Naming Pieces: What's Behind the Name

Germination is the process in which a plant emerges from a hard seed and begins growth. Many forces can stifle a seed's growth potential, leaving it damaged and not viable. Over time seeds evolved to counter the effects of predation. Plants evolved defenses to protect itself against whatever tried to inhibit it's growth. In people, we call this defense mechanisms. All of this came to me one morning while I was lying in bed with my husband. I was in the process of speaking my thoughts aloud while he listened. I told him, "Honey! That's it! That's my name. Flora Season." I saw myself for the first time as a rose--a flower of many layers. A flower that's beautiful to look at, but one that a person may be leery to touch. It will hurt someone, but only to prevent itself from being hurt. Often times it's human tendency to prey upon what is beautiful. We see a rose and immediately desire to cut or de-petal it for selfish motivations, never considering the damage we're doing--the life we're ending, the growth we're stifling.  

Even though I sent my book off to press during a winter month, I felt in my spirit that it was flower season. It was time for me to see beyond myself and think about the cultivation process. With Scattered Pieces and other books I author (speaking it into existence), I am sowing seeds. And in the process, I am encouraging people to weed their gardens. Identify the junk in our lives so we can grow free of it. My message isn't just for budding roses, but I also have a little something for weeds: Once you recognize the toxicity of your role, know that it's not too late to change it. It may not happen in the plant world, but as it pertains to people, it's never too late for a weed to turn into a flower. Christ performs this metamorphosis everyday. Through his love, grace, and mercy, all these are possible. We are all new creatures in Him. 

So, who was Flora Season before she became Flora Season?

Shanita is a variation of my mother's first name. She wanted to name me explicitly after herself, but my father wouldn't allow it. I think in a sense he wanted me to have my own identity and not to be tied by hers. But, this is only speculation.  I played around with several names to be placed on my book. At first, I said I would always publish under   my father's surname (to show him that I made it without his presence) and using only my first initial because I thought I'd be able to sell more books with it. But, then again, I didn't want him tied to my success. So, then I wanted to keep my first initial and middle name, but use my married name in lieu of my maiden, and that's what it was until I had the "flower season" revelation.  And, I couldn't very well go around calling myself Flower. That wouldn't work. When I told my husband "Flora," he immediately frowned up his face, until I explained. " Flora is the spanish word for flower, and it has an old sound to it. I've been told that I have an old spirit, so it's fitting. Plus, people won't expect to see me [an African American woman] when they hear the name [Flora]." He was persuaded. And, with the opening of the file, an amendment to the name featured on the titled page, and the filing of the documentation with the Library of Congress, I renamed myself (for artistic purposes).

Why don't you mention your birth name at all in the book?

I intentionally do not use my birth name or the names of my immediate relatives for two reasons: 1) legality and 2) privacy. My story is my truth, and I must respect the positions of others if they do not wish to share in it. Although my family was very supportive and well informed during the writing process, they are entitled to their privacy while I am delivering my testimony.

The changing of names does not make any of the occurrences any less factual. William Shakespeare said it best through his character Juliet: "... What's in a name? that which we call a rose

                               By any other name would smell as sweet;..."

 Until I Blog Again,

Flora Season