Rituals involving bathing are wonderful, but there are many aspects of this room that can be used for ritual purposes. For example, this room is *full* of running water, so it is a great place to cleanse yourself of negative energies from the outside world, or to wash away any bad vibes from your household.
Bath Salts
Salt-Water Purification Bath
Herbal Bathing for Spiritual Cleansing
Ritual Soaps
Making Bath 'Fizzies'
Cleansing Bath Spell
Making Bath 'Bombs'
Bath Bag
Bath 'Cookies'
Ritual Bath for Cleansing
I find that ritually washing my hands of an argument is a helpful device for letting go of the anger and getting to a more positive attitude in which I can solve the problem rather than attack it. It also helps me accept where my part is in the fault of the situation.
My partner and I regularly take showers together, and we find that it really adds to our sense of connectedness. We hold a 'Spa Day' each month where we scrub each others' backs with a designer salt/oil scrub, give each other pedicures and foot rubs with peppermint oil, and relax with herbal masks cleansing our faces. We talk and laugh and drink tea and generally have a great time.
~Lady Ma'at
Herbal Bathing for Spiritual Cleansing
Herb baths are made by making tea of the herb, and using the tea in
the
bath. Generally, you take 1 teaspoon of the herb desired and pour a
cup of
boiling water over it. Steep until the tea cools to room temperature.
Then
strain out the herb. One cup of tea to half a tub of water is sufficient.
Proceed with the bath using the directions previously discussed.
Basil
Regular cooking basil, either fresh or dried, may be used in a bath.
It has
a protective and cleansing effect, removing negativity and protecting
against the accumulation of further negative influences. It has a powerful
effect on certain people. It should be used when you feel threatened
by
others, victimized or soiled by contact with negative or overly-aggressive
people. When using this bath, meditate on spiritual cleanliness and
protection. Stay in the bath for 6 minutes and immerse yourself four
times.
Cinnamon
Regular cooking cinnamon, in broken stick form, may be used to help
resolve
problems at work or at home. pour a cup of hot water over one or two
sticks
and let it steep as you would any other herb. It helps stop quarrels
or
dissension. It can also be used to improve your income. Stay in the
tub for
five minutes and immerse yourself four times. Meditate for protection
and
calmness, or for the improvement of your finances.
The Money Cinnamon Bath
Add 1 cup of cinnamon tea to 4 cups of parsley tea. Divide the mixture
into
five (5) equal parts. Take five (5) baths on five (5) consecutive days.
Do a
money spell for financial improvement. Don't be specific about the
source of
your financial improvement, but let the universe provide the answers.
Stay
in the tub for six to eight minutes and immerse yourself five (5) times.
Coffee
Coffee will assist in revitalizing an individual in the process of
recovery
from any physical illness. It may be used while the individual is still
in a
weakened condition, but recovering. This bath is an exception to most
spiritual baths, in that if it is the FIRST tub bath taken after the
onset
of an illness, the coffee can de added to a soap and water cleaning
bath.
All you do is add three (3) to six (6) cups of strong coffee to the
bath
water and soak in it for at least ten (10) to fifteen (15) minutes.
Please
respect your bath, and make the coffee from scratch. This is not the
time
for any instant brand!
Coffee Hard Work Bath
The coffee bath, made by using three (3) to six (6) cups of strong
coffee
added to the bath water is also useful as a soaking bath following
an
extra-hard work week. It has the effect of assisting the natural vitality.
As a HARD WORK BATH it should only be taken on a Saturday morning.
Soak for
at least eight (8) to ten (10) minutes.
Depression baths
If you regard these baths as a spiritual act and get involved as much
as you
can (you put all your heart into it) the results will be amazing.
The bath tub has to be cleaned prior to taking the bath, the bathroom
also
should be clean and cleansed (smudge the bathroom with frankincense
or
sage). Take your time in arranging the tools you're going to be using
(once
again candles, essential oils, colors - food coloring if you want -
crystals, music).
After the bath DO NOT take a shower and don't wash your hair for 24 hours.
Nutmeg
"Powdered nutmeg used in a tea makes people more open to listening
to you.
It is said to increase one's luck, but what it really does is remove
those
negative thoughts which act to make you unlucky. The powdered nutmeg
may be
strained away from the tea by using a coffee filter. This is the kind
of
bath that helps one during times of personal stress such as that engendered
when approaching an important interview, or when one is apprehensive
about
the result of an upcoming important conversation. It can be used when
you
are apprehensive about such important conversations as discussing your
"druthers" with a mate who has been heretofore unresponsive to your
needs.
It can be used when discussing family matters with relatives who you
feel
will be unresponsive. It has a host of uses. Obviously, you will need
to use
it because you have been unsure about expressing your personality.
As you
take other baths listed here, and develop more self-confidence, you
won't
have as much need for this kind of a bath. Use a cup of the tea in
your
bath. Stay in the tub for 8 to 10 minutes and immerse yourself 6 to
8 times.
