In traditional Gardnerian Wicca, Skyclad is a poetic way to
refer to nudity ("clad" means "dressed."). Some
Gardnerian and related traditions carry on many or all of their magical
operations skyclad. Some believe this allows magical anergy to 'flow' unrestricted
by clothing. Often it is believed a more honest way to appear before
the Gods, or to provide a psychological demarcation between ordinary and
magical consciousness, which is also accomplished with robes and ritual
dress in other traditions.
While the term itself was probably devised for the practice by Gardner (the
term itself predates him but was unrelated to witchcraft), the idea of witches
performing rituals in the nude stems from ancient popular superstition and
may have some historical basis.
A
renaissance era depiction of witches disrobing in preperation for a Sabbat
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