“As above, so below”
I love when I underestimate the amount of beautiful souls who want to get naked and celebrate their holy body and sensual spirits. Such a beautiful Holy Body Retreat in NYC this past Sunday with Rev. Goddess Charmaine, myself and our beloved community. Naked Yoga, Naked Church, Trance Dance, love and blessings to our body temples and sensual spirits.
I am always touched when a prospective naked church go-er chooses to write in and ask more questions and share their story of healing…
Here’s one that truly moved me.
“Priestess Phoenix,
My name is Ted and I’m a member of the YNA group. I just saw your recent posting about the worship service your church offers, and I would very much like to attend the services. I was raised into the Eastern Orthodox Church, but the church’s conservative stance on issues such as homosexuality just completely turned me off. It has been many years since I went to my church. When I saw your post and began reading about your church on The Sensual Shaman, I felt like I found the truth that I was searching for all these years. I 100% agree with everything that you wrote and I feel that God revealed His divine truth to you. I’ve been a nudist for many years now – and I agree that nudism is something to be celebrated. God created everyone nude – it is not something to be ashamed of. I love how your church is accepting of all people.
I’ve noticed from the post that the next worship service is June 26. What time does it begin? Where in Manhattan is it located?
During service, is there any liturgy that is followed or particular way of worship that your church practices (ex. Standing or kneeling or bowing down?) What is the proper way to greet you and Goddess Charmaine in church?
I apologize for so many questions – but I’m eager to learn more about your church and to be prepared to attend worship. Thank you very much in advance.
My response:
Dear Ted,
Thanks so much for your email and for your wonderful feedback. These are all really great questions that I think everyone could benefit from.
First of all we meet in midtown Manhattan between 5th Ave and 6th Ave (exact address given when you RSVP – next service is Wednesday June 26th @ 7pm-9pm)
Please bring a towel like you would to any naturist gathering.
Consider our church to be informal and celebratory and in support of group wisdom with first acknowledging that the divine lives in each of us and that we need no interpreter between us and the Source we call God or Goddess or The Divine other than our body and our own sense of deep listening and self-inquiry.
To greet Rev Goddess and I, just simply introduce yourself with a hug or a handshake. While we may identify as a shaman or a Reverend, we are not gurus, we are ordinary people just like you who have stories and life experiences similar to yours. We are moved to offer this work because it is an organic extension of who we are and the healing and ministry we embrace.
We’ll sit together in a circle on the floor for most of service, although we might dance, sing and speak in community to share collective wisdom.
Looking forward to sharing service with you soon!
Blessings!
Isis
Holy Body Worship, lovingly called “Naked Church” is a clothing optional worship service led by Rev. Goddess Charmaine and Isis Phoenix each month. Having recently abbreviated our name to ‘Naked Church’ we are taking this time to redefine that this continues to be a ‘clothing optional’ event.
Holy Body Worship is an Interfaith spiritual service that celebrates the intimacy and uniqueness of the body and soul relationship through honoring and acknowledging the body as a temple and recognizing it as the vessel our soul chose for incarnation. The option of being naked or skyclad during Service is used to further the expression of reverence and celebration of our body soul relationship to Source. Our bodies are miracles, beauty, complex ecosystems, walking art – each unique, holy and a piece of God/Goddess/Source. The ‘clothing optional’ is simply that – optional. You are never required to be nude during service. It is a matter of choice and truth in the present moment based on how your body feels and wishes to express itself. In service, we view nudity as a form of transparency and intimacy. We bare our soul’s and the places that have been hiding or living inauthentically and bring ourselves back to authenticity, transparency and one-ness. If we feel guarded when we remove our clothes it’s not a form of celebration and we’ve actually moved our relationship to body/soul/source out of union or one-ness and into fragmentation and inauthenticity. However, if you have felt guarded your entire life, perhaps this is the moment to experience your union and one-ness through exploring nudity, through moving through fear and embracing yourself ‘holy’ and completely in this moment.
In Holy Body Worship, we choose to be nude or to celebrate with others who are nude in order to explore a deeper level of intimacy with our bodies, our souls, each other, the divine. To remove that which keeps us separate – and to bring us back into right relationship with body, soul, Source. Whole-y Body Worship celebrates and takes a stand for the right to choose to worship your body naked or clothed or in any state of disrobe that feels appropriate to you in the present moment and also acknowledges that that decision may change from moment to moment. We invite you to ask yourself what makes you feel powerful, holy, wild, sensual, free, and totally you and to celebrate your body soul union from that place?
We look forward to sharing service with you soon!
Love,
Isis Phoenix
Naked Yoga Alliance 