What’s in a name? Apparently – quite a lot!

IBET there are a lot of people out there who have changed their name, or would like to. We all know people with strange handles. My cousin’s surname was Wall and she called her son Walter. Fine if you’re in the carpet business. Why Alice Head named her son Sean is a mystery to me. My parents wanted to call me Lavender. My maiden name was Hill and I’m very relieved to know I wasn’t named after a road in Wandsworth. Poor old Peter Green got ragged in my class – P Green isn’t the most subtle name to give your child.

World Champion race driver Lewis Hamilton isn’t, it seems, happy with his name and is changing it to incorporate his Mum’s surname. He’ll have quite a moniker – Sir Lewis Larbalestier Carl Davidson Hamilton.

Sir Lewis won’t be the only one to change his name. Cassius Clay became Mohammed Ali, Cat Stevens became Yusef Islam, Prince Philip’s family became Mountbatten from Battenberg which was previously Schleswig-Holstein-SonderburgGlucksburg. That’s more than a mouthful to manage each day and even if we weren’t getting on with the Germans at the time, I wouldn’t blame them for changing it.

The power of numbers is a fascinating and time-honoured way of assessing situations. Ancient philosophers used the power of numbers before words, many of their texts being written in symbols and numbers. It’s an interesting concept, based on the belief that that numbers represented an evolving pattern of nature and an infinite cycle from which one can gain self-awareness, harmony and spiritual growth both past, present and future.

Numerologists are very keen to ensure we have the right names in order to attract the right energy and life opportunities. Lewis Hamilton’s name change made me wonder if he would still stay in the fast lane by adding his mother’s surname “I don’t want her name to be forgotten” he says.

Jane Alton advertises as “The UK’s No.1 Numerologist” who provides “clarity and vision for life and business”. So for a bit of fun I thought she might be the right person to ask about Hamilton’s decision.

After a quick phone call, Jane agreed to look at his details, so I found out the motor racer’s birth details and sent them off. As I know nothing about the great man, I also sent mine, reckoning that if Jane’s observations of my details were right, then they probably would be accurate for Lewis Hamilton’s.

I was interested to learn that, as well as being a teacher of Numerology, Jane had worked for over 15 years as an Investment Performance Analyst and 10 years as a Business Analyst, making the career change to numerology intuitive.

The report pinged into my inbox and I opened it with curiousity. It was absolutely uncanny – she got the date of my marriage out by a year but beyond that it was completely accurate, summing up my career, temperament, even my in-laws! So with that credibility I read what she wrote about Sir Lewis with thoughtfulness.

“Changing his name is very positive for Lewis’ health and well-being. Changing your name can add new dimensions to existing characteristics. The surname ‘Larbalestier’ has a 50/5 vibration, encouraging Lewis to embrace change and new thinking.

“Freedom may become of greater importance to him and in pursuit of this, he may want more balance in his life outside racing, making more time for things he wants to do as well as the things he has to do.

“He may want to allow his great sensitivity to initiate things, rather than be something he pushes down, to focus on perfection and winning at all costs.

“Changing his name in this way may encourage him to stand alone in his truth and to communicate his feelings more directly, potentially cutting through any illusions. This involves moving away from feelings of fear and insecurity to truly ‘come into his own’.

“Lewis has had to stand back from things, potentially time to let go of what he regards as unproductive and may continue to do this, creating more time and space to be spontaneous and to perhaps pursue new interests.

“He may be looking at things from a completely different perspective and may want to devote more time to following a more spiritual and creative path. He may choose to use his considerable influence and extreme sensitivities to develop more humanitarian, philanthropic and creative endeavours, inspiring others, especially the young using his ability to cross all boundaries to connect and help others.”

So there you go, maybe a name change isn’t such a daft thing to do. Better check up what you’re letting yourself in for first though! Contact Jane through her website www. janealton.com if you want some reassurance!

Changing your name can add new dimensions to existing characteristics

Numerologist Jane Alton