Working Skyclad(nude)

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: AstralMagickCraft

93,

I like to be skyclad, it is the only ceremonial dress you can do by the book without buying anything.

93 93/93

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: The Dark Necromancer

Well, I tend to perform magic concerning sexuality in the nude, whether sex magic or fertility rites. Working skyclad helps me feel closer to the wild, closer to my animal instinct and heritage.

I do not feel that working skyclad is a necessity or an intensifier of the energies, rather a matter of what is appropriate for the magical workings.

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: Mithraic

The covens i have been a member of have always done initiate only rites skyclad. At first it's a little odd, but you forget the nudity (in my experience) very quickly and become involved in the ritual.

It does have a different feel to the energy work when skyclad; more dionistic, when I work robed I feel a more apollonian energy.

Cheers,
Mithraic

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: Uni_Verse

Even the sky wears a rich robe of blue.

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: MatthewK

Even the sky wears a rich robe of blue.

Thank you.

This is probably where the term "skyclad" comes from, as some cults of Kali (who, as you'll note from many idols, was often depicted naked and/or with constellations arranged across her body) had texts describing the goddess as being "clothed in the sky" - as in nekkid - and the term isn't some European or British slang like everyone seems to think it is. These cults often worshipped and performed sacred rites without ceremonial garb.

To say that other cultures had ritual clothing and that it's a Gardnerian idea because he was a nudist is a bit of narrow thinking, as countless primitive cults all over the world have practiced in bare flesh, most especially in tropical climates. Hell, some peoples run around naked whether they're in ceremony or not because clothing isn't a really big part of their culture at all.

As for myself I have no desire to work skyclad for any number of reasons, including concern for burning or otherwise disfiguring myself in places I'd really like to avoid injury (I can't help it there's so much to swing around down there ), and as I work alone it's definitely not a self-image thing. I have no problem with my physique. I'm actually kinda hot :p Nah, but honestly - I'd be surprised if it made a difference for the better.

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: GMBlackwood

I need men who will worship Lord Master Satan with me skyclad, but only for friends.

Grand Magister Blackwood
Temples of Satan

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: funquie

I have worked both ways, depending on the situation, but I prefer to work with some sort of clothing on, mainly because I'm a little "cold natured", and like to be warm. I have a bunch of robes (black, white, red, blue, tie-dyed) because I can sew pretty well, and I'm also lucky enough to have a friend who is an expert seamstress and LOVES to make things for me.

As for sex-magick, I find it much more sensual if the participants are actually clothed. Sensual clothing like whispy silks or clingy velvets or smooth satins are WAY more arousing to me, sensually, than raw nudity. I like the feel, look, and interaction that sexy clothes offer. AS someone who also participates in the "swinging" lifestyle, I can tell you that sometimes buck-naked just ain't that sexy. Sometimes, you WANT to leave a little to the imagination, or have the tease of anticipation...

Anyway, back to clothed/naked magick. I like gadgets, stuff, costumes, and alter kit. I make a LOT of my own tools and clothes for ritual. (I'm also active in the SCA, so believe me, I KNOW my way around a sewing machine...) And knowing that I made my robe, belts, alter cloth, banners, wand, or whatever, is a DEFINITE plus as far as getting into the proper mindset.

Sometimes, when working alone, and working within the "traditional Gardnerian" idiom, or doing some types of Tantric workings, I work "skyclad". But most of the time I wear something...

[Occult Forum Archive]

Original post: AMKR

I can't say in the confines of a ritual, but meditating while naked seems to work of helluva lot better for me. Could be that I have more time in the shower than anywhere else though ahah.

[Shaam]

Between male and female practitioners, who would you say works skyclad more...men or women?

[Shades]

Women. Men are quite often more self conscious.
I have worked skylclad and with clothes.
I see/feel no diference.
In my opinion (and I have not tested this) the only exception would be if someone were to wear something that was considered offensive to the entities that it was trying to work with.

[Shaam]

Never thot about that, but I guess that could be a possibility...lol

[The Cove]

I recently, while on a binge of self created despair, involving terrible quantities of brew and vine, disrobed silently surrounded by many - and walked out the door.

Stood outside gazing at the moon thinking bursting thoughts, laughed and roared a little - walked back inside and put back on my clothes.

A small thing for me - but a tremendous thing for the rest of the group.

A little profound magic is often just a small variation in common action.

[Venefica]

Well if someone find it very difficult to be naked, that uneasiness might make it more easy to get into a magical state of mind. Also if the point is to worship the forces of nature, to feel wind on your naked body, feel dirt under your naked feet might be just the thing you need to get in the mood, and after all, the ritual stuff is not needed for the magick, it is ways to get the magician in the mood to put it that way and ways to gather Energy so the magician do not have to carry the entire burden of the magick him or herself.

[Shaam]

Well if someone find it very difficult to be naked, that uneasiness might make it more easy to get into a magical state of mind. Also if the point is to worship the forces of nature, to feel wind on your naked body, feel dirt under your naked feet might be just the thing you need to get in the mood, and after all, the ritual stuff is not needed for the magick, it is ways to get the magician in the mood to put it that way and ways to gather Energy so the magician do not have to carry the entire burden of the magick him or herself.

True. Feeling the elements does help you. Allow yourself to be the elements, i.e., instead of feeling the wind on your body, become the wind. Instead of feeling the dirt beneath your bare feet...become the dirt....etc.

[autodydact]

Super old thread, but I think I'll throw in my ten pence. I occasionally work skyclad. Depends on the ritual and how appropriate nudity would be for me personally. I.e.- For sabbats I work skyclad as a symbolic acknowledgment of the gifts the deities have bestowed on me. For magick though, I find that wearing robes adds a certain psychological element which helps focus my mind on the task at hand. Also, because I wouldn't wear my robes just any time (whereas I might be naked for non-ritual reasons) it adds a certain solemnity to the act.

[Asurendra]

It depends on who is there. Dare I name the names, pro and con? Wait, I see a thought-form emanating from the mind of Nahemah ...

***END OF TRANSMISSION***ERROR 404 NOT FOUND***

[Nahemah]

Haha...this is my post here,from back in the old days... [crazy]

Original post: Eretik

I find my energies are not affected by my clothing/nakedness at all.I prefer clothes,for practical reasons.I'm clumsy at the best of times and injury possibilities are magnified if naked,for me.lol.Also the climate here and my busy family home means opportunities for 'skyclad' are few.I would be distracted by others being naked around me, I think,if in a group.Most folk have some degree of self consciousness about their bodies,to an extent,don't they? I suppose it's a case of if it works for you it's fine,if not then not.Is it a compulsory thing in Wicca? I don't really know much about that.

I still think the same,mostly cos of the cold and rain up here,lol,that and I'm still clumsy. [thumbup]