Sky Clad?

[bluecat]

I was recently in a discussion with another person about vestments and when she asked about skyclad I informed her since a "skeeter" bit me "THERE", I no longer do skyclad ... not that I did it a lot before then!

BlueCat

[sherry]

you could try skyclad indoors couldn't you !!
but at least if you were skyclad we wouldn,t need to worry about your shoes now would we!!!

[mol]

HAHAHA! The poster boy for non-skyclad rituals!

[bluecat]

Well, aside from the humorous side of why I don't do it, I just don't really see a need for it. I suppose some might think I am kind of old fashioned about this, but it seems to take away from the event for everyone to get naked in the woods (or wherever) for a ritual especially when fire may be involved.

BlueCat

[richardcranium]

I think that the person who came up with this idea was probably a dirty old man who wanted to see younger women naked. I don't really see the point in it. Being solitary I don't have to worry about it.

[Jazzmine]

I don't do it either. It's too cold in Indiana most of the year anyway. And the neighbors are too close. And also, I don't want my 17 year old son to accidentally see me naked. It might warp his mind. HEHEHEHE

[Twig]

When performing au natural, ALWAYS use insect repellent...Everywhere!!! hehehehehe.
Peace,
Twig

[Mairwen]

Originally posted by richardcranium
I think that the person who came up with this idea was probably a dirty old man who wanted to see younger women naked. I don't really see the point in it.

I hear that, and second the motion.

[Armitage]

Plus it's not fun doing that in a drafty house in the winter. Naughty bits get cold real quick.

[Maggie]

Originally posted by richardcranium
I think that the person who came up with this idea was probably a dirty old man who wanted to see younger women naked. I don't really see the point in it. Being solitary I don't have to worry about it.

Actually I believe it started with Gerald Gardener's group in England, and it still is a practice with the Traditional Wiccans. I think the idea was to appear before the Goddess with no barriers, I can find out for sure if anyone's interested. The Trad Wiccans do it only in closed (very closed) Circles of their own, but it has become rather associated with paganism/new age in general.

Regads,

Maggie

[bluecat]

Maggie is correct. Gardner was a nudist and I believe it was his idea to go before the God and Goddess with no barriers. It's still not my cup of tea.

BlueCat

[Kaylara]

I enjoy being skyclad! Not all of my rituals are done that way, but there are plenty of times when I just get the feeling, and have to do it skyclad. Surprising enough, even in cold temperatures, I still do not get cold when doing ritual skyclad. (Any other time though, and I freeze my little tooshie off!)
So, I guess it's up to the individual and the situation.

Kaylara

[Ayla]

I think I might have to disagree with some of you here, at the risk of being shouted at...
Our natural state is naked, it is the form of our Deities, and the form of our birth. We do it, not because Gerald Gardner did, but because it's an expression of freedom, an expression of Goddess and God, and is a connection between the mysteries of life, death and rebirth.
On a more practical note it is easier to raise power when nude, and safer... dancing around a fire with robes or dresses on is far more dangerous than with only your own body to worry about.
I don't go skyclad very often, but in the forest, and indoors, at least for the Sabbats, it makes me happy to do so.
Don't dismiss it, especially not if your reasons are based upon cultural or social propriety, the experience is worth so much more than that. Nudity is ancient, jeans, sweaters and trainers are not. Just because there is a norm to wear clothes, doesn't mean that the norm is right. And y'know, a lot of gentlemen I know would be offended to hear you say that Skyclad ritual is only there for "dirty old men", it's can be a spiritual thing, a magickal thing, as much as a sexual one.

*Runs behind cauldron, away from barrage of disagreeing responses*

Love & Hugs,
http://ayla.brinkster.net/ayla/images/signatureT.gif

[Amora]

Natural or not...skyclad is not even comfortable to being dancing around. Not to mention the thought of children or neighbors seeing. I show my devotion and connection in other ways..with my clothes on!!

But if you choose not to, that's ok too as long as I don't have to see you (HEHE)!!!

