Naked witches plan to celebrate their religion in Bonita Springs in February.
Bonita Springs resident Ed Kent told city officials he plans on an invitation-only celebration of Wicca Feb. 4-10. Wiccans often celebrate their religion in the nude, Kent wrote in a letter to City Attorney Audrey Vance.
“Right now it’s in the planning stages,” said Ed Kent’s brother, Skip, 54. “It’s something we want to do as a group.”
Some Wiccans perform rites and ceremonies without clothes because they say clothing impedes the flow of magical energy. This is called skyclad, said Jo Frost, managing officer of The Church of Wicca based in Hinton, W. Va. Frost estimates at least 140,000 Wiccans in the United States.
“This has nothing to do with vulgar, sexual practices and is intended solely for the celebration of the Earth Religion and Earth Spirituality,” Ed Kent wrote. “This is much like a family reunion and picnic, but there is emphasis on the religious connection that each person has to another.”
Kent assured the city that nudity would not be visible outside his property and that a security team will be on hand to ensure everyone’s safety. “There ’s nothing around us but preservation land,” Skip Kent said. “We just wanted to make sure the city and the police know what we’re planning on doing.”
The event will celebrate the Sabbat of the Imbolc, one of eight high holy days in the Wicca religion, Skip Kent said.
“It means first milk. It’s when your large farm animals are born,” said Naples resident Charles Giacalone, a practicing Wiccan in the coven of the Sacred Ibis Circle. Wicca differs from other religions in that practitioners believe there are a number of gods and that those gods are inside each of us, said Giacalone, 44.
If Kent keeps the celebration to fewer than 1,000 people and it is a one-time event, Vance said there isn’t much the city can do to stop it.
Skip Kent said he expects fewer than 100 people.
Kent Road resident Bobbi Lee Hasty doesn’t have any problems with Kent’s plans. “They’ve been great neighbors. I don’t have anything against it at all,” she said.
Some call Wicca demonic.
John Boutchia, assistant pastor at Gospel Baptist Church, said while he hasn ’t seen any harm in the religion, he said it goes against the teachings of mainstream religions.
“It’s a demonic activity,” he said. “Satan has always been trying to get people to worship themselves as opposed to God.”
Giacalone said Satanism has nothing to do with Wicca. “That’s the same propaganda that’s been going on for 2,500 years,” he said.