Let The (Un)veiling Begin
I just recently caught up with some controversy on a post that Star at Patheos did on Veiled Pagans and so I feel a need to preface this before I continue. I understand that the controversy was based on how Star obtained her info and I know that she has since publicly apologized. I am not going to comment on the validity of her apology or whether or not she was in the wrong. I am going to say that I am very glad it all went down.
Many years ago, when I was in college, I had done a project on Islam. I was fortunate enough to have a connection to a man at the local mosque whom helped me with this project. In advance I knew I was going to have to cover my head so I did some research and practiced a few techniques ahead of time. I knew that covering the head was oppressive and awful for women but I was going to do it anyway out of respect.
What I didn’t know was that I was going to fall in love with it. I was shocked because after all, this was oppressive to have to cover. Instead I was enlightened by the whole thing. I didn’t stick with it though out of fear that when people would see me wearing a hijab they would freak out. Oh silly, silly me!
It’s been a few years but every once in awhile I would get the urge to watch YouTube videos of women wrapping their heads in beautiful scarves. All the while that “oppressive” urge would stir deep within to follow suit. But I would sigh and turn them off and put it out of my mind. Over the last two weeks this cycle started, except I haven’t put it out of my mind yet. Instead I found the article in one of my google searches and read over it. I was intrigued and found myself nodding my head in agreement with some of the sentiment these women expressed in the article. I discovered Tichel and became intrigued with this style. Surely the people in my area wouldn’t freak out over this! No, it looked less Islamic but still beautiful.
Then a friend experimented with hijab and tichel styled wrappings and even allowed me to see her veiled. Stunning! And I was a bit jealous. Because of the short nature of my hair, she helped me find a video on wrapping short hair. The urge became too great and this evening, I picked up some bobby pins and a scarf at the store for playing around with. My middle daughter was intrigued so I picked up her one as well in her favorite color.
It will take some practice to get it better in the future, but for now I am pleased. I am so comfortable that I pretty much forget the hair is covered. The middle daughter loves it but has expressed she won’t always wear hers this way and that is perfectly fine by me. See, we forget that in order for something to be oppressive, it has to be something forced. She wants to control her appearances and I will fully support that (within reason!). As for me, for now I am okay with wearing it at home, weekends, and on the day of public ritual. If I feel the need to wear it outside of that then I will. I have some concerns with work just because of the initial shock of suddenly having your head covered. I would prefer to ease people into it and be able to express that this is very much MY choice and not because the patriarch has made me feel unsafe or that I must cover. This isn’t about modesty as I enjoy wearing tank tops in the summer and live to run around without shoes on. This is something different and I will expand on that in the future. For now, I am enjoying myself.
*Applaudes* I am so very happy for you, Angela! The first time is the scariest and after that it becomes second nature. I’ve learned so much about myself since covering (which reminds me that I need to do a new post on that very topic). You are very welcome to join Covered in Light if you feel so inclined.
Yay, yay, yay! Welcome to the world of a covered Pagan Woman.
Wonderful article! Any chance of a link to the video for wrapping with short hair? I find so few of them!!
YES! I read so many experiences of other ladies who feel the same and a lot of the same themes are there for me. Lovely picture <3
Thank you! I just saw in my inbox that I was approved for Covered in Light so I will be heading that way shortly!
I grew up in Islam, and for me covering the head was oppressive. I had to do so, I couldn’t go to mosque if I wasn’t covered. And of course, for that reason I have completely rebelled against it. I’m no longer a Muslim, I no longer follow any of the Islamic teachings, I eat pork and do so as a riased finger [even if I think inside that eating red meat isn't the way forward]. But I totally agree with you. If you want to do it, it has totally different connatations. So more power to you. I have dabbled in paganism, but find the insistance on ritual a bit too conformative for me. But I do know that if I have to choose a religion for me, this is what I want to be. Pagan and proud
This is the one I found that helped give me confidence to try it! I still needed a bobby pin to keep my hair tucked under but that is because my hair is longer than hers.
I am editing the post so that there is a link to this video as well. I didn’t even think to link LOL!
Wait do you veil too? LOL seems like more people are letting me know that they are into it, even if it’s just a part time thing.
I am so very glad that you left a comment! I do feel awfully sad for women who feel that they must cover, it should be something a person wants to do out of their own desire and not a request. And as a pagan, that goes for ritual as well! I really don’t think the gods will pay much attention if we are forcing ourselves to practice in a way that is making us feel mandated. However it is you feel is the best way to connect with the Divine, I hope you dive into it and enjoy every second of it. It’s your relationship to nurture, no one elses!
Angie, there’s a whole “covered Pagan” thread on Mothering.com
Does this mean you will be changing your religous prefrence?
Here you go: http://www.mothering.com/community/t/993085/pagans-who-cover
I don’t like how the hijab, when worn by a Muslim woman, is said to be oppressive and that idea is never fixed in this piece. In America and many places, there is no oppression whatsoever involved in wearing hijab, niqab or burqa.
There may be individual cases of women being forced to wear them, but overwhelmingly it is a choice between themselves and Allah.
Muslim women are no more often oppressed in this country than any other group’s women.
I’m so glad that you brought this up! I’m going to do a blog later this year about different head/prayer coverings. I’ve always been fascinated with veils and prayer coverings and thought that they were incredibly erotic. Sometimes in ritual (both as active ritual facilitator and as passive worshiper) I wear veils or scarves, but I’ve gotten mixed results. If I’m the facilitator, folks seem to accept it as part of the ritual, but when I wear it as a worshiper, I get “those looks”. Veils help me with giving myself over, which I had figured out before I read Rowan Pendragon’s post http://onewitchsway.com/2012/02/drawing-down-the-moon-pbp-week-7/, but it was cool to see I wasn’t the only one. Here’s a link to my account of my veil fiasco at the mosque I attended back in Feb. http://barbedpentacle.blogspot.com/2012/02/blessed-be-thy-feet-part-3-section-b-2.html
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It is unfortunate that biases about the hijab and many other head coverings exist, we can thank mainstream media for that! It’s especially difficult for people to understand outside of their tiny little bubbles until they are brave enough to explore. Although I am not Muslim, I am most certainly very happy with my experience in learning about Islam at the mosque. Had I never broken out of my bubble and chosen to do that, I would probably be among the many who still assume that the hijab was an oppressive symbol.
Thanks for sharing your experiences! Hopefully “those looks” will dissipate as more people come out of the scarf closet. Oh Goddess, we have more closets to come out of!
Yes we do!
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I had a similar (but slightly diff lol) experience being introduced to hijab… I fell in love with it almost immediately and covered a lot in college. I hadn’t as much since I moved here until last year when I finally made the leap during Lent and started covering at Mass (something I hadn’t done before period). I mostly use the tichel style… I still love hijab but less comfortable here.
I joined a modest group online awhile back too and there’s at least one pagan mama on there that covers too. Possibly more, but I remember one. Is nice to see more. Good luck!
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I love that head coverings transcend religious affiliation! It’s such a personal thing and yet a common spiritual bond for some of us. I found an FB group for covered women and it’s amazing how many beliefs are being represented.