In a world that clamors for conformity, comfort zones, and coverings, both physical and emotional, choosing to walk barefoot through life, quite literally and metaphorically, is an act of profound liberation. When paired with the naturist lifestyle, this way of living becomes a sanctuary for the mind, body, and spirit. It is not merely a preference; it is a practice, a path, and for some of us, like myself, it is the only way to live fully, freely, and truthfully.

To live barefoot and clothes-free in the natural world is to remember who we are beneath the constructs. It is to shed not just shoes or garments, but layers of societal expectation, repression, and unnecessary complexity. And it is from this raw, real place that we begin to thrive.

1. The Mind: Clarity, Simplicity, and Mental Liberation

When you strip away the tight jeans, the binding bras, the stiff shoes, the rigid schedules, and the voices telling you who you “should” be, something miraculous happens; your mind exhales.

For me, the mental clarity that emerged when I embraced the barefoot naturist lifestyle was undeniable. As someone who lived for decades trying to fit into an image that wasn’t me, finally stepping out of those constraints brought not just relief but rebirth. Walking barefoot through a pine-covered trail, with sun on my bare shoulders and wind dancing across my skin, I began to think clearly, feel deeply, and hear the soft voice of my own intuition again.

Scientific studies support what we intuitively know: being in direct contact with the earth, “earthing” or “grounding” can reduce inflammation, balance cortisol levels, and calm the nervous system. When you walk barefoot in nature daily, you are quite literally grounding your mental energy into the rhythm of the Earth. Anxiety fades. Rumination quiets. Creativity flows.

In my mobile, off-grid life, free from the hum of mainstream madness, I find my thoughts are more intentional, my spirit more centered, and my decisions more in alignment with my purpose.

2. The Body: Strength, Sensation, and Sensual Intelligence

Living barefoot and unclothed is the most honest relationship I have ever had with my own body. The foot, with its 7,000 nerve endings, is designed to feel; not be stuffed inside a padded prison. The skin, our largest organ, craves sunlight, airflow, and honest exposure. Why then, do we cover, restrict, and disconnect ourselves from the very elements that nourish us?

Since leaving behind shoes in 2015, my body has reshaped itself; not just aesthetically, but functionally. My feet are stronger, my posture more aligned, my step more intentional. I walk with the earth now, not over it. I don’t need arch supports or cushioned soles because my own body supports itself just fine, when given the chance.

As a naturist, I allow my skin to breathe. I’ve noticed fewer illnesses, better thermoregulation, and a deeply heightened connection to my own physical being. Clothes often act as a shield from the senses, but when I’m fully exposed to the environment, I don’t numb the body’s wisdom. I feel the temperature shift. I notice subtle breezes. I track the sun’s movement across my bare belly or back.

And yes, this translates into sensual awareness too. There’s a difference between nudity and objectification. As a naturist, I am not “undressed” – I am simply unhidden. And there is immense power in that. There is pride. There is pleasure. There is power.

3. The Spirit: Radical Authenticity and Soulful Alignment

Spirit thrives on truth. And truth cannot bloom where we are constantly censoring ourselves, squeezing into ill-fitting boxes, or denying our essential nature.

Living a barefoot, naturist lifestyle has aligned me with the core of who I truly am: a wild, raw, untamed soul who finds God in the rustling of leaves, in the kiss of cold creek water on my thighs, and in the symphony of birdsong echoing off canyon walls.

I am never closer to my own divinity than when I stand naked in nature; completely surrendered, wholly seen. It is in those moments that I am not a “role” or a “brand” or even a “woman.” I am spirit in form. I am life experiencing itself. And I belong.

Many people fear the vulnerability of such openness. But here’s the secret: when you live naked and barefoot long enough, you realize it’s not vulnerability; it’s invincibility. Because you have nothing left to hide. You are not pretending. And that, dear soul, is a spiritual revolution.

A Lifestyle, Not a Luxury

Some might see the barefoot naturist path as indulgent or eccentric. But for those of us who live it, it is the only sane way to exist in a world that too often feels synthetic, overstimulated, and unwell.

I live in a 1973 GMC Eleganza Motorhome, off-grid, surrounded by national parks, dirt roads, and the raw beauty of untamed land. I don’t own shoes. I don’t collect clothes. I have only a few simple, sheer garments for when social necessity calls for coverage. My body is often dusty, sometimes sun-kissed, always honest. I live with the rhythms of nature, not the rhythms of alarms and deadlines.

And I am thriving; mentally, physically, spiritually.

This lifestyle has not isolated me; it has connected me. To the Earth. To my purpose. To other humans who crave authenticity. To the people whose gaze sees all of me and welcomes me home to myself. To a life where freedom is not just a dream but a daily, embodied reality.

Returning Home to the Bare Essentials

Living barefoot and naturist is not about making a statement. It’s about returning home, to yourself, your body, your Earth, your truth. It’s about stripping away the unnecessary so that what remains is real, rich, and radiant.

If you have ever felt the pull to take off your shoes and walk freely, to feel the sun on parts of your skin long denied, to reclaim your body as sacred and sovereign, consider this your permission slip. Your soul is not asking for more stuff. It’s asking for less. Less restriction. Less performance. Less disconnection.

And in that beautiful bareness, you will find everything you need.

In closing, as I continue this journey of barefoot, naturist living, off-grid, unbound, and unapologetically free, I invite you to consider the ways in which your own mind, body, and spirit might flourish through deeper connection with the Earth and your truest self. This lifestyle isn’t just about shedding shoes or clothes; it’s about shedding the layers that separate us from authenticity, from nature, and from joy. May this path, if you choose to explore it, bring you the same peace, presence, and power it’s brought me.

Susie Spades, PhD
Barefoot Naturist