While in Colchester England, I saw a key ring bearing the name "Mackenzie" on it. Seeing as McKenzie is my middle name, I couldn't resist buying it. Yes that is right my middle name is McKenzie, it comes from my Dad's mothers maiden name I think. It seems like a bit of tradition if you look at my family history of maintaining the mothers maiden name as a middle name for the eldest son.
Anyway, On the keyring is the Mackenzie clan motto "Luceo non Uro" which literally means "I shine, not burn". Apparently the saying came from blacksmithing or smithing in general, where one had to make sure that the metal you were working with didn't get burned, but shone in the heat. [1]
I think that is quite a cool motto when applied to life, We need to balance the hardships/heat in our lives so that we continue to grow and to shine but we also need to make sure we don't let life burn and scar us. The motto reads like it is a choice, which I think it often is. We do choose how we react to circumstances.
Are you going to allow yourself to burn or to shine?
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
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16 comments:
Hi James,
I googled strike through and got your site. My blog is on blogger, but I can't seem to get strike through text to work. Any help you could give me would be good!
Thanks!
Thanks for the help with the strike out text! Also great post! Do you mind if I print it out for my students. They are in 4th grade. I think it would be good for them to read something motivational written by a man. Sometimes they get tired of hearing from me!
>Do you mind if I print it out for my students.
Of course not, I'd be honoured :)
I'm a McKenzie, and I've come to think of Luceo Non Uro as a good motto to live by, myself.
> Are you going to allow yourself to burn or to shine?
You've put this very well, however. Thank you.
Thanks Kate!
Isn't live ALL about choices!
Its not about what happens to you... but the attitude that we choose to adopt about what has happened.
We can either see it as a blessing or a curse... and which ever way we choose to see it... so shall it be to us!
Hi James,
Thanks for your information, that is really interesting. Blacksmithing huh?
My last name is 'Alterton,' which is probably English, and we adapted the Mackenzie motto somewhere along the line. I have 'Luceo Non Uro' tattooed on my right arm, but I'm glad to know that I'm at least scottish in association (I'd like to think I'm part Mackenzie)! The whole motto is this: virtute et valare luceo non uro,' which means, 'by virtue and valor, I shine not burn.' That doesn't negate the blacksmithing origins, but it just applies the motto to life, like you said.
Hey James,
Thanks for the translation! My last name is Kimsey which comes from the MacKenzie Clan from Scotland! Pretty Cool!
Matthew Kimsey
Hi,
I'm sorry but you need to be corrected on this motto "Luceo non Uro" It is Latin for "I burn quil I se.." It is in fact the MacLeods of Lewis Motto. Someone in your family was a MacLeod or sept of the Macleods and that has past over to your crest. Be proud of it!!!!!!!!!!
The Motto was adopted by the Macleod’s of Lewis after the MacDonald landed on Lewis when the men were away and locked the Macleod’s women and children in their church and set fire to it. After this happened and the men returned to see this there was a great battle and the Macleod’s slortted the MacDonald’s and left the bodies on the stone walls on Lewis. The Bones stuck out from the wall as a reminder of this for many years, hence the motto “I burn quil I se” that means "I shine not burn"!
It was the last battle of the clans of Scotland and the most bloody and is part of you history as you took part in the battle as a sept of the Macleod’s.
Please check you Scottish history and be proud of you accentors and what they did there.
This has nothing to do with blacksmiths!
Its part of scotish history and the last great glan battle. The motto is Macleod of Lewis.
T
I'm a member of the Macleod of Lewis clan and I've been told by many serious scholars that Luceo non Uro (I shine but do not burn) is a Christian reference, something to do with the Holy Spirit. So there's another thought!
Hello all,
I was just researching my last name "McKenzie" and came across this motto. I love it. Very deep.
Ok...my mother did our genealogy ages ago and discovered a heavy link to BOTH clan Mackenzie and clan Gunn. I also have "Luceo Non Uro" tattoed on my body. Although it does reference a battle fought between clans, as just about everything Scottish is linked to, I took it personally to mean that I will shine(succeed) in everything I do but not be destructive in my attempts. I'm aware that this saying originated with clan Macleod, but then again, just about every crest in the European descent lines are a hodgepodge of influence from various groups. That is simply life, for people throughout history marry OUTSIDE their family groups as a way to prevent incest.
hi i was randomly looking about the interweb as you do and i fond your post. its great that you got that tattoo i have luceo non uro tattoed on the inside of my wrist.its from the MacKezies of Seaforth btw iam a true Mackenzie and im from the highlands of scotland we get about eh lol have a good one x Morena MacKenzie
Hello James,
I am new to the family history on my father's side...his name was Kenneth MacKenzie B......the middle name was his mother's maiden name also. I love the motto and will do some more researching now ..thanks for the info. Jane P.
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