birth name, is used by my family, colleagues,  co-workers and some friends. 

Then there is my rebirth/magickal name: Zehara Nachash. This name is what most of my friends, fellow witches, occultists, belly dancers, artists and Voudists call me. Zehara is pronounced as Zeh-HHaa-Raa. Zehara's meaning is 'brightness. This was the name that I took when I was initiated by my late High Priest Balaam into the Temple of the Seekers. Its a special name to me as shortly after I added, "Nachash" which is Hebrew for Serpent. Together, Zehara Nachash embodies my inner spiritual workings with the life and rebirth metaphor of the Serpent.  I kept this name as my dance name when I was performer and its pretty much my name to most people, except for those on the "outside."

So, needless to say, whether you call me Zehara or Melissa- I answer to both!

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