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How did I go from Teressa to Tessa to Omana? Well, here goes, you asked. Dad chose my name. It was his inspiration to go by the nickname Tessa, being asset backwards (imagine me rolling my eyes). I dropped the a as a teen and went by Tess for years, until I decided to reclaim the 'a' as a way of standing in my worth as a young woman. I kept that name up until three years ago, when the story took a bit of a turn, as did my path. As you may have guessed, I am a bit of a spiritual seeker. I wasn't raised in any religion. I believed I was atheist up until I was 20 years old. After a few unexplainable experiences, I opened my mind to something greater that me, or all of us. I don't aspire to know how to define it. Yet I've had waking (unaltered) experiences that have altered my understanding of Everything. So when my father revealed to me in my early 20s that he had previously been a member of a spiritual group, Subud, and was returning to it; I was immediately curious. I joined, and relished in gathering with others who were also open to having a direct experience of a connection to something greater. Members came from diverse ethnic and religious and ideological backgrounds. What connected us was a belief in something greater, the belief that we could have a direct relationship with whatever that is, and an understanding that together we are stronger in our ability to connect with all that is. So back to my names. It's a common practice in Subud for people to change their names, so it became normalised for me. So when I was in a Reiki session, and 'heard' the name Omana, I connected with it. I didn't take the name at that time. Seven years passed, and in a meditation I 'heard' that it was time for me to take the name on. The feeling of alignment was so great, that I instantly knew that it was right, and that there was no other way forward. I looked the name up and found that it can be translated to mean kindness, friend, or protection in Sanskrit. The word mana means life force energy in Hawaiian (where I trained as a Reiki Master). Ho'omana translates to empowerment; which is what I have held as my path of purpose throughout adult life. It's also a name that shows up as a place name in Aotearoa, New Zealand, although I haven't been able to locate the meaning. Okay, well, that fit like a second skin; so I gratefully received. One day, I'll make it official. In New Zealand, we have the freedom to take on any name that we choose (or chooses us). We aren't required to make it legal, but may if we would like. I'll get there, it's a bit of paperwork that I've been procrastinating. The last name Eve, came about as it is required to have a surname, and I was ready to shed skin. Honestly, I've never like the sound of my married name, Cochrane, sorry hun. I also resisted going back to my maiden name, Moir, given it has the meaning of sorrowful, or dark. I couldn't give the name Moira to my daughter for that reason; how could I take it back myself? It was time to move on. Eva was my chosen name in Spanish class when I was in middle school. It popped into my head, I spoke it out loud with Omana, made a slight adjustment, and loved the way it sounded and felt. I also thought it was cute that my husband carries the name Adams amongst his, so it connected with that, and other significant ties as well. So, that is the whole story. I'm so very at ease with the name. I feel honoured to have received it, and in some way it is like a candle in the dark, calling me toward my becoming.