[Maggie]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ayla
[B]I think I might have to disagree with some of you here, at the risk of being shouted at...
Our natural state is naked, it is the form of our Deities, and the form of our birth. We do it, not because Gerald Gardner did, but because it's an expression of freedom, an expression of Goddess and God, and is a connection between the mysteries of life, death and rebirth................offended to hear you say that Skyclad ritual is only there for "dirty old men", it's can be a spiritual thing, a magickal thing, as much as a sexual one.

I don't think anyone is going to disagree, you've stated what I understand the Trad Wiccan belief to be. I mentioned Garder because he's generally considered the founder of Wicca.

The 'dirty old men' part I think comes from the apparent fact that skyclad has become associated with paganism in general in the public mind, rather than certain paths. You also have to keep in mind that even other pagan paths have no such tradition, mine doesn't. It is really a lack of information rather than an intent to offend--or at least usually a lack! :)

Regards,

Maggie

[Kaylara]

Amora~
I have to disagree. I find dancing skyclad to be very comfortable. But, like anything else, it has to be taken into context. I would not work skyclad with people who I did not feel completely comfortable with. Nor would I do so in full view of neighbors or children.
For me, being skyclad is a sign that I am free. By working magick while sky clad I am completely naked in front of the gods, I am completely vunerable, and therefore must have perfect trust in those people who I am working with. (Not to say that I do not feel the same way when working robed.) But like I said before, it is done when I feel it is appropriate... It's not like I go streaking through the streets every full moon screaming "I AM A SKYCLAD PAGAN!"

Kaylara

[Dextra]

I saw a passage in a book about a man who happened upon a witches' gathering. The witches were jumping through a need-fire to ensure protection.

Sgt. Howie - "But they are naked!"

Lord Summerisle - "Naturally. It is much too dangerous to jump through the fire with your clothes on!"

I don't do skyclad, except for the occasional private ritual (in my own home with the door locked and the shades drawn :D), but I thought that was a cute line.
Oh, the book is called the Wicker Man, by the way.

[eaglewolf]

Heard a lot of giggling going on in here, so I stepped in to check it out...

...now I am leaving before I get myself into trouble :p.

~ew

[Kaylara]

EW~Hee hee!

Kaylara
*Whose mind just went into the gutter*

[bluecat]

Ayla,

I don't dismiss it out of hand, it's just not for me. Also, I do not think you are "wrong" for doing it.

BlueCat

P.S. I am often naked at home, but my cats don't care.

[Silverwitch]

Sky clad is OK by me, if that's what you want to do, but in my neck of the woods, on the North Cornish coast, it's too flippin cold. I have to make my robes big enough to get at least one anarak underneath! Mind you, at home and in privacy, well that's a different matter.
BB Silverwitch

[Yvonne Belisle]

Oddly enough I clean my house naked as a jaybird when I'm all alone can dance that way too. Have no problem walking about the house and don't panic when the kids open the shower curtain to compain about each other but can't get the courage to do ritual work that way outside or with others. I guess my views of naked are skewed my parents walked around that way at night and if someone was in the tub or the shower we still walked in the use the bathroom. I grew up with the view of "it's a body so what?" my kids are being raised the same way but my husband is always dressed out of the bathroom unless the bedroom door is locked. My kids look at a nude scene in a movie and are like "so what?" Their friends are like "she's NAKED oh wow!" Personally I think my kids reaction is healthier but that's me I don't think they would have a problem with a sky clad ritual. I censor movies for too much violence, sex or bad kids that could give them ideas. My kids also have been taught how to do some of the special affects that tends too take the oooo factor out of the blood and gore shots. Naked is good! So long as no one can see me!:D

[Silver Venus]

I live alone, so I can run around the house naked!
I work as a solitary witch and always go sky-clad, helps me concentrate, feel I am with nature and also helps me feel the magick more powerfully (or so I like to think) when Im inside, but brrr its cold over here at the moment so I wont risk it outdoors just yet!
Not so sure if I was with others though, may be a ittle bit shy.
Still Ive always dreamt about dancing round a massive open fire with others alike!
:sunny:

[Ayla]

A lot of people seem to believe that there is something inherently wrong or bad about being naked. "Mustn't let the children see me naked", well why on Gaia not? Shrouding the body in mystery and hiding it isn't a good thing, why not encourage children to see the beauty and naturalness of it, rather than be ashamed of it? Why is it so bad for your children to see your body? What's so wrong or shaming about the human body that we have to hide it away all the time? Clothes are there for the cold, or to prevent sunburn, when they are used just to hide the body then they are being misused. That's the way society thinks though, people cover themselves up even in summer, me included because I have to.

