Tom Terrific
May 11th, 2010, 12:04 PM
I’ve seen several ideas put forward for why nudity in ritual is beneficial, including facilitating the flow of magickal energy, abandoning facades and enhancing intimacy.
I had an insight recently on this question and thought I’d pass it along.
I think there are a variety of benefits to nudity in ritual; but the one that has impressed me lately is how it mythically embodies discarding our illusions. This is much more than abandoning facades and personas. Worship is entering into the divine Presence and communing with reality at its deepest and most profound level. We *encounter* That-Which-Is-Real. When we discard our clothing, we are casting aside all our illusions: pretenses, masks, self-deceptions and deceptions of every sort. We cast ourselves, defenseless into the arms of the Goddess; and she welcomes and embraces us. When we do this with one another, we experience a depth of unity in her with one another.
People who make a practice of socializing in the nude are quick to tell you that social nudity stops carrying any sexual connotation about 20 minutes into the experience. However, I think it's a mistake to expect or hope for this in the context of pagan worship or celebration. While merely social nudity quickly loses its sexual connotations, pagan worship is about participating in the Goddess' life, which *is* sexual. The flow of her energy, her spirit, through a worship community can be expected to rouse sexual feelings; and that's not a bad thing. That doesn't mean we need to act on those feelings; but neither is it inappropriate if we do so. It's all good.
I think it’s a shame that ritual nudity is the minority approach to worship. But, if our spiritual families won’t do so, at least those of us who wish to can keep our personal devotionals this way.
I had an insight recently on this question and thought I’d pass it along.
I think there are a variety of benefits to nudity in ritual; but the one that has impressed me lately is how it mythically embodies discarding our illusions. This is much more than abandoning facades and personas. Worship is entering into the divine Presence and communing with reality at its deepest and most profound level. We *encounter* That-Which-Is-Real. When we discard our clothing, we are casting aside all our illusions: pretenses, masks, self-deceptions and deceptions of every sort. We cast ourselves, defenseless into the arms of the Goddess; and she welcomes and embraces us. When we do this with one another, we experience a depth of unity in her with one another.
People who make a practice of socializing in the nude are quick to tell you that social nudity stops carrying any sexual connotation about 20 minutes into the experience. However, I think it's a mistake to expect or hope for this in the context of pagan worship or celebration. While merely social nudity quickly loses its sexual connotations, pagan worship is about participating in the Goddess' life, which *is* sexual. The flow of her energy, her spirit, through a worship community can be expected to rouse sexual feelings; and that's not a bad thing. That doesn't mean we need to act on those feelings; but neither is it inappropriate if we do so. It's all good.
I think it’s a shame that ritual nudity is the minority approach to worship. But, if our spiritual families won’t do so, at least those of us who wish to can keep our personal devotionals this way.