Nudity within Spirituality

scoia · Post by **scoia** » Tue Dec 27, 2005 5:10 pm

Luciferish wrote: I do not feel that a small issue such as a layer of cloth should be a hindrance to spiritual exploration and excercise....

Absolutely.

I don't have a problem either way, although it's easier for me being a solo practitioner and all.

Having said that, it's soo *insert expletive* hot here at the moment that I wear very very little in the way of clothing around the house as a matter of course.

What I don't think is appropriate are the the questions being posed about porn and the question of nudity in spiritual practice. I don't see how the two are connected. The ludicrously uptight attitudes towards nudity mostly stem from the over sexualisation of the naked form. It isn't about the sexual act at all, just a tool in some rituals to assist in creating the right environment, like most formalised magickal elements. But it's up to you what's comfortable.

Post by **Crazy Healer Lady** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 3:54 pm

Hurray for nakedness. Hurray for sensuality. It's beautiful and normal and natural. If you are not comfortable naked, be dressed. I am not comfortable with being nude around anyone other than my lover, except in cases like when my two best friends and I went skinny dipping in ice-cold water in pitch dark while camping (on illegal property, as we found out the next morning when we were kicked out). This was a profoundly freeing experience, especially when one of my friends jumped up onto a log, raised her arms and yelled: "I AM SPARTACUS!" All I could see was a silhouette. Nothing sexual at all, just free and happy and part of Mother Earth.

There is nothing wrong with what our bodies are naturally unless someone is uncomfortable with it. It is the lies of the Big Three Religions that have taught us to hate our bodies, see sex as evil, which also stems from "EVIL WOMEN who are here to tempt mens' souls."

And I very much agree with Scoia. Where in imaginary HECK is the connection between doing a ritual skyclad and porn????

End rant.

Kystar · Post by **Kystar** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 5:38 pm

too many people associate anything that involves nudity that isn't "Classical art" or "Behind closed doors basic boring marital sex" as Porn.

Kelreth · Post by **Kelreth** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 7:01 pm

Anything sensual will always connected to evil as far as some are concerned.

Art is based off opinion which is it the good side and down sides. Good because people will always find a new form of expression. And every one else will find something wrong with it.

Willow · Post by **Willow** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 4:27 pm

I love being naked. I am really comfortable with my body. That being said, I used to hate the way I looked and think I was too fat or too tall or whatever. Then I realised I don't want to live like that, it is part of who I am so anyone who doesn't like it can take off.
Anyway, I meditate in the bathtub sometimes. it is a good feeling.
Blessings

forgotten oceans · Post by **forgotten oceans** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:04 am

I hate clothes!! The only time I like clothes is when I'm cold, and even then, I refuse to wear a shirt under my jacket! I love having the windows open and I love being naked! And all at the same time! I'm on the third floor, if the neighborhood kids get a good peak, then let them, I still don't care, and if they get any ideas that involve them attempting to bust in the apt, I'm on the third floor, the ground is a long way down! They'll only try it once!

Porn has nothing to do with me talking to Mother! Mother sees all and knows all, she sees me as I am and she knows I'm not a size 4! She also knows that I'm the one who ate that last eggroll! She also knows I'd eat another one if I had it! I'm not getting any younger(20), my boobs aren't getting any bigger(small b), and that stomach pudge(1 and 1/2 inch) isn't going anywhere, I know this and so does Mother and so does my other half, and they still love me and I still love me, and guys at the mall still think I'm attractive.

Sex is just sex, it's a necessary thing, without it many ppl would go crazy and start raping and killing other ppl....oh wait, that's already happening! Our world is a good example of repressed sexual frustration, mayhem and death.... of preteen girls. I say if it feels good, do it! So long as you're not hurting anyone, including yourself, go for it! The creator wants us to be happy and if Creator didn't, we'd all be Xian! lol

Post by **Crazy Healer Lady** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 12:39 pm

The creator wants us to be happy and if Creator didn't, we'd all be Xian

Again I say hurray for nakedness.

Sex is just sex, it's a necessary thing, without it many ppl would go crazy and start raping and killing other ppl....oh wait, that's already happening! Our world is a good example of repressed sexual frustration, mayhem and death....

You make a very good point. I wholeheartedly agree with this.

Mind our world is out of balance in many other ways, but yes when we stifle our energies they lash out. If only women would learn to hear the drumbeat! If only we could all embrace sexual energy and not fear it and repress it but learn it and teach it! Grrrr. Celibacy is all right if you feel that's the only way to get back to Great Mystery, but to say that all sex is bad and evil is just asking for trouble. It is as natural as hunger.

A bit of a tangent. Sorry.

Midori · Post by **Midori** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 6:27 am

Nakedness, it is only convention and the words of Genesis which make it 'shameful', and the remnants of Church conditioning that nakedness is sinful.

