A warm and soothing bath is a good way to ease away aches and tension. But it can also be a valuable aid in helping you to get in touch with the divine and connect with your inner spirit. A spiritual bath ritual is more than just a soak in the tub though. It is a ritual that can help you cleanse away negative energy, honor what is sacred and ease your mind into a meditative state.To begin this simple ritual you first need to find a block of uninterrupted time, preferably at least 30 to 45 minutes. Clear away any clutter in your bathroom and make sure that the bathtub is clean. Near the tub, set out any small objects that have spiritual significance to you, such crystals, stones, a small statue or perhaps some type of spiritual image. Place a candle of any color you prefer somewhere near the tub and away from any flammable objects. If you wish, you can bring in a tape or CD player to play soft and soothing music.
Next you will need to cleanse your space. Clear the room where you will be having your bath ritual of any stagnant or negative energy by doing a quick and simple cleansing ritual. You can use a smudge stick, clap your hands or you can simply visualize all negative energy being pushed out of the room.
Now, fill the tub with warm water. Test the water with your wrist to make sure that it is a comfortable temperature. When it is full, stir in a handful of bath salts or a few drops of essential oil such as lavender, bergamot or rosemary. Be sure to use only pure, high quality essential oils. These can often be found in health food stores or purchased online. If you are pregnant do not use bath salts or essential oils. Also, if you have high blood pressure it is best not to use bath salts.
Light the candle and take a moment to ground yourself and connect with the divine energy of whichever deity or deities you recognize. Or you can just make a simple statement such as I connect with the divine energy within and around me.
Undress and slip into the warm water. Lean back, close your eyes and relax your body. Feel your spirit being cleansed and rejuvenated as you let your mind be still and aware. Its important to be in a state of mindfulness at this time so that your mind doesnt become cluttered with distracting thoughts and worries. If you feel your mind being pulled away by distractions, then gently bring it back to the present moment by saying to yourself something like, I feel the warmth of the water, or my spirit and mind are refreshed. Really feel the sensation of the water, the scent of the oils if youve used any, the gently feel of your breathing. Being more fully in the moment at this time will help your spirit and mind receive the full benefits of this ritual.After a comfortable amount of time, step out of the tub and dry off. When you drain the water from the tub, imagine any negative energy that was connected to you being taken away with the water. This bath ritual is an excellent way to prepare for further meditation or for any other type of sacred ritual.
