How To Make A Spiritual Bath - Without a Bathtub

Spiritual Bathing Roots

Spiritual bathing has a deep history rooted in religions across the globe. But spiritual bathing doesn’t have to be tied to religion. For modern spiritual bathers, the bathing ritual can be adapted, drawing upon many old traditions or creating new ones. Immersion (merging or plunging of something in water) is probably the best-known spiritual bathing practice, but spiritual baths can take many forms, including sprinkling, splashing, pouring, sweating, or even drinking (Epstein & Arvigo, 1). If you want to dig deeper into the rich traditions of spiritual bathing, I recommend the book Spiritual Bathing, The Illustrated Guide to Spiritual Water Rituals, by Nadine Epstein and Rosita Arvigo, available at book shops and online at Amazon.

You don’t need a bathtub!

In my previous post, How to Make a Spiritual Bath, I described how to make a spiritual bath- for the modern bather. But the good news is this: You don’t need a bathtub to reap the benefits of a spiritual bath! You just simply need to adjust some the methods and tools! But first, gather your ingredients and do a little preparation for your spiritual bath.

What You Will Need

You will need several “ingredients” to make your spiritual bath. Gather up the things you will need in advance. You will need:

• Your Intention

• Water

• Plants and Flowers

• Salt

• Crystals and Gemstones

• Other Tools described below

Intention

Probably the most significant “ingredient” to the spiritual bath is the intention behind the bath. This is what really separates the mundane bath from the spiritual bath. Intention is what you intend to achieve through the act of ritual bathing. Intention can come in the form of thoughts, spoken words, prayer, meditation, chanting, or singing; so choose what you are comfortable with.

Water

Water is the universal life giver, and in many cultures, it is considered a sacred element. Water carries its own energy, and since ancient times, people have believed that energy carried by water can transform human energy and purify the spirit. (Epstein & Arvigo, 11)

Salt

Salt has many physical benefits to the body, but for this post, I will stay focused on the spiritual benefits. As an element, salt is natural and stays unspoiled. It never goes bad. It is said that negative energy cannot adhere to salt, so it is commonly used to block or remove negative energy from the home, body, and spirit. For a spiritual bath, you can use epsom salt, sea salt, Himalayan pink salt, black rock salt.

Plants and Flowers

It is known that plants have been used as medicine across the ages. In Aruyveda, (traditional Indian medicine) about 2000 plant species are considered to have medicinal value, while the Chinese Pharmacopoeia lists over 5,700 traditional medicines, mostly of plant origins. (Chevallier, 6)

Beyond medicinal value of plants, plants and plant oils are used spiritual bathing for their vibrational or energetic signature. Plants are chosen based upon a person’s desired intention and the plants correlating signature. Plants are used to cleanse the human auric or spiritual body.

If you choose to use plants or flowers in your bath, choose those that are insecticide free.

crystals and gemstones

Metaphysical principles are those which the physical and scientific world cannot define but are known to exist. As with everything in nature, crystals and gemstones carry their own vibrational signature. Metaphysicians use vibrational crystal healing as an alternative technique in which crystals and other stones are used to cure physical ailments and protect against bodily disease, and psychic attack.

Other Tools

Other tools you may need or want for your spiritual bath may include a burning bowl, plant bundles, matches, incense, candles, music, or guided meditation. You may also want to gather a ladle, dipper, or cup to pour water over the top of your head while you are in the bath.

step 1. preparations

Energy Cleanse

1. Gather all your “ingredients”.

2. Complete an energetic cleanse of your bathroom and your body with a burning ritual (aka, smudging). You will need a firesafe bowl, a lighter, or matches for this step. Select the plant bundle or incense of choice. White sage, palo santo wood, or incense sticks are commonly used for this step, but you may choose your plant bundle based upon your desired intention, the energetic or physical properties of the plant, or simply based upon your preferred scent profile. Light your plant bundle or stick with a lighter. Let it catch flame for a couple seconds, before extinguishing the flame with your breath. When working with plant bundles, wave the smoke around your room and your body. You may use a feather to waft the smoke into the corners of the room if desired.

body cleanse

3. It is traditional to cleanse the physical body before taking a spiritual bath. This step is commonly referred to as Ablutions. You can do this by taking a shower.

