Ritual baths are a great way to start off a day of meditation, to cleanse yourself before a specific spell work or to neutralize and balance your energy.
Ritual baths can range from including an herbal and essential oil mix to just pouring your favorite bubble bath soap and soaking until calm.
The main takeaway is, and should always be, that you are doing it with a purpose in mind. A relaxing bath is different than a ritual bath in the fact that your ritual bath is preparing you for something; either right after or for the coming days.
A ritualistic bath is an intentional act of self-care and preparation. You draw power from the process of soaking in and from the hot water and whatever added soap, herb, and/or oils.
I prefer to do ritual baths during the week of the new moon; and ritual showers (more on those some other time) right before my full moon worship.
I prefer pipping hot water and herbal infused bath salts in my ritual baths. You can make your own, or buy it at a store, or do me a solid and buy it at my Etsy Store, On The Go Witchery.
•I choose an intention before I start my bath. Setting a goal or a focus for your ritual helps you invite the energy you want.
-> Examples: "I welcome in peace" or "I let myself flow"
•As I draw my bath, I make sure to be intentional and mindful of what I am doing. This includes setting the right music for me, gathering journal materials for after my bath, candles, inscense,crystals, etc.
•When I add the salts I imagine the bath water lighting up, or taking the color I associate with my initial goal.
•Once everything is set, I get in the bath slowly. I welcome the heat of the water and imagine myself entering a healing space.
•After being fully submerged, I close my eyes and I take 5-10 deep slow breaths (close to a minute). During that time I focus on the sensation of the salts, the herbs and the steam.
-> I personally imagine that I am moving, ever so carefully, with the water.
• After the cleansing breaths, I work on opening my chakras. I open them with the intention of letting the energy ebb and flow. I open myself to the cleansing process before I start working on my intention.
•Once I have preppared my body, mind and energy I repeat my intention 3 times while I envision my intention becoming real.
-> Example: "I welcome in peace" and I envision myself calm in otherwise stressful situations; or I see myself at ease in conflict situations.
•After the step above, I stay in the bath for, close to, 30 minutes (you choose how long you want to be in there).
•Once I get out of the bathtub, and let the tub drain, I move mindfully as I dry myself and get dressed (getting dressed is optional).
• I then close my ritual by journaling what came up for me or answering specific journal prompts that focus on my goal.
I find this process really helpful in my spell work. It also helps with my muscle aches and arthritis. Salt baths, especially, are really good for uplifting your mood, regulating internal bodily functions, and relaxing the body.
As a reminder, this is just a template. Find what feels right for you. Mix and match or just scrap it all together.
Not everybody likes ritual baths, and that's okay. Find what helps. Never forget that it's your practice and you choose how it goes.
P.S. for reals check out my Herbal Bath Salts ❤
