Late, Late and More Late. Pagan Blog Project Week 6 - C is for Costumes!

Well how can you not expect the theatre major to mention costumes?

"Theatre started in a circle."

At Alvernia, when we would start a new play, the very first rehearsal we would first all stand in a circle, hands held, and just be there, a group of actors, where it all started originally, in a circle. We'd also circle up before each performance. It was grand.

Whether you're by yourself doing the voices and movements for all the parts, or if you're in a group, you can really have some fun with Ritualistic Theatre. The last Stones Rising that I was at involved ritual theatre depicting the Voyage of the Argo. I didn't hear about it until all of the roles were gone, thus I didn't get to act in it. But it was spectacular!

Anyway, we were going to talk about costumes. Which have a lot to do with ritualistic theatre, but aren't limited to ritualistic theatre. Costumes are a very powerful tool in linking you to something else. Actors wear costumes not just for the benefit of the audience, but to help them get into the role. Playing Irina Nikolayevna Arkadina in Anton Chekhov's play Chaika would not have felt the same without the corset, the ornate dresses, the big hats, etc.

So what can you do with costume? There's the obvious, go all-decked-out costume of something, say maybe a God or a Goddess, or a historical figure whose energy you want to connect with or channel for a specific purpose. Maybe you could dress like Cleopatra for a love, beauty, or seductive ritual (or a bathing ritual! Cleopatra was THE bath lady ever, and baths can be made into rituals of beauty, feminineness, and cleansing!). Maybe you'll dress like Queen Elizabeth for a ritual wherein you want to invoke Renaissance energies or to feel more powerful. Maybe you'll dress like Adam Smith for a money and prosperity ritual. (Hey, don't make fun. I like that idea!)

But you don't have to go big. Sometimes costumes aren't about big. Maybe there's a certain color you want to wear to conjure some sort of energy into your circle. Maybe you could do a masked ritual, and make a fancy mask, or even just paint one a simple, solid color from the local craft store. You could do a ritual of simply adorning your body with jewelry, slowly, piece by piece, to symbolize a richer life (that doesn't have to be just financially richer, either). You could paint your face in woad to connect with ancient Celtic energies. You could make a pair of sparkly, gossamer wings that either strap to your back or hang from your arms when you astrally project, to symbolize flying.

There's just something to be said about placing a thing on, near, or around your body. Your energy mingles with it, dances with it, takes a taste of it, and for just that moment in time, you can connect with something you've never connected before, in a safe, highly theatrical manner.

This concludes the second C post. I can't wait to see what interesting, lovely things everyone has to say next week!

Big Love,

<3 Sapphirescent <3