Ritual Bath
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I must confess, I have developed a deep affection for the soothing art of ritual baths.
About a year ago, this age-old practice crossed my path, and it seemed like the perfect way to create a cozy oasis of self-care in my busy life.
Eager to learn more, I delved into some research and soon embarked on my first ritual bath – a delightful blend of pink Himalayan sea salt, calming lavender essential oil, and a touch of rose quartz for an extra dose of warmth and serenity.
This blissful experience left me feeling rejuvenated, and ever since, ritual baths have become an essential and cherished part of my self-care routine.
Pin me for later! Photo by Anita Austvika on Unsplash
What is a Ritual Bath?
A ritual bath is the practice of cleansing oneself with water and herbs. Often accompanied by meditation or prayer, it is a time for relaxation, stress relief and detoxification.
The Benefits of Ritual Bathing
If you're looking for a way to unwind, relax and relieve stress, ritual bathing is an easy way to do it.
The benefits of ritual bathing include:
Relaxation - Taking time each day (or week) to soak in the tub can help you feel more at ease with yourself and the world around you.
Stress relief - Soothing scents like lavender or chamomile can help calm nerves while the warm water soothes sore muscles.
Detoxification - The heat from the bath helps open up pores on your skin so that toxins are released through perspiration during your bath time.
Creating Your Own Ritual Bath
To create a blissful ritual bath, gather the following essentials:
A comfortable bathtub
Warm water at a soothing temperature
Calming essential oils, such as lavender or eucalyptus
Aromatic bath salts or herbs for added relaxation
Candles to create a soft, flickering glow
Soft music or nature sounds to set the mood
Plush, cozy towels for drying off
A comfortable robe to wrap yourself in after the bath
A journal or notepad to reflect and record your intentions
Ritual Baths Throughout History
The ritual bath has been a part of many cultures throughout history. The Romans and Greeks would take a bath before going to the gym or playing sports, while Chinese people would take baths as part of their morning routine. Muslims also have a tradition of bathing before prayer, which is called "wudu" (pronounced "ood-oo"). Hindus cleanse themselves in preparation for meditation, while Christians use baptism as their way to purify themselves spiritually. Jews wash hands before meals and pray at least once per day by immersing themselves in water known as mikveh (pronounced "meek-veh"). Native Americans also have rituals involving water: some tribes used sweat lodges for spiritual cleansing purposes while others would make offerings by throwing rocks into lakes or rivers during ceremonies like Sun Dance.
Achieving the Hygge Vibe
Create a cozy atmosphere. The first step in creating a hygge ritual bath is to set up your space with all of the necessary ingredients: candles, music and soft towels. You don't have to go crazy here; just make sure that you have enough light for safety purposes and that everything else feels inviting.
Set intentions for yourself before getting into the tub or shower (or both). Think about what matters most in your life right now--whether it's relationships with friends and family members or career goals--and write down what those things are on paper so they're always with you during this relaxing time!
A ritual bath is far from your ordinary bath, it does not include soap and is not done with the intention of traditionally cleansing the body. Instead, you’re taking something normal and turning it into something special.
It’s creating an occasion to create clarity and set intentions for certain aspects of your life and allowing negativity to symbolically go down the drain.
Photo by Anita Austvika on Unsplash
Paulette Sherman, a licensed psychologist with a doctorate degree in clinical psychology can help you learn more through her book, The Book of Sacred Baths. Her lovely book conveys the cross-cultural ancient practice and teaches us how to apply it to our own bath time and details 52 bathing rituals for you to use.
Another wonderful & stunningly beautiful book is Ritual Baths: Be your own healer by Deborah Hanekamp.
Below I’ve collected a few lovely ritual bath recipes:
As we've learned, a ritual bath is a wonderful way to relax, unwind, and practice self-care. By creating a cozy atmosphere with candles, music, and soft towels, you can set intentions for yourself and focus on what matters most in your life.
Whether you choose to use salts, herbs, teas, essential oils, or crystals, a ritual bath is a time to cleanse your mind, body, and soul. So why not treat yourself to a luxurious bath? Remember to take things slow, savor the moment, and enjoy the simple pleasures in life.
xx Sarah