Now, the thing that's going to suprise you a bit is that I'm not actually a Gardnerian Witch, although my original experiences were with such a coven, I left because it was too restrictive. Later I joined a Ceremonial Lodge for training, but again, left for the same reasons. I've been solitary, but working with close friends and students for many years. My opinions on working skyclad and nakedness in general are formed independently and from my own personal tradition.

When a male student or friend of mine wants to work skyclad I don't "look" or feel any sexual connotations from it, it's a spiritual and natural way to be in circle.

Love & Hugs,
http://ayla.brinkster.net/ayla/images/signatureT.gif

[Yvonne Belisle]

The following is a joke but it does show how people in general tend to react to the human body even if it is a bit over the top on reaction.

A young female teacher was giving an assignment to her Grade 6 class one day. It
was a large assignment so she started writing high up on the chalkboard.
Suddenly there was a giggle from one of the boys in the class.

She quickly turned and asked, "What's so funny Pat?"

"Well teacher, I just saw one of your garters."

"Get out of my classroom," she yells, "I don't want to see you for three days."

The teacher turns back to the chalkboard. Realizing she had forgotten to title
the assignment; she reaches to the very top of the chalkboard. Suddenly there is
an even louder giggle from another male student. She quickly turns and asks,

"What's so funny Billy?"

"Well miss, I just saw both of your garters."

Again she yells, "Get out of my classroom!" This time the punishment is more
severe, "I don't want to see you for three weeks."

Embarrassed and frustrated, she drops the eraser when she turns around again. So
she bends over to pick it up. This time there is an burst of laughter from
another male student. She quickly turns to see Little Johnny leaving the
classroom.

"Where do you think you are going?" she asks.

"Well teacher, from what I just saw, my school days are over."

[eaglewolf]

Originally posted by Ayla
When a male student or friend of mine wants to work skyclad I don't "look" or feel any sexual connotations from it, it's a spiritual and natural way to be in circle.

As you all can see, Ayla has never worked with EW :p

~ew, natural born 'dirty old man'~

[eaglewolf]

Originally posted by Yvonne Thomas
The following is a joke... <sniiiiiip>

LMAO!

~ew, who is lucky he didn't have that teacher~

[Ayla]

LOL That's funny.

The thing that makes me sad is that part of it is always true... why do our children feel that the human body is something worth s******ing or giggling about? They don't react like that to eating, or breathing, or to a tree loosing it's leaves, or an animal washing itself... The adults, just like that teacher and those kid's parents, are to blame: we teach our children that the human body is something to hide and be embarrased and ashamed of.

Love & Hugs,
http://ayla.brinkster.net/ayla/images/signatureT.gif

[Kaylara]

Well EW, I think that me and you working together would have some interesting results!

I think that being skyclad is what you make it. It seems that people here are trying to downplay the very erotic side of this. One can be erotic and spiritual at the same time. The very dance of the universe is erotic! Personally, by taking in this part of myself, and accepting that it is ok for me to be a sexual person, and understand the erotic in nature, it has made my workings quite a bit more effective. I cannot say that the spiritual and the erotic should be separate, and there is nothing wrong when the twain meet. Therefore, I don't hide the sexual side of myself, or of the craft. But I do understand that some people would be offended by it, or would not understand it fully, which is why I would not work skyclad in front of children, or in a place where neighbors might see. Out of consideration for them, I don't do that. I also am very picky about working skyclad with someone else, because for me, it is a symbol of the utmost trust in that person. Skyclad is a spiritual nakedness as well as physical. So, I would not work skyclad with just any shmo off the street.

