Time to Shed the Old Skin and Reemerge with a New Name
"What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
Welcome to this last edition of Liminal Walker Musings! But wait! I’m not closing up shop… Just introducing my new substack name…
So Why the Change?
Just like the snake sheds its skin, I too move through cycles that bring change and new beginnings. I’ve been contemplating this for months actually. Funny how that works, when you’re the one initiating a shift, it feels like it’s been unfolding forever. But for those receiving the news, it arrives all at once, here and now.
The older title still serves its purpose, but I’ve been feeling a pull toward a specific direction that the old name doesn’t quite capture. What’s been calling me is a sense of connection: more collaboration, more community. A move away from individual musing, towards a more inclusive, interactive space.
As I thought about how to share this name change, a quote from Romeo and Juliet kept echoing in my mind. It wouldn’t let me go. And I’ve learned that when this happens, it’s a clear sign that I need to pay attention.
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”
William Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet
For me, this quote speaks directly to the heart of this shift. Yes, the name matters, its the container, the doorway, the first impression. But it’s not the work itself for the true heart and creative expression comes from the writing. From my voice, my ideas, my unique lens and this remains steady, no matter the name it's housed under. Just as Romeo was more than a Montague to Juliet, this writing is more than its title.
And this new name feels more attuned to the path I’m walking now. Reflecting a deeper intent and clarity about what I want to explore, and how I want to engage with others. Allowing for growth while also maintaining the roots of where my writing comes from.
OTHER MEANINGS OF THIS QUOTE
This quote also hints at courage, for changing a name does feel risky, especially since I’ve been building this substack for two years under the header Liminal Walker Musings. There's vulnerability in change. But Shakespeare’s words remind me that it’s okay to shift the surface if the substance within stays true.
This quote also points to the rose. And serendipitously, I created this logo (seen below) a couple of months ago to coincide with the new name.
THE MEANING OF THIS LOGO
There are two aspects of this symbol that carry deep meaning for me: the Vesica Piscis and the rose.
VESICA PISCIS
This ancient symbol appears across cultures and ages, in nature, art, architecture, and spiritual traditions. Its significance lies in the almond-shaped form created by the overlapping of two circles, known as the mandorla. It’s a liminal bridge, a sacred space that brings two together: light and dark, earth and sky, masculine and feminine, conservative and liberal, mind and body.
Two forces, magnetically drawn to one another. Mutually interlocking, while embraced within a greater circle. Circles have significant symbolism in of themselves as cycles, infinity, inclusiveness and wholeness.
While the mathematics and geometry behind this iconography are profound, what draws me most is the energetic attunement made possible through this union. The mandorla representing the portal of creative power, a space that asks us to release the struggle of making one side right and the other wrong. By allowing for a softening between the pairs, we open a gateway to dynamic balance. A third space is born, not as compromise, but as alchemy.
The image of the mandorla also represents the Yoni, the power of the feminine. Yoni means “holy passage,” the womb/belly as conception, creativity as a portal, artistic expression woven into our lives. This shape includes other Yoni openings; eyes for seeing, ears for hearing, nose and mouth for tasting and smelling, the pores in the skin as feeling. These sensory portals link the outer and the inner, where curiosity is nectar, opening a pathway of sensual communion, receiving life and all her mysteries.
THE ROSE
Roses hold ancient and personal significance for me, as they do for many. On the land where I live, there are 14 rose bushes, ones we planted years ago. Currently, each is in a different stage of blooming, one of them is pictured above. This time of year, is utterly spectacular.
Witnessing a rose unfurl is a precious gift. The delicacy of each petal, the fragrance released, the vibrant colors revealed. More than a beautiful flower, roses invite us to love unconditionally, to see and cherish the beauty that is revealed in one another. It reminds us of the sacred act of blooming. One of my favorite quotes captures this perfectly:
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud
was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
Anais Nin
A French proverb offers a complementary truth: “No rose without a thorn.”
Aren’t we all like roses, both in beauty and thorn, graceful yet guarded, tender yet strong? Just as the Vesica Piscis honors the marriage of dualities, so does the rose. The soft, velvet petals and the hard, thorny stem. Nurturing what is precious while also protecting it, setting boundaries with both compassion and courage.
THE ROSE AS THE SACRED FEMININE
The rose is also a sacred symbol of the goddess and the divine feminine, known as the Path of the Rose. It’s associated with Venus, goddess of love, and her lineage all the way back to Inanna, the Sumerian queen of love and war.
Venus is both a planet and a guiding light, often called the morning and evening star. From Earth’s perspective, her orbit traces an extraordinary and intricate pattern over time. This takes eight Earth years and thirteen Venusian orbits around the sun to complete, including multiple descents below the horizon as the underworld and reemerging as resurrection. Creating a geometric five petaled rose, that blooms in the heavens.
The Venusian mysteries, the Rose Priestesses, and the wisdom of the sacred feminine all speak to a deeper kind of love, one that is not just romantic or familiar, but embodied. They remind us that our hearts are roses, ever-blooming with love in its many forms. To savor its exquisite sweetness is to honor both the spiritual and the erotic, living with tenderness, presence, and passion. Rooted in the body, lit from within.
Gratitude
I'm deeply grateful to each of you for being here and for the support you've shown over the past two years. Thank you for reading my words, for reflecting with me, and for sharing your own thoughts along the way. Whether you've been here since the start or just recently joined, your presence is truly felt and genuinely cherished.
This space has always been more than just a name. It’s been a place to explore the mythos, the archetypes, the divine feminine and the liminal in all its complexity and simplicity, through words, questions, and the quiet moments in between.
So here’s to what stays the same: the shared longing for truth, depth and beauty along with the thread of curiosity that runs through it.
And here’s to what grows: new names, new relationships, new invitations for deeper connection and community.So grateful to have you with me on this journey.
With love and appreciation,
I offer both tarot readings and personalized one-on-one sessions. Both designed to support and nurture your inner explorations, helping you gain deeper insight into the movements of your life. If you're interested, feel free to reach out to me via direct message or email. Love and Blessings to you!
For more information about the liminal and my offerings:
Please go to: https://www.liminalwalker.com/
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Congratulations! I like the dynamic movement of the new name. And as an astrologer, I love seeing the connections of activity and what's happening in the sky. I can't help but mention that you announce a new name shortly after direct Mercury reentered Aries. Mercury rules Gemini and that sign names things. Aries is a new beginning, invention, adventure. Venus, direct in Pisces reminds me of the vesica picis on the lid of the Chalice Well, the holy well in Glastonbury across the road from the Tor. She is now the morning star, filled with wisdom from her journey to the underground and expressing with greater confidence. The rose, always the flower of the goddess, is now blooming here and her sign, Taurus, will arrive on Saturday. So...perfect timing and best wishes. I know we can count on great content since, as you say, a rose by any other name...
Congrats on this subtle, but profound shift, Julie! This gave me a chance to pause and reflect on the profundity of my name change experience when I transitioned. As you said, the essence wasn't changed, but the intention with which I conveyed my essence was immutably changed. As always, I so appreciate the way you weave together spiritual teachings, your own lived experience, and earthly practicalities. Wishing you greater and deeper levels of community and connection as you walk! 🌹❤️🌹