A Brief History of Nakedness

Jul 22, 2025

Philip Carr-Gomm, writer, psychologist and long-time leader of a major Druid order, explores the cultural history of nakedness. He traces nudity in religion, protest, art and counterculture. Conversations range from naturism and streaking to Lady Godiva, John and Yoko, political naked protests and tips for trying nudity safely.

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INSIGHT

Nakedness As A Religious Shortcut To Transcendence

Stripping off has been used as a shortcut to transcendence across traditions, from Christian ascetics to sky-clad Jain monks.
Philip argues nakedness in ritual can express renunciation, humility, and embodied standing before the divine.

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ANECDOTE

Hiking Naked Through A New Zealand Forest

Philip describes hiking in New Zealand, unexpectedly swimming across a flooded river naked and then hiking nude through the forest, calling it magical.
He uses the moment to illustrate nakedness’s humility and connection to nature.

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ANECDOTE

Lady Godiva As An Early Naked Protest

Philip retells the Lady Godiva legend as a naked protest against unjust taxation where townspeople respectfully closed shutters.
He uses it to show nakedness’s long history as a theatrical moral megaphone.

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Who is Philip Carr-Gomm?

02:51 • 1min

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Handing on Druid Leadership

03:51 • 2min

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Growing Up in 1960s–70s London

05:28 • 3min

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Why Druidry Appealed to Him

08:30 • 3min

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Sidebar: What Is Druidry?

11:33 • 4min

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Discovering Naturism via a Will

15:09 • 3min

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Naked versus Nude: The Distinction

18:07 • 5min

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Classical Admiration of the Body

23:23 • 1min

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Nudity as Spiritual Practice

24:32 • 5min

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Nudity in Political Protest

29:25 • 3min

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John and Yoko, Counterculture Nudity

32:27 • 2min

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Streaking, Festivals and Naturist Movements

34:14 • 2min

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Full Monty and Calendar Girls Impact

35:47 • 2min

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Social Media, Prudishness and Image Culture

37:50 • 1min

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Nudity as Humiliation and Power

39:14 • 8min

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The Naked Rambler Case

47:06 • 34sec

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Nakedness in Protest Today

47:40 • 4min

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Aging, Death and Nakedness

51:30 • 6min

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How to Experiment with Nakedness

Philip Carr-Gomm provides an accessible guide to contemporary Druidry, explaining its philosophies, rituals and seasonal practices in this introductory work. The book covers the historical inspirations behind modern Druid practices and offers practical exercises for spiritual development. Carr-Gomm draws on his decades of leadership within OBOD to offer teachings that blend poetry, nature connection and ritual. He emphasizes personal experience and ecologically grounded spirituality rather than dogma. The Druid Way is aimed at seekers interested in reclaiming a nature-centered spiritual path.

Druid Mysteries

Philip Carr-Gomm

In Druid Mysteries, Philip Carr-Gomm delves into the mythic and ritual dimensions of Druidic practice, unpacking its symbolic systems and meditative techniques. He examines the interplay between poetry, nature lore and spiritual initiation within the modern Druid movement. Drawing on historical sources and contemporary practice, Carr-Gomm highlights ways practitioners can engage with the sacred in everyday life. The book includes practical exercises and reflections to support personal spiritual development. It situates Druidry as a living, evolving tradition rooted in reverence for the natural world.

A Brief History Of Nakedness

Philip Carr-Gomm

Philip Carr-Gomm examines how nudity has been revered, feared, sexualised and weaponised across cultures and eras in this accessible cultural history. He surveys sacred traditions, political protests, countercultural movements and everyday practices to show how nakedness carries contradictory meanings. Drawing on examples from classical statuary to modern naturism and activist protests, Carr-Gomm highlights the social, spiritual and psychological dimensions of being unclothed. The book blends historical research with personal reflection and contemporary reportage, offering both scholarly insight and anecdotal richness. It aims to prompt readers to rethink cultural assumptions about the body and to consider the liberating and problematic facets of nakedness.

The book of English magic

Philip Carr-Gomm

The Book of English Magic traces the history and practice of magical traditions in England, from folk magic to ceremonial occultism. Philip Carr-Gomm presents profiles of key figures, places and practices that shaped English esotericism, integrating historical scholarship with contemporary reflections. The work aims to reclaim a sense of wonder about the English landscape and its mystical heritage. It includes practical suggestions for engaging with this tradition in modern contexts. The book has been used as an accessible introduction to English magical history and practice.

Seeking the Sacred

Philip Carr-Gomm

Seeking the Sacred explores how individuals can find depth and meaning through spiritual practice, drawing on psychological insights and mystical traditions. Philip Carr-Gomm discusses practices for inner development, ways to cultivate presence, and the role of ritual in modern life. He combines personal experience with broader cultural and historical perspectives to make spiritual practice accessible. The book encourages integrating spirituality into daily life rather than treating it as an escape. It serves as a practical companion for those seeking a grounded approach to the sacred.

#11593

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

The white goddess

a Historical Grammar of Poetic Myth

Robert Graves

In this work, Robert Graves explores the concept of a single goddess figure that recurs in various European and pagan mythologies, often in a triple aspect as mother, daughter, and crone. Graves argues that this goddess was central to matriarchal societies before the rise of patriarchal religion. The book is a fusion of scholarship on folklore, mythology, religion, and poetry, and it delves into the connections between these fields and the sources of true poetry. Graves's work is both a scholarly quest and an intensely personal document that reflects his own inspiration and creative process.

What does it mean to be naked, in body or in spirit? Why has human nudity so often been revered, feared, sexualized, or weaponised?

This episode was recorded on July 17 - International Naked Day. Our guest Philip Carr-Gomm is a writer, psychologist, spiritual teacher, and for 30 years, leader of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids—one of the largest Druid organisations in the world.

His book A Brief History of Nakedness (Reaktion, is a rich, wide-ranging exploration of the role nudity has played in religion, protest, art, and performance, from the ancient world to the modern era. He takes us through everything from Christian flagellants and naked monks to contemporary naturists and political activists who’ve used nudity to make bold statements.

We get into all that, into druidry, the difference between being naked and nude, Lady Godiva, naked Counterculture, Adam and Eve, John and Yoko, Breasts not Bombs, The Naked Rambler - and streaking.

And Philip tells why we should all get our kit off and shares some tips on how to get more naked…

Allen Ginsberg by Richard Avedon

#counterculture #johnandyoko #naked #nakedness #nude #nudity #naturist #druid #druidry #streaking #ladygodiva #breastsnotbombs #OBOD #nakedrambler

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