4. Clean or rise your shower after your ablutions!

step 2. create your Bathtism™ without a tub

three ways to create a spiritual bath - without a bathtub

Spiritual Shower

1. Complete “Step 1” of the instructions above, cleaning your shower.

2. Prepare a muslin bag, filling it with salt, plants, flowers, and crystals and gemstones if desired. Note: some crystals or gemstones can be damaged by water and or salt water. Be sure to check your gemstone hardness on the Mohs scale. Alternatively, you can arrange your crystals or gemstones on a surface or in a grid just outside of your shower.

3. If you choose to use essential oils, soak your muslin in water infused with your essential oil of choice.

4. Tie your muslin bag around your showerhead.

5. Turn on your shower and let the water run over you.

6. Bring your attention to the here and now and quiet the mind.

7. Begin your personal devotion through meditation, prayer, reciting affirmations, personal mantra, singing, simply listening to devotional music.

8. Recommended shower time is no more than ten minutes (for water conservation purposes).

9. Close out your shower by giving thanks for the gifts you have received.

Spiritual washing ritual

1. Complete “Step 1” of the instructions above, cleaning your shower* and a large bowl in which to prepare your spiritual wash.

2. Fill your bowl with warm water.

3. Add your salt and mix thoroughly with clean hands.

4. Add your plants, flowers, or oil. You may choose to make a tea from dried plants and flowers and pour the tea into your bowl. Prepare at least one cup of tea for this method and let cool.

5. For this method, DO NOT add gemstones or crystals to your bowl.

6. Bring your prepared wash into your shower*.

7. Bring your attention to the here and now and quiet the mind.

8. Say a personal devotion, a short meditation, prayer, recite affirmations, or a personal mantra over your bowl.

9. Lift your bowl and pour the wash over your head, letting the wash run down your body. Alternatively, you can use a ladle or cup to pour the wash over your head.

10. Rinse off your body.

11. Close out your spiritual wash by giving thanks for the gifts you have received.

*assumes access to a shower. Alternatively, the spiritual washing ritual can be done outdoors.

Spiritual Foot Bath

1. Clean a large bowl in which to prepare your spiritual wash.

2. Physically clean your feet.

3. Fill your bowl with warm water.

4. Add your salt and mix thoroughly with clean hands.

5. Add your plants, flowers, or oil. You may choose to make a tea from dried plants and flowers and pour the tea into your bowl. Prepare at least one cup of tea for this method and let cool.

6. Add crystals or gemstones if desired. Note: some crystals or gemstones can be damaged by water and or salt water. Be sure to check your gemstone hardness on the Mohs scale. Alternatively, you can arrange your crystals or gemstones on a surface or in a grid near your prepared bowl.

7. Find a comfortable chair and place your bowl on the floor in front of you. Note: Be sure to protect your flooring from water spillage if needed.

8. Have a seat.

9. Bring your attention to the here and now and quiet the mind.

10. Say a personal devotion, a short meditation, prayer, recite affirmations, or a personal mantra over your bowl.

11. Using your hands, a ladle or a dipper wash your feet focusing on your desired intention.

12. You may choose to soak your feet after washing them with the water mix.

13. Recommended time 10-15 minutes.

14. Close out your spiritual foot bath by giving thanks for the gifts you have received.

references

Chevallier, Andrew. Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. p6, p29. New York, Penguin Random House, Third American Edition, DK Publishing, 2016.

Epstein, N., & Arvigo, R. (2003). Spiritual Bathing, The Illustrated Guide to Spiritual Water Rituals. Battleboro: Echo Point Books & Media.

Related Stories