I know this will be controversial, but I have to speak up! I love to honour and celebrate ancient wisdoms and traditions. However I will never go along with something because ‘that’s the way it’s always been done’. I will question any action or behaviour that feels off and if the answer doesn’t resonate, I will challenge it. That is the beauty of ceremony and sacred lore, we are allowed to work our personal medicine in ways that feel authentic and true for who we are in the world, and we are allowed to choose to do things differently. That is how the sacred stays relevant and how natural evolution works…sometimes the old ways aren’t the best ways for everyone.
So I’m going to dive into the issue that doesn’t sit right with me and my convictions and belief systems. I have seen many sweat lodges that require women to wear long shirts and long skirts ‘for modesty’, while the men can wear shorts. I have also had people asking me why we don’t require women to cover themselves in our sweat lodges.
Firstly, as a feminist and strong ally for women’s rights, I will never ask women to cover their bodies, to give into the old misogynist indoctrination that women’s bodies are a distraction. Or something to be embarrassed or ashamed of. Or that it is our responsibility to cover our bodies, even in sacred ceremony, so as not to sexually entice or distract men. At Beautifully Wyld we assume that all who participate in our lodges are mature, self-aware, adults who know how to behave appropriately when in ceremony, and in all other areas of life too!
“Ceremony is about stripping away the layers”
Secondly, I find it almost impossible to believe that nudity was even an issue in most indigenous societies. Before the missionaries turned up and started converting towards their ‘modesty centred’, shame-based religions, were women really required to cover up in ceremony?
Thirdly, in sacred ceremony, we are attempting to strip back all layers, all masks, all attempts to hide ourselves from each other, Great Spirit and ourselves. When we enter without these layers, whether they are self-imposed or societally imposed, we have less to remove as we connect in sacred space. This of course may not be true for everyone, and that is why we support a clothing optional lodge. We welcome participants to wear what they feel comfortable in on that day, at that time. We encourage our participants to let go of man-made rules and to find ways to connect with sacred lore.
I also encourage people to step out of the nudity equals sex belief system and come back to the naturalness of their own bodies. The awareness that being naked is natural is liberating, and this understanding releases a heavy burden from the feminine’s shoulders. Shifting this concept is one big step forward in becoming a fully mature adult, who is capable of being self-responsible with their thoughts, words and behaviours, no matter what setting you find yourself in. And of course, as with most ceremonies, the focus is not on the outer self, it’s on the inner self and connection to the Great Mystery.
That is why our lodges incorporate elements from all the sweat lodges found around the world, from Inipi’s to Kiva’s, Temazcal’s to Finnish Saunas, the purpose is to bring the spiritual into the physical and to detox the body, mind and soul. Pouring water over hot rocks, in a dark confined space, to bypass the conscious mind and access the subconscious, for change and transformation, is a global tradition, with many cultures choosing to experience this ceremony without clothing.
So, for those that do feel women must be covered for the sake of modesty, and so as not be a distraction to any males who may be present in ceremony. I would suggest that our way of facilitating sacred ceremony and encouraging equality, equity and mature compassionate interaction between the sexes, may not be for you.
However those that genuinely embrace freedom and sovereignty, and understand our ‘clothing optional’ stance, we’d love to see you at one of our lodges soon!
Much Love
Shekinah Leigh
Ceremonial Guide * Civil Marriage Celebrant * Shamanic Practitioner * Rites of Passage Facilitator
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