Do you dress for your service?

[Aubrey_Rose]

I was reading an article about Catholic Nuns not wearing Habits, and got to thinking I do not feel right when I do not wear a suit when I am at the main Sunday service in the sanctuary at my church, (there is no dress code, or expectations of dress for the service).



Other services I may or may not feel a suit is appropriate, it depends on where the service is, (In the Chapel, our Francis White Room, or the Park) and what group is doing the service and what the service is about.

Does your practice have a dress code? Do you have one for yourself during services?
How do you feel if you are not dressed, as you think you should be, for your practice, while engaged in it?

I wear what is comfortable.
Though, I am in the process of finding clothing I find"special" generally its a long flowy dress. I feel free, and I am able to focus more on the ritual at hand, than how uncomfortable I am.

[WanderingWaters2011]

Does your practice have a dress code? Do you have one for yourself during services?
How do you feel if you are not dressed, as you think you should be, for your practice, while engaged in it?

In Lukumi, it is encouraged one wears all white to ceremonies with the head covered; if one is in their initiation year to become a priest or priest in the religion, especially so. With the possible exception of fully initiated priestesses of Chango, women must wear long skirts. Sometimes you will be given one to put on if you come to a ceremony without one.

I was initially very fussy in white and afraid to get the outfits dirty...now I know I am destined to get them so (LOL). No matter what, something always ends up on them. Often I will change into the whites just before the ceremony and when I take off the clothes I came in I feel I am removing whatever baggage I have brought from the mundane world that could distract me from whatever is to take place. In the whites, I feel calm, cool, collected and in kinship with the others present.

Sometimes Orisha can mandate you not wear certain colors ever or sometimes even all colors except white ever, in the spiritual and mundane world. Following these restrictions, one would be literally wearing their commitment and love and respect for the Orisha and the religion on their sleeves.

[dawbeast]

I was reading an article about Catholic Nuns not wearing Habits, and got to thinking I do not feel right when I do not wear a suit when I am at the main Sunday service in the sanctuary at my church, (there is no dress code, or expectations of dress for the service).

Other services I may or may not feel a suit is appropriate, it depends on where the service is, (In the Chapel, our Francis White Room, or the Park) and what group is doing the service and what the service is about.

Does your practice have a dress code? Do you have one for yourself during services?
How do you feel if you are not dressed, as you think you should be, for your practice, while engaged in it?

im not a mamber of any sort of group or collective so any ritual i do (if what i do can be called a ritual) is just me and the gods. they know me and so theyl know im not the most formal or tidy of people so i dont pretend to be, ive honoured them straight from work in the fields covered in muck and dust.
i spend a lot of time covered in muck and dust so i guess this is a part of my life and so a part of me aswel, maybe thats why they dont seem to mind too much.
having said that if i ever do go for a group thing and there is a dress code il probably abide by it
db

[Annie Roonie]

Does your practice have a dress code? Do you have one for yourself during services?
How do you feel if you are not dressed, as you think you should be, for your practice, while engaged in it?

I do and it changes by season by adding a shawl in the winter. The clothes are not exclusively for ritual but mostly. They need to be clean and a first wearing. A few summers back I got a wild hair about making dresses from sheets and I use those mainly. I made them in a kind of mental zone that was peaceful and they lend me a modicum of peace when I wear them. Along with that it is important for me to be clean head to toe. I feel strange when I'm not and cannot proceed. I would say it was a holdover from church days but I never put the same care into that. I think it is has to do with clearing my mind of trifles.

But that's just ritual. For other parts of practice/daily life, I wear what the task at hand calls for.

[FunkyDemon]

Does your practice have a dress code? Do you have one for yourself during services?
How do you feel if you are not dressed, as you think you should be, for your practice, while engaged in it?

All of my rituals are at home and alone, so I wear what I am normally wearing. Unfortunately this means I'm normally in my underwear. Maybe not the most respectful, but I assume they have a sense of humour.

[Chatelaine]

Does your practice have a dress code? Do you have one for yourself during services?
How do you feel if you are not dressed, as you think you should be, for your practice, while engaged in it?

During my pagan years, I felt I needed to keep my feet, midriff and as much of my back as possible bare for ritual. What I actually wore beyond that was of secondary importance.

My new church is pretty much 'smart casual'. There are jeans and leather jackets seen around, but no tracksuits. There's a lot of standing, so sensible footwear is a must (the number of skyscraper heels at the Resurrection service made me hurt just by looking!) I tend to pick long gypsy skirts and loose tops. At home I pray and meditate in yoga pants and t-shirts or tank tops, barefoot. It's not dressing up, but doesn't feel inappropriate.

The Russian Orthodox tradition is big on headscarves for church, the rest of us not so much, but I'm considering some experimentation with that as well.

[SatAset]

Does your practice have a dress code? Do you have one for yourself during services?
How do you feel if you are not dressed, as you think you should be, for your practice, while engaged in it?

For Kemetics, we wear white traditionally. I have white shirt and pants I wear to perform my daily ritual. If I'm in front of my shrine and not doing ritual, I try to be clean and wear clean clothes. I'd say cleanliness is the most important part here.

For the Orisha, I just wear clean clothes. I'm not in any Orisha House. I don't have any more really white outfits than the one I use for the Kemetic Powers and it feels wrong to use that outfit for the Orisha too. So I just try to wear clean clothes.

For Frigga, I wear clean clothes. I normally dress pretty modestly. I would feel uncomfortable otherwise.

[fjfritz]

My tradition uses clothing as a ritual tool - most commonly setting aside an outfit for ritual use only, so that when you put it on, you begin the process of transitioning from daily mindset to ritual mindset.

Totally what my coven does. I use my robe (bought at Deva about ten years ago) as both a tool for focus but also a tool for use. The robe has pockets for my stuff, is lightweight so perfect for rituals in which a lot of movement takes place (like ours) and doesn't flow enough to be a fire hazard.

I don't wear it for any other time. Just ritual. But that works for me so I think it really comes down to what works for you.

[fallenangel]

Does your practice have a dress code? Do you have one for yourself during services?
How do you feel if you are not dressed, as you think you should be, for your practice, while engaged in it?

Does your practice have a dress code? Do you have one for yourself during services?
How do you feel if you are not dressed, as you think you should be, for your practice, while engaged in it?

Since I live in scrubs 50+ hours a week, I tend to dress up a little more than most of the congregation when I attend Church. Makes me feel a little more human and like a productive member of society.

During my practice, I am usually skyclad because it's more comfortable...if it is chilly, I will wear a short robe, either black or white (because they are my favorite robes). On the nights when my kids are still roaming the house, I will add a short nightgown under the robe, and if there are other house guests, I forgo practicing all-together.

[mlr52]

Since I live in scrubs 50+ hours a week, I tend to dress up a little more than most of the congregation when I attend Church. Makes me feel a little more human and like a productive member of society.

If you wear real scrubs (for working in, not to just look cool in), then you are a productive member of society.