You may wish to pray for the resolve and strength you need to obtain
what
you desire."
1/2 cup of cornstarch
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup of citric acid (sifted together).
In a separate "container"
2 1/2 tablespoons sunflower oil
2 tsp. of eo
1/2 tsp. of borax
few drops of coloring
3/4 tablespoon water.
Swirl round and round. drizzle into the dry mixture and mix well with
fork/or spoon. Pack in molds tight, drop out and let
dry overnight.
OR
1/4 cup citric or ascorbic acid
1/2 cup baking soda
1/4 cup cornstarch
5 drops food coloring (I used just a titch of powdered oxides instead)
15 drops of essential oil
Combine dry ingredients in a food processor. Add coloring and mix well,
and essential
oil and blend again. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of salts over hot bathwater
just before
entering tub.
OR
1 part citric acid
3 parts baking soda
witch hazel
fragrance and color as wanted
Mix the citric acid and baking soda together really well. Add color
and fragrance. Spritz
with witch hazel till like damp sand. Mixture should clump for a few
seconds when
squeezed in your hand. Pack tightly into molds. Turn over and release.
Allow to to dry
for several hours and wrap. This is very sensitive to humid weather.
Also can use water, but
leave in the mold till dry, usually overnight.
OR
1/3 citric acid
2/3 cup baking soda
(mix together get all the lumps out.. add your colorant either dry
or food coloring, etc)
add to the above
1 tablespoon oil .. can be almond oil, safflower oil or any light oil
1/8 teaspoon of fragrance oil
mix together and pack in candy mold or ice cube tray
unmold onto tray and let set overnight.
Makes approximately 18 bon-bon sized fizzies
This is not a rainy day project. Try to do it when the humidity is
low to succeed.
Trina's Sure-Fire Bath Bombs
A Snowdrift Farm Natural Products
Dry Ingredients
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup citric acid
1/2 cup corn starch
Sieve dry ingredients til you get a nice smooth blend.
Wet Ingredients
2 1/2 T. sunflower or other light oil
3/4 T. water
2 teaspoons essential oil
vegetable or other natural colorant
1/4 teaspoon borax
Combine wet ingredients and borax in jar. Cover tightly and shake vigorously.
Drizzle onto dry ingredients and blend thoroughly.
Pack tightly into moulds and slide out. Dry overnight.
another recipe:
10 tbsp. baking soda
5 tbsp. cornstarch
5 tbsp. citric acid
1-1/2 tbsp. Sweet Almond oil
1/2 tbsp water
pinch of borax
Essential Oil of your choice
Few drops of food colouring if desired
Mix all dry ingredients together thoroughly. In a small jar, mix oils,
water and borax and shake well. By mixing the water and oil(s) with
the
borax, you get an emulsified mix, since we all know that oil and water
by themselves do not mix. Drizzle into dry ingredients and then work
with hands until well mixed. This will seem rather sandy and feel like
it might not stick together, but trust me, it works. Push the mixture
firmly into moulds and then just pop out. No heat or setting time
needed, they firm up immediately although they do become easier to
handle if you can let them sit for 12 - 24 hours - especially if you
are
going to wrap them as gifts. This recipe is the favourite of my
grandkids and can make a lot of small bath bombs or a nice number of
bigger ones. A melon baller would be a great to shape these.
~from Lady Ma'at's Book of Shadows
Bath Cookies
Recipe By : From Bakery-Shoppe List
2 cups sea salt -- finely ground
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 Tablespoons light oil
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
2 eggs
6 drops essential oil (this means scented quality oils)
Mix all together and cut out with decorative cookie cutters. Bake
at
350 for 10-12 minutes. Do not overbake. Allow to cool completely
and store in decorative containers.
Place on tag:
Use 1-2 "cookies" per bath. Turn lights low and relax.
Ritual Bath - Personal Cleansing
By Candida (c) 1992
Ritual baths are especially usefully for personal cleansing. They can be used to clean yourself of unwanted emotions or purify yourself prior to a ritual. I will cover both these usages and give suggested rituals. In general a ritual bath uses either bath salts or oils in order to set up the proper vibrations.
Ritual to cleanse yourself of unwanted emotions
Suggested bath salt - Purification.
Fill up your bath with hot water and bath salt or oil. If you have no bath salt available at least use some salt and oil. Also fill a small pitcher, vase or bowl with a combination of the water and salt and oil. You are now ready for the Purification ritual.
Say: I perform this act of cleansing in water where all life began.
Step into the bath, once seated take the bowl or pitcher in your hands. Imagine a white healing light surrounding this and infusing the water within.
Say: As the cleansing waters pour over me I am cleansed in body and spirit. All unwanted feelings of ___ are now washed away.
Pour the water over your head imaging that as you pour it you see a brown mucky substance washed away from you. As this muck hits the water see it transformed into clear blue water. When you feel the time is right allow the water to go down the drain
Say: As the water disappears never to be seen again so too have my unwanted feelings. As the dirt was transformed to clear water so have my feelings been transformed. Blessings be to the old ones for this work performed. So Be It.
