Spiritual Veiling

Veiling, head covering, or hijab, whatever you wanna call it, is a spiritual and cultural practice that is found within nearly all world religions and cultures. Literally, like even the white people have done it without appropriating. This type of spiritual head covering, whether partially or fully, depends on the faiths. This is what we're mostly going to talk about in this post. Most people have different reasons for choosing to wear a head veil. Maybe to show respect to a deity or deities, to respect oneself, or respect the human body (modesty). Some cover their heads for spiritual protection (this is mention in the Christian Bible with other "witchy" things people overlook, like altars!), to show respect when praying to one's deity or their God, simple modesty, or even just cultural pride and personal fashion. Even (Christian) white cultures have a history of head covering. Think of Catholics, western wedding veils, Quakers, Amish, and so on. Some were for religious reasons or simply for modesty.

In many practices the head is believed to be the crown and the center of divine communication for other divine forces. Some even teach that it is the part of our body that is believed to be closest to divinity (not our genitals, shocking), which explains why some cultures and religions encourage one to cover their heads; it is sacred. Like a magical antenna that we must guard and protect perhaps. The hair on our heads can also be seen as a spiritual element of the human body. The spiritual "nervous system" that receives energy from our surroundings, so covering it can be a way to "calm" those receptors. Some cultures put so much emphasis on hair that cutting it can be a sign of dishonor or disgrace (remember when Whites would cut of Japanese men's braids? Yup that was a thing). Which also explains why so many communities grow their hair to extreme lengths and emphasize braids and hair patterns. I see you Native Americans and Africans. Some believe that if the head and/or hair is not protected the body can suffer. Emotional empaths are also encouraged to veil to protect their energy (remember hair being energy receptors).

Veiling can also be a reminder to ourselves and to others that we, who veil even slightly, are blessed and protected by our deities, gods, or divine universe. It can be like taking a mantle of power. A physical symbol representing our connection to the divine, or protection when we pray for fallen angels (again Bible, look it up), or simple cultural heritage and fashion. Some women in cultures like Caribbean and Latino cultures cover their hair in a head wrap cause the hair might not be ready, so going to the market with a colorful wrap might just be a fashion choice. Most cultures have and still have head coverings as a common fashion statement with spiritual historic backgrounds.

Priests and/or priests might cover their heads for protection against unwanted spirits. Modern spiritual women, witches, brujas, and other titles millennial women are taking for their identity are coming back to the ancient way of veiling. It is not something that only one religion has total control over, or ownership of. Some might think of the religion Islam, some might think of Jewish boys, some might think of Hindu women with their colorful saris, some might think of a scarf some Black women wear; most have the same history. It is advise to pray with a veil if one identifies as a woman so "others" don't listen to the prayer, a form of spiritual protection. African American women were forced to wear head wraps for physical protection against law enforcements because it was once illegal to show one's natural hair. (Old American laws were weird). In modern day, communities such as Caribbean, European, Asian, African, Indigenous, and many more share these head covering beliefs. Stay Blessed.