Submitted question covered in this blog:
"What is a Skyclad ritual?"
Thank you for submitting this question referring to what's mentioned in this previous blog entry: https://www.askagreywitch.com/post/cleansing-negativity about cleansing incoming energy
In my personal experience, I find cleansing ritual baths very helpful for this purpose, and can be done before initiating other spellwork, meditation, journaling, etc. Or, especially before skyclad ritual! Afterall, we are most powerful as our natural selves
The word Skyclad in neopaganism refers to the practice of ritual nudity during religious ceremonies.
A skyclad ritual is a ritual in which is performed while each participant is wearing no clothes, jewelry, nor make up, etc. There is a widely shared belief amongst the magickal community that being as naked as possible connects us with nature as we are closest to our true authentic self. Afterall, that IS how each of us entered the world through child birth.
There should be nothing suggestive or sexual about performing a skyclad ritual, even when more than one person is involved. A group of Skyclad ritual magickal practitioners are each intently focused on the intention of the ritual itself that is being performed. In most covens, intimate interactions between members is very much frowned upon and highly discouraged. Even handfasted or married couples attending coven gatherings attend as individual practitioners and should keep any gestures of affection between eachother private and outside of circle gatherings.
Skyclad ritual can easily be incorporated into bath times for any individual solitary practitioner. It can be a simple way to cleansing away negatively whilst also cleaning ourselves. There are visual meditation techniques that are meant to assist with this, such as an Astral Shower visualization where a witch visualizes a serene scene in which the water is washing away and cleansing away any negativity from the body while standing under the water in the shower. A witch who is also a parent may perform a skyclad ritual with a baby or enfant as a blessing of good health and strong development.
Long ago, catholic baptisms were performed with the person being baptised in the nude and deliberately dunked under the surface of the water by a priest of the faith, to then allow the baptised person to rise from the water anew. Either performed in a bath tub or in a river or stream, or along the shore of a lake. This is another example of skyclad ritual.
A coven who has decided to practice Skyclad rituals must have first established a high level of comfort and trust amongst each of it's members first and should be completely voluntary. No one should ever feel pressured or forced to participate in skyclad ritual. Or, any ritual for that matter! That is a huge red-flag that what's happening is not in a safe environment.
More information about that is available in this previous blog entry: https://www.askagreywitch.com/post/where-to-start answering a question about covens.
Since the topic of nudity can generally cause some discomfort or awkwardness within today's modern society, in the tradition of the Sacred Meadow Circle, my coven specifically only encourages individual skyclad ritual for each member to be done privately in the confort and privacy of their own home. It is never suggested during coven gatherings nor amongst other coven members.
More information about the Sacred Meadow Circle is available at: https://www.askagreywitch.com/coven
Thank you for viewing my blog! If there are any questions please consider submitting them. I may expand on what I've written in this or an existing blog or I may write a new blog entry depending on the topic of the submission.
Bright blessings!
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