For every day wear, the same as everyone else, it is not our intention to make a public statement. You will see under ritual markings discussion on items of jewelry and rings, some of which you may choose to wear publicly. In most cases witches will arrive in normal clothing and robe up.
Witches have special clothing for meetings and rituals, historically this would have been principally a large cloak with hood in an earth color such as brown or dark green, that would have allowed them to melt into the background and disappear in woodland or open countryside at night.
Today the persecution is not such a problem, however misunderstanding and the extremists in some other belief systems means we do not usually operate openly.
Today we continue to wear some clothing such as cloaks as much as a tradition and to show our history as anything else. Some of the other clothing we wear is practical, yet different so that it helps us in rituals to focus on the tasks in hand.
As a water witch, you will be able to wear a tabard and cloak. A simplest tabard is a rectangular piece of material with a hole in the middle to put your head, the two sides are worn front and back and tied with a cord. The cloak being a major expense or involving a lot of work is optional. some will have both a lightweight indoor cloak, in some covens made of netting similar to the decorative type hung in some windows, and a heavier outdoor one with a lining, that is usually a dark color. Some covens have a standard design. (Don't buy or make a cloak in advance of becoming a coven member). If you don't have a cloak then you can use a blanket, large piece of toweling material, or shawl instead.
Some covens particularly where there are a number of younger adult members, have chosen to use a short cloak, often in a bright color as opposed to an earth color, with detachable hoodie, this is a type of hood and combined scarf. This looks fashionable and can be worn as everyday wear and to and from the coven meetings. In these covens the male witches often wear a black or brown three quarters length cloak, with detachable cape and hood.
Many cloaks have hoods and only wizards (see covens), wear pointed hats, and patterned clothes (if they wish). Some witches and wizards with princess, prince, king or queen in their title can also wear a single crown and these who are also wizards can have one designed into their pointed hat.
Some wizards wear full outfits, that are suitable for wearing while working, we will not explain these further here as it is a specialist topic.
The tabards can be very simple, however most covens have a design that is made of two pieces of material that overlap and button together at the shoulders, the back piece having the buttons on, as a standard distance apart. The advantage of this arrangement is that various backs and fronts of different colors and lengths can be mixed and matched economically, and they can be put on or changed easily under a cloak. tabards are tied around the waist with a colored cord. In some covens the color of the cord can also have meaning.
If you came to this page before reading the 'covens' and 'on high' pages, I know it will starting to sound complicated, but it will all become clear soon as you read more.
In addition they wear to tabards and cloaks they wear sandals, or shoes. To wear anything else they would get the permission of their high priest or priestess, who will give it to them if there is a justifiable need. The high priest/priestess may also tell all members to wear underwear or swimwear under their tabards if outsiders or outer circle members are to be present.
Netting cloaks are usually used indoors where a heavy cloak would be hot or uncomfortable, or for some rituals. It is constructed out of ac material similar to that used for window netting, often patterned and full enough that it provides a degree of cover, to avoid embarrassment.
Skyclad means in the nude, and some traditions of witchcraft perform all of the rituals and celebrations scyclad. At first this may make you feel you would be a little shy, but people who go along for the first time are allowed to wear clothes, but usually start wearing clothing but then take it off, and feel completely at ease. There are a number of reasons given for celebrating skyclad, most quite good reasons.
Water Witches, do not routinely celebrate scyclad, not that we say there is anything wrong with it, just by wearing the tabards, or netting cloaks, we are able to meet the requirements, without the need to be skyclad. We also have found that even in the summer in Britain there are few nights when it is warm enough, and in winter months the cold will become a major distraction. In the summer there is also the risk of sunburn to some people if scyclad outside in the daytime. Some covens have a standard very plain tabard, that avoids competition and fashion from creeping in, while others encourage diversity.
Our covens can have some sections of some rituals that are performed scyclad, in they choose, usually indoors, but as you will by now know we put no obligation on any witch to do anything they are not comfortable with or any obligation to attend any ritual or part of a ritual. Very many covens have no scyclad rituals at all.
As each of our covens have their own books of shadows, and define exactly how each ritual is performed, they can choose to modify any or all rituals as they feel is best for them. many have chosen to use netting cloaks for rituals that some others have chosen to perform sykclad.