Naked Spirituality
I'm interested in hearing from other folks who are committed to integrating their physical lives -- and their lives as nudists/naturists/naked people (whatever) -- with their spiritualquest.
Incarnation is a reality -- I speak as a Christian, but, whatever -- whichmeansthere's always a completel, whole, real,body underneath those clothes. So I think it's not only pretty important to practice one's spirituality, but it'sa holy thing to practice one's spirituality naked(naked yoga, "pray naked!": you've seen the signs) ...
But I'm also interested in hearing stories. How does it work for you? How do you put it together? Let's talk.
Badger
well, being a Pagan priest, it comes fairly easily to me. Part of the Charge of the Goddess states "...and to show that you are truly free, you shall be naked in your rites". It's all about freedom and having nothing between oneself and Deity. Admittedly, we don't worship skyclad at public events, but we do during coven (private) circles. And during the summer I often host semi public rituals which somehow always incorporate the pool, so many are often skyclad at those events. I've always felt that, for me personally, the only way to truly be free enough to accept Deity into your soul, is to be naked. It even carries into non-religious events. For example, naked hikes...they are quite spiritual to me as I feel the energy of the area I'm hiking in and the plants and the animals, the breeze caressing my whole body and energizing me. As Pagans, generally we see nothing wrong with nudism.The nude bodydoes not necessarily denote anything sexual, and is certainly not something to be ashamed of, but rather to be celebrated.
As an energy worker I find clothing to be too confining for normal wear. Only the loosest cloths are comfortable to me but you can't run around in a robe all the time. I'm a radical faerie (www.radfae.org) and we typically are in either states of undress or glamoured up in drag or just whatever feels fun at the moment.
Myself though nude is the way to be. I remember sitting bare assed on a huge rock outcropping over a river with the wind rusteling the hairs on my body and knowing that I was in the grip of the almighty.
Thanks for your interesting comments! From the few things I've seen on TV or read about paganism in the UK, there is a strong connection to the earth, trees, and rivers, which is what all naturists feel, but without the folklore element. It's good to feel connected to Mother Earth, and embrace nature.