Fellow Wiccans (and others), do you agree with this?

I am currently reading the book Wicca for One by Raymond Buckland. So far, I like it, but there is a statement in there that I was wondering what everyone else thinks about it. For those of you who also have this book, I will give the page number(s) so you can go look too.

"If you don't care for special robes, then it's all right to wear T-shirt and jeans (my late good friend and fellow Witch, Scott Cunningham, never wore anything but T-shirts and jeans). However, they should not be the same T-shirt and jeans you've been wearing all day, for working in the office, garage, garden, or wherever. They should be a T-shirt and pair of jeans kept especially for ritual use. The consecrated circle, or other space, is sacred space; it is regarded as being "between the worlds"--between this world and the next--and as such is sacred to the gods and to the Witch. Show some respect for this space by not "contaminating" it with clothing that might well carry negativity from the mundane world."pg53

If you agree with what he says, this would be my dress of choice. What do you think of it?

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e163/m...

some of my most powerful rituals i have done wearing the same thing i did all day. as far as i'm concerned, the act of consecrating the circle cleanses everything within it. i've started smudging myself with incense when doing non-ritual magic, but i don't have special ritual clothes other than my kilts and robes, which don't get cleaned as often as my street clothes.

for some people, the act of dressing in special clothes helps set their frame of mind, and that's a good thing if it helps you, but not something to worry about otherwise.

I just see the dress, where is the rest ?

As long as it's comfortable and clean, it's fine.

Honestly, sacred space is a state of mind. It has nothing to do with fashion or accessories.

basically what he is saying is you can wear what makes you most comfortable but you still show respect by changing into something you haven't worn all day

I wear whatever I want to wear. I understand what he means by having specific clothes for the rites but that's just not me. I don't think the clothes really matter. Now if you feel they do, then they will. The dress is cute, wear it if that's what you want.

Will you be wearing those Red Wing Boots with that dress. Kind of a war of the worlds you have going there.

I would agree that it would be nice to have a special set of clothes for ritual work. Aside from keeping your circle free from "contamination" (I don't buy that reason, but if it works for you then by all means go with it), putting on those clothes will help you get into the proper mindset for your ritual; kind of like a conditioned response.

As for the dress, I'm not too sure what it's made of, but I personally would stick with natural fibers for ritual dressings.

I couldn't care less what either of you wear .I certainly wouldn't want to carry negativity with me either . Where do you dump negativity when you get tired of carrying it ?
How about not contiminating anything with stupid superstitious garbage ?

Mythology is mythology, but if it means something to you, then it probably affects how you interact with the energy

Well - sometimes it's not always possible to change clothes right before a ritual working. I travel to Salem, MA for some rituals which is over an hour away from where I live, and I usually head up a bit early so I can wander around town for a bit. So I will wear whatever clothes I put on before I left - though I certainly don't do any gardening or working in the garage or anything like that in between - just some driving, a little shopping, and some visiting for the most part.

I would think that the cleansing I receive prior to ritual would also cleanse any negative energies from my clothes as well as myself. Not only do we cleanse and consecrate the space, but every person attending the ritual is smudged too.

I may wear different "special" outfits for certain Sabbat celebrations or something like that.

I just wear something that's comfortable and a bit special.

You should use something made of natural fibers, like cotton.

I would go with natural fibres too. It is probably best to have a set of robes that really does put you in another state of mind.
My partner and I had some made for us,although a lot of the ethnic clothing - particularly indian wear is good.
I started off with a dedicated long dark purple dressing gown !

I disagree.

I am all for t-shirts and jeans, etc.

But I do not believe in seperate garb for most occasions.

To me, there is nothing more sacred than living life. The clothes you wear to work, or for play are not LESS sacred, I consider them MORE sacred for the experience!

There is nothing more sacred than working hard to sustain yourself and your family, nor is there anything more sacred than the fullfillment of your life through enjoyment and comfort.

Why should these things be seperate?

I also would use the same broom that I sweep my floors with for ritual purposes .... it already vibrates with practicle sacred purpose.

The dress is nice. But the point is that it should not be used for any other purpose. For that matter, you could wear a swimsuit or a Flapper skirt replica. It's not the dress, it's the sanctity of the dress.

I think that is perfectly fine advice and I agree with it pretty much.

I don't think the gods care one bit what you wear when you honor them. You can wear a special robe, you can wear nothing, you can wear jeans and a tee shirt. For me personally, the reason for changing into something else is twofold. One, yes - there is a mindset in changing into "ritual wear" - whatever that ritual wear may be. It says "we're shifting gears now". It also acts as a cleansing. Off with the gunk of the day and onto to something fresh and clean. But things like cleansing with sage, ritual hand washing, etc. also act as both cleansing and mental markers to move on to the next step of ritual.
Then there is also the simple concept that when honoring the gods, they are "honored guests". I personally like to be presentable for my honored guests. But presentable simply means that you are clean and decently put together. That doesn't mean you are dressed for a meeting with the Governor or anything.
So I say, wear whatever you are comfortable in. You want to be able to move freely without worrying about catching yourself on fire when passing by a lit candle. It doesn't need to be fancy and I don't think it needs to be something you only reserve for ritual. Though many feel that works best for them.

I often do rituals in the nude. However i take a ritual bath before hand in anointing oils. ~M~
ps. The dress is very nice and a natural color green as the trees and all growing things of the earth. I like it! Rock on "Earth Maiden"!!! I myself have passed from the stage of maiden and am currently in "Mother" yet I can see the "Crone" in the not too distant future. Peace&Love be with you...~M~

Changing clothes for rituals and using specific garments has more to do with changing your frame of mind and shifting your internal gears to the business at hand than for any required form.the Mother and father love you no matter what you wear so just wear what you feel comforable in

I don't really agree. I know some are a little fastidious when it comes towards what they wear in ritual (anything from "you have to be naked" to "you can only wear 100% cotton"), but to say that you have to have "special" everyday clothes just for ritual is a little much.

And if I were a non-witch, I would be insulted if somebody told me that my "mundane" world could "contaminate" the apparently ever-superior sacred space of witches...

Tools and attire are of no importance specifically but, the robe and tools set the scene. Magick is all imagination so these things help the mind imagine much more easily.

On a side note (feel free to chat me off list) are you from TN and have a sister? I know a Squirt in TN and was wondering if you were her.

I don't know if I would have an outfit put aside just for ritual use, but I probably would at least change into clean clothes for the ritual. Then again, I might deliberately go to the ritual in the clothes I wore for gardening that day just because I feel closer to the gods when I'm working with the flowers.