ritual robes

[Emaleth]

Hi!
Another newbie question. In the book I read (True Magick) it is said that you should always perform a ritual either skyclad or in a ritual robe. What do you think about it? Is it really necessary?

Blessed Be

[Arduinna]

JMO,

But I feel it's more important to do what is right
for you. Just because a book says something, don't
feel obligated to do it.

I rarely practice skyclad, and don't own a ritual robe.
I do own a bathrobe though, but don't wear it for
spiritual practice.

[Theres]

yeah, i agree. do what feels right for you.
you won't be able to get into that magickal mindspace that ritual requires if you're selfconscious about being naked, or not having the right robes.
however, having said that i do think it is cool to have a set of clothes (comfortable ones) that you ONLY use for ritual. this way, when you don them you will already be starting to connect with that space. it's just one of those little things that add up to help you focus. if, before every ritual you tale your bath, burn incense and dress in your special clothes, then even before you enter the circle, you're already half way there!

[maya]

I'm usually fully dressed for ritual but I'll ocassionally strip down to undies when meditating just to be comfortable. If I were practicing in a group I'd never go skyclad. Since I don't get a lot of formal prep time for my rituals I go as is. If I was naked when I got started (as when I just get out of a bath) then I'm naked. If I'm still in work clothes then that's how I am.

~ Maya

[Sequoia]

I'm not exactly Wiccan. . . so I don't usually cast ritual circles or perform many rituals at all. . . but so far as what I do do, I just kind of go "as is." If I'm doing a banishing ritual before bed, chances are I'm gonna be sleeping in my birthday suit. . . why get dressed to do something for five minutes, just to have to undress to crawl into bed? ^^;;; now it's different enTIRELY if it's 40* out. . . that's what a bathrobe is for ;)

Do whatever feels natural to you. If you feel you would work better with maroon velvet robes trimmed in gold with a hood and twisted cord belt, then go for it (I just hope you have a big wallet! ;) ). If you feel better skyclad. . . enjoy that nice ventilation! :D if you want to call the elements in your jammies, talk to demeter in your skivvies, or pray in your gardening jeans with all sorts of dirt, bug guts, and plant stuff stuck to them. . . GO FOR IT! :D I honestly doubt it matters either way, except for you. Just feel right, that's what religion is all about :)

[Chibi-Fallon]

Well I think someday I'd like to wear some ritual robes but the kind I like are long and flowing and that's not really a good thing around fire. As much as I would like to run screaming down the hall while on fire. I think I'll pass. :D
I have a set outfit that I wear. I tried going sky clad once but my room is so cold and I live in Minnesota. So it's not really helping me focus when every two seconds I find myself rocking back and forth going "so...cold.....so....cold". ;)

[Flaire-FireStar]

So it's not really helping me focus when every two seconds I find myself rocking back and forth going "so...cold.....so....cold".

My thoughts exactly.

But I usually do my rituals in my jammies, just cuz I find them to be the most comfortable and I can move freely in them (yes, I do wear jammies, not go butt nakkie to bed. :lol: ) and they don't make too much noise as to wake up everyone in the house.
But I say whatever you feel like wearing. If you have a dress or skirt you really like to wear, then by all means wear it. I don't think it really matters whether or not you have a robe or go skyclad (like Chibi said....sometimes it's too cold! :shaker: )

[Lavender]

When I'm doing my nightly rituals, I'm in my flannel jammies. That's what's comfortable & warm. Nice & loose for any kind of motion & very non-constricting. The clothes really doesn't make a difference unless they interfere with your ability to concentrate on what you're doing.

[Radocs]

I just wear whatever I happen to have on. Hasn't caused me any trouble yet. ^_^

[Theres]

i just have a problem going into sacred space with my work clothes on. in fact, i don't even like having them in my house! when work is done, i'm separated from it as much as possible.
sacred space is NOT for the mundane.

[Sequoia]

every space is sacred. . . :)

[Theres]

that's a nice thought, but not very realistic.
have you ever seen a condemned pulp mill site, a place so toxic that it has been fenced off to prevent people from being contaminated? a place where frogs are born with 5 legs, or where the salmon have curved spines and lesions on their scales?
there's a place like that not too terribly far from where i live, and it is NOT a sacred place. it was never the Goddess's intention for a place like this to exist. it is a man-made abomination, a crime against nature.
or check out the nuclear waste dump sit at Hanford sometime. or the chemical weapons dump site out near Pendleton. very, very scarey places. nothing natural, beautiful or sacred about them. and it's even worse in third world countries.

but i'm getting off topic here. the point is that while you may not need ritual robes, it is nice to have something that you reserve just for ritual, even if it's just some comfortable sweats and a loose t-shirt. you put on a clean shirt when friends come over for dinner, right? should you do any less when you invite Gods and Elements into your space?
just a thought.

[Flar's Freyja]

Just as doing the steps to prepare for ritual such as setting up your altar, smudging, burning incense, etc. can help you transition from the mundane into your sacred space, a ritual robe can help you reach that state. But no, a robe is not necessary unless this is something you feel is right for you. Ritual and prayer robes are very important to some people, but your ritual "robe" could also be a dress you feel special in or your jammies. I have worn my robe for some solitary rituals but don't make it a regular practice, and I have done a few rituals skyclad. I don't normally wear a robe for public ritual mainly because I'm usually working all day and don't have time to go home and change and still get there on time. I make the transition while driving, clearing my mind and grounding. The important factors are the steps that you personally follow to help yourself step in between the worlds.

I haven't read True Magick in a while and gave my copy away. I'm surprised that the book states that you must do ritual in garb. There are many, many good books out there and that one is one of the best, but it's basically a case of "take what you need and leave the rest."

[Myst]

I like to wear a sarong - maximum flowability with some coverage :D

[Haedis]

I usually just practice in whatever I have on, also. Often times I'm skyclad because I perfer doing rituals after a bath (i'm more relaxed and in a different mind set), but if I'm wearing jeans and a t-shirt its not a problem for me.

[stormyray]

I myself perfer a robe for all circle work. just putting it on seems to help me get focused on what I need. Even for a five min. thing I perfer a robe. I would go skyclad but I get cold so easly even in the summer. Also I think the neighbors would run away screaming. lol

[Emaleth]

Thanks guys! It was very helpful, though much what I expected:) I mean doing whatever feels right, it was the first thing I learnt here:)

Blessed Be