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kyreneI was going to write this post last night before I went to bed, but I was so tired I collapsed and said "Fuck it, I'll remember in the morning."
I have serious issues with Hellenists showing up in garb for a ritual. It has nothing to do with the fluffy favor, looking like SCAers, or anything like that. My reasons for disliking it are actually far more practical.
The moment you have to wear special clothing that you wouldn't wear otherwise, clothing so far removed from what you ordinarily wear to a religious festival you have separated that act from the rest of your life. The gods are everywhere and in everything you do, and it doesn't matter if you're wearing jeans, a business suit, or a chiton. You shouldn't have to wear clothing that separates the act of worship so much from your regular life. IMHO this sets a bad precedent and mindset, the sort where when it's "over" you go back to wearing your normal clothing and that's that.
Bear in mind I've been a ceremonial magician for years. We wear special robes and other vestments to rituals on purpose; it's in order to gear us towards the mindset we wish to be and the energies we wish to invoke during that time. When I'm done with that ritual, I will not be acting in the role of Hierophantria invoking Osiris, or the Hegemon invoking Ma'at, or any other deity or office related to that deity--I will be me. This is a very delibrate act, and it works. But is it the sort of mindset we want to be having for worshipping the gods?
Unless you're doing a special ritual for the Mysteries where you WANT to separate your persona from the role you take on during ritual, there's no need for "period" clothing or SCA-like garb for a Hellenic religious festival. There's no need to remove yourself so far from the act of worship that you have to dress in a foreign fashion versus simply wearing nice clothing which you would wear to a special occasion.
I have serious issues with Hellenists showing up in garb for a ritual. It has nothing to do with the fluffy favor, looking like SCAers, or anything like that. My reasons for disliking it are actually far more practical.
The moment you have to wear special clothing that you wouldn't wear otherwise, clothing so far removed from what you ordinarily wear to a religious festival you have separated that act from the rest of your life. The gods are everywhere and in everything you do, and it doesn't matter if you're wearing jeans, a business suit, or a chiton. You shouldn't have to wear clothing that separates the act of worship so much from your regular life. IMHO this sets a bad precedent and mindset, the sort where when it's "over" you go back to wearing your normal clothing and that's that.
Bear in mind I've been a ceremonial magician for years. We wear special robes and other vestments to rituals on purpose; it's in order to gear us towards the mindset we wish to be and the energies we wish to invoke during that time. When I'm done with that ritual, I will not be acting in the role of Hierophantria invoking Osiris, or the Hegemon invoking Ma'at, or any other deity or office related to that deity--I will be me. This is a very delibrate act, and it works. But is it the sort of mindset we want to be having for worshipping the gods?
Unless you're doing a special ritual for the Mysteries where you WANT to separate your persona from the role you take on during ritual, there's no need for "period" clothing or SCA-like garb for a Hellenic religious festival. There's no need to remove yourself so far from the act of worship that you have to dress in a foreign fashion versus simply wearing nice clothing which you would wear to a special occasion.
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(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-27 06:36 pm (UTC)How we handled this in Spira is that we dont have ritual garb per se, but ritual colour. So when you are in ritual a certain colour is suggested for each level seedling/green, liana white, emergent/black and you can wear the symbol on a badge it you like as well. Everyone just wears their regular clothes though. Hell we are a modern tradition....why not wear modern clothes and speak the modenr lingo.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-27 06:48 pm (UTC)Back in the day, the Greeks wore their regular clothing. Priests I know wore purple, at least in some trads.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-27 08:56 pm (UTC)White was rare and expensive (due to bleaching).
Most folks didn't wear white or purple.
I can see priests wearing vestments. I can't really see the average joe bothering. I still get wierded out by people going to Mass in cut offs, shorts, and raggedly blue jeans though. Show some respect.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-27 09:02 pm (UTC)After all Wiccans wear robes (or nothing) to mark ritual off. But that its due to the CM influence, and everone being clergy.
Its supposed to get you in the mindset, and apart from normal life. But I don't see my reliigon that way. Its integrated into life. If I were clergy, I'd wear vestments (probably an alb, its white, and its a long sleeved tunic like the old priests wore, and its available, and recognizable as vestments, and a good old casock has always appealed, its also moderninzed, based on an ancient outfit too, and recognizably a vestment). But now, I dress in my normal wear (I try to dress up a bit, just to show respect), or in my towel, right after purifying myself ...before I get dirty or miasmic or whatnot. And this is because I'm at home, usually alone.
Period clothing is fun, but its not necessary. I might wear a Khiton to a festival done that been there...because everyone else is dressing wacky (or not dressing). But normally I'm in my normal clothing for that...or in a sarong. (Ain't no way in hades I'm going nude).
I do wish I would wear something fancier when I worship, but I've never been in a group worship situation for my gods.