Then again, I like being naked, and wouldn't wear clothing if I didn't have to. So, work however you want to... Robed, Skyclad, its your path, you decide how you're dressed when you walk down it. ;)

Kaylara

[Lilu]

My body seems to be very inefficient in regulating my temperature. My husband is always warm (unless he's got a fever) - me, I'm warm where I'm covered, and cold where I'm not. Hence, my hands are often very cold, and my face, but the rest of me is usually fine.

Therefore skyclad doesn't really work that well for me unless I've just gotten out of a very warm bath and entered a very warm room - I'd end up a frozen popsicle! hehe.

But I'd take a nice flowing dress/robe over skyclad any day.

lilu

[Dragonmother]

Well, I was raised in a Nudist household, and we walk around naked in this household too. In fact, I was raised in So Cal., and as I now live in Chicago, I get very very annoyed with the winter temperature! To me the definition of a home is the place where you don't have to wear clothes. My two kids, most of the time, could care less what they have on, or what mom and dad are wearing or not. The boy will go through phases of shyness as he is doing now.
AS far as going skyclad in ritual, I agree that it is an expression of trust. Trust in the Goddess and God, trust in the people you are working with. I have never been in a skyclad circle, but I would tend to judge the feasability by attuning myself to the feelings of the folk around me. If I noticed either prudery or prurience, I would want to take those things into consideration, before I exposed my goddesslike, matronly, stretchmarked body to their sight! LOL! And, Either of those things would not nececarily stop me, either. I can blow a mind or two if I feel so inclined- no trouble at all. I have to say, that in the summer here in the midwest, it's really hot. Skyclad would be preferable!

[Yvonne Belisle]

It's nice to see I'm not the only naked household person here. :)

[Oak]

Working Skyclad is a difficult area to tackle. It challenges peoples moral and social viewpoints and this i s not always seen as a good thing. But I have to say, I was always a bit wary of skyclad working until I actually got in there and did it. Over here in Britain there is still a large number of groups that work Skyclad. And I think it is a good thing. All the old accounts of the witches from times gone by say they were naked and does not the charge of the Goddess say:
"Once in the month and better it be when the moon if full. Then ye shall assemble in some secret place and adore the Spirit of me who am Queen of All Witches......And ye shall be free from slavery. And as a sign that ye are really free, ye shall be naked in your rites and ye shall dance, sing, feast make music and love all in my name." (Gardenarian)
This was adapted from Aradia Gospel of the witches. At the end of the day it is a personal discission. But to say that it was probably thought up by some dirty old man is to look at an aspect of our path in the same light as the christian who says that we all worship the devil. The flow of energy is different when skyclad and I find that levels of awareness are that much more intense. Anyone who wants to contact me, feel free. d_oak@hotmail.com.

Blessed Be
Oak

[Ozymandias]

Nudity is the most natural and beautiful state. As an artist I'm used to it and often go nude if I can. Even though, I often wear a loincloth in case I get a knock at the door, hee hee.....

[Kaylara]

Visitors would be seeing a whole lot of art without it!!!!

:)

Kaylara

[Ozymandias]

Kaylara is that a compliment?

[Lady Tana]

Originally posted by Yvonne Thomas
Naked is good! So long as no one can see me!:D
Ok so im a little behind in my posts...

I agree with Yvonne... as long as no one sees me im fine.. (and that dosent include my kids or Screamin Eagle)
At the moment we are living in shared housing (with S.E.'s parents) so I have a tendency to NOT go wandering nekkid as a jay thru the house, I think it may offend them anyway!! *G*
But as for my rituals.. since I (at this point) no longer do them at the house (they dont approve) and I have NO CLUE who/what is wandering the woods I haunt, I prefer to be clothed...

Wouldnt want to scare those cute lil woodland creatures now would I!?!?

[Earth Walker]

:D I prefer to be nude in my apt, and occasionally
on my balcony....but only when the seasonal rains(4)
let up. :cool:

[Lady Tana]

Originally posted by Lady Tana

Wouldnt want to scare those cute lil woodland creatures now would I!?!?

by the way.. i have done that before i think..


boy did that bunny run!!! hahaha

[Kaylara]

Ozymandias
Yes it was!