To borrow from the Bible, when God created humans He did not give them clothes, they were naked. Only after they became knowledgeable, did they feel shame and cover themselves.

Ok, nowadays clothes are the norm, especially where winters are cold and summer brings the spectre of skin cancer, but we are bombarded by the media to consider ourselves in need of creams, lotions, liposuction, plastic surgery, etc., in order to achieve an ideal of beauty, but why? People are beautiful at whatever age they may be, inside and out. Has the media now become our God?

Question:- If we are all made in the image of a perfect God, what right have we to be ashamed of our bodies?

BB Midori

Post by **Crazy Healer Lady** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 8:48 am

Question:- If we are all made in the image of a perfect God, what right have we to be ashamed of our bodies?

Good point, madam!!

But then to the ones who wrote the current bible, everything must be shameful. GODS, especially if you are catholic.

Kelreth · Post by **Kelreth** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 9:30 am

Lol the bible is so confusing.

What is shameful, what isnt. Its all messed

Adultery is common in the bible, the adulters being "god's" chosen leader of the jews at that time.

"The Creation Story is a myth to be read and interpretted." <--That is from my Theology teacher, hes a xian.

That statement just confused the heck out of me so bad when I heard it.

Rain ForestMoon · Post by **Rain ForestMoon** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 1:24 am

Midori wrote:?

Question:- If we are all made in the image of a perfect God, what right have we to be ashamed of our bodies?

BB Midori

Perhaps ..... some people are ashamed of their God(s) as well.

Or maybe, they ought to be.

Blessings

Windwalker · Post by **Windwalker** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 4:24 am

I heard somewhere that some traditions feel it's sort of offensive to appear naked before your gods. But I suppose it depends on the gods... it's probably best to ask them, and see which they'd prefer

I have no problems working skyclad. I'm solitary and so I'm only naked by myself anyway. However, when I'm meditating I like to be clothed because my body temperature always goes down and I come back shivering if I didn't remember a blanket or something. I would very much like a nice robe or two - maybe a heavy one for winter and a light one for summer. Of course, sewing isn't my strong suit.... all the same I might make one this summer. It's always a bit of a worry with long droopy sleeves and candles, though....

Some people wear bodypaint during rituals. It's not something I've tried (although I do have a few tattoos) and I'd like to do it one day. The process of painting oneself seems meditative to me.

Mahala · Post by **Mahala** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 7:39 pm

Kelreth-Adultery is common in the bible, the adulters being "god's" chosen leader of the jews at that time.

My explanation of why I disagree with the bible- Mary was married to Joseph, correct? Then how does Mary somehow end up carrying God's child? This:
#1- Makes God an adulterer
#2- Makes Jesus a bas**** (Illigitmate child.)

Moving on...
When we first came into this world, we had innocence, we were pure. But because of the 'evilness' of nudity causing many to 'stray', we are told that nudity and nakedness, are bad. From birth, most people born unto Catholic and LDS families are told that nudity and nakedness are evil, and should not be seen other than when you are making love to a partner, or dressing or showering. Sex isn't evil either, it is what keeps the species of homo sapien on the record, it is what keeps us from becoming extinct. Look at it from an 'animal' view- it is only to continue the species and produce better more evolved offspring. Humans turned sex into a bad thing by using it wrongly. We created our own 'badness'. Just because I'm X age doesn't mean I don't get those 'feelings'.

Jescissa · Post by **Jescissa** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 2:11 am

Mary was married to Joseph, correct?

Nope, Mary and Joseph were betrothed. They were engaged to be married, but not married just yet. God's not an adulterer and as Joseph and Mary were married before Jesus was born, Jesus would have been Joseph's heir.

God, however, is a liar...in the Bible's creation myth, the only creature that didn't lie to anyone was the serpent! God told Adam that if he ate from the Tree of Knowledge he would die that very day...God lied to Adam because it took about three hundred years for Adam to grow old and die according to Biblical lineages.

For me, nakedness is nothing to be ashamed of. I wouldn't strip off in front of just anyone, but that's a privacy thing rather than a shame thing. I prefer to hold my circles clothed, but that's a practicality issue - singed clothes are easier to deal with than singed skin...less painful too

Willow · Post by **Willow** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:31 am

Little nitpicky thing

Gen 2: 15 "The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

It is you will surely die, it doesn't say when (same thin in the Hebrew...I asked my Jewsih studies prof). Christians (tend to) interpret it as humans enter the cycle of life and death, not that they die right away.

And actually, if God had had sex with Mary it would make him a fornicater (niether of them were married, you have to be married to commit adultury). But the idea is that Jesus was conceived without sex (and without sin).

Sorry, I don't mean to be a nitpick nelly, but if we critique other religions, it is in our best interest to do it accurately (Lord knows how ticked we get at Christians when they misinterpret our religion)

The Pagan Library

Nudity within Spirituality

Who is online