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I 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.