Kaylara

[Red Dragon]

Well we Dragons don't bother, too much trouble removing all these scales and it takes forever to grow them back! ;) Seriously I'm amazed how often this topic comes up. If it feels right for you then do it. If someone else wants you to do it or it's a so called requirement, then forget it. You simply don't need special robes or dress for magick, period. :p

[bluecat]

Originally posted by Red Dragon
Well we Dragons don't bother, too much trouble removing all these scales and it takes forever to grow them back! ;) Seriously I'm amazed how often this topic comes up. If it feels right for you then do it. If someone else wants you to do it or it's a so called requirement, then forget it. You simply don't need special robes or dress for magick, period. :p

:cool: Good point! :cool:

[LaDaya]

Wow... this subject gets brought up alot. I personally think it is a matter of personal choice. I love walking around naked at home where no one can see me but feel embarrassed when I try to do a ritual like that. I don't like being naked in front of others, I don't even like changing clothes with others around. I know that it is part of the way I was raised to be embarrassed about my body and it also has to do with the fact that I'm a little overweight and prefer to hide my bulge rather than show it off. Oh well... just my opinion...

[bluecat]

In the light of recent members and questions, I thought to revive this thread.

Blue :cool:

[Faery-Wings]

Thanks for bumping- very timely for me :) :) :)

I have to add that I agree that ultimately the decision to be skyclad or not is very personal. I also agree that our culture has done nothing to promote the purity and spirituality of our bodies and Christianity has done less. I don't expect to undo many years of values taught in a Catholic Italian household in just a few months. But it does help me to keep sight of a goal, of a mental place I would like to be eventually. Even if I never do a ritual naked, I would love to be more accepting of myself, to be more comfortable in my own skin. I have a history of borderline anorexia and bad body image.I don't think that is what Goddess intends. To be able to enjoy being skycald would be so liberating to me. *That* is what the goddess wants!

Anyway, I am done babbling here, all I meant to do was thank you for bringing this to the top 8O

Chris, adds "get naked and like it" to her to do list :p

[LaDaya]

Going skyclad in ritual with others ultimately boils down to trust and yourself. I know that I probably couldn't do ritual skyclad with others unless I was involved with that person or had been around them for quite awhile. I have a dirty mind... (must be the hormones... <grin>) So I know that I would not even pay attention to the ritual but thinking about the naked bodies of the others. I would also be embarrassed about the imperfections in my own body so for the time being the only time I do rituals skyclad is when I'm alone and feel the need to. Otherwise I wear clothes... granted that I try to wear something loose and flowing to keep from restricting my movement. It basically comes down to what everone in that particular group is comfortable with. The group I'm with are not comfortable with that and it has to do with the fact that we haven't been together long enough to trust each other with getting skyclad and doing rituals. But in time we may decide that we are comfortable doing it that way and change our rituals to fit that. Until then, we are wearing clothes.

[Red Dragon]

:eek: I am amazed how often this subject comes up. (no pun intended Hee,hee) Why not just do what you feel comfy with? If you enjoy being seen naked by a group of folks, then heck, go for it. As far as the deities are concerned, they've seen you naked since you were first hatched so it's really no biggie to them anyway! ;)

[bluecat]

Well, Red, I revived it because some new folks were asking questions along this line, I just hope folks read the whole thread. There are plenty of thoughts on this, not a dull subject.

Blue :cool:

[Red Dragon]

You're so right blue the fascination with nudity is I fear eternal. The simple fact is that Magick works for you no matter how you dress. ;)

[bluecat]

Originally posted by Red Dragon
You're so right blue the fascination with nudity is I fear eternal. The simple fact is that Magick works for you no matter how you dress. ;)

Yup, ya got that right.

Blue

[gunner]

and this won't be the last time we see this subject. my patron does not ask for skyclad or any other special ritual clothing but i'm comfortable with my pelt or dressed for the regimental ball as the circumstances call for. one of my more amusing memories is sitting clad only in a towel draped across my thighs, chatting with a witch named "nova" a few years back while watching a naked young lady clean out a bunch of college boys playing poker. the boys seemed to have a problem concentrating on the cards.

(and "tish" did have very pretty tits)