Step out of the tub.
Purifying Bath used to prepare yourself for Ritual
Suggested bath salt - Purification or Psychic
It is important to remember that the purpose of this bath is to purify you, to make you worthy of the old ones and put you into a frame of mind where you can receive the higher vibrations. Since this is a highly personal rite it is recommended that you use the following as a guide for creating your own ritual.
Materials - Bath salt, white candle, a small dish of water and some incense. A good incense to use for this would be sage or sandlewood. I encourage you to find the incense that seems to uplift you the most.
Place the incense, candle, and water in the east. Fill the bath with hot water and pour in the bath salt. Prior to taking the bath light the candle and incense. It is best if the only light in the room comes from this candle.
Take up the water starting in the east, say the following as you sprinkle
the water in a circle around the bath room.
I cleanse this space wherein I shall be cleansed. I purify
this
space where I will become pure.
Take up the incense starting in the east, say the following as you walk around the bathroom in a circle.
I charge this space wherein I shall be charged. I light
this space
where I will become light.
Put down the incense burner. Relax and breath deep.
I call upon the gracious Lady and her noble consort to enter
this
place for I seek to know them better.
Stand by the bath and gaze into the water. You may wish to envision this as a scared stream or pool in a temple to the gods.
This water is a reminder of the mysteries, a portal to another world.
Step into the water.
As I step into the water I leave behind the mortal world and enter into the magical.
Take a while to just relax in the water and absorb the energies therein. Meditate about the ritual you are about to participate in and when you feel ready step out of the water. Do not drain the tub at this time, instead wait until the close of this ritual.
Lady and Lord I thank you for visiting me. I know that I am ready
for my part, as I know that you will join me/us in the rite.
So Be It.
The bath is now finished and you may put out the candle, turn on the lights and drain the tub.
Saltwater Purification Ritual Bath
~author unknown
Clean your tub. Draw your bath and shut off the water. Pour some
sea salt into your cupped palm. Put the salt into the water.
Pour more salt into your palm; put into the water. Do this a third
time. Three is a magical number and you will find it often in magical spells
and rituals. It reminds us that the Goddess and the God both have three
faces that we all know. The fourth face, the hidden face, may or may not
be known.
With your power hand (most often your power hand is the hand you write with), stir the water until the salt is dissolved and/or it feels right to you. Part of Wiccan training is about learning to trust yourself and your own inner voice. Once it feels right, then bless and consecrate the water.
Keeping your power hand in the water, you might say something like this
(Always remember that ad libbing is fine):
"Water and Earth, Blessings on thee. I do cast out from thee any
unpleasantries both from the spirit world and from my world. I do cast
out any and all things that are not to my good and benefit. I do cast
out any and all emotions that may be pulling me down and harming me.
Be
cast out that which is not in complete agreement with me! By the power
of the Old Ones, as I will it, so mote it be."
This is to purify and consecrate the water and it is also to remind you that your purpose is to be cleansed inside and out. You are getting rid of all those things that you collect in your daily life. You should enter Circle clean and in clean clothes as well if you don't circle skyclad.
Stand next to the tub and face East. Or, if you so choose, face the
direction that represents newness and dawn and beginnings to you. See the
Lady and the Lord standing before you as you say:
Bless me, Lady and Lord, for I am thine own child {your magical name
here}.
Dip your {power hand} forefinger and middle finger into the water and
anoint your third eye and left then right eyelids saying:
Blessed Be mine eyes, for they are Your eyes and help me see my path
clearly.
Dip your {power hand} forefinger and middle finger into the water and
anoint your nose saying:
Blessed be mine nose, for it is Your nose and helps me breathe the
essence that is the Sacred Whole.
Dip your {power hand} forefinger and middle finger into the water and
anoint your lips saying:
Blessed be mine lips, for these are Your lips and speak the true beauty
of Your names
Dip your {power hand} forefinger and middle finger into the water and
anoint your heart and breasts saying:
Blessed Be mine breasts and mine heart for they are Yours and I will
be faithful and loving in Thy name.
Dip your {power hand} forefinger and middle finger into the water and
anoint your belly and genitals (Men do not need to anoint belly area ***Ma'at's
note: I disagree. Men should.***) saying:
Blessed be my womb/vagina/penis for they are Your life-giving organs
and through them I can bring forth life.
Dip your {power hand} forefinger and middle finger into the water and
anoint your knees saying:
Blessed Be mine knees for they are Your knees that kneel in sacredness
and joy.
Dip your {power hand} forefinger and middle finger into the water and
anoint your feet saying:
Blessed be mine feet for they are Your feet and they lead me to your
Old Ways.
Blessed Be Lady and Lord! I am ___________________ and I am Your own
child come to you in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.
Now get into the tub and rub water all over yourself. Feel all your tensions and worries and fears slip into the water and dissolve away. Surround yourself with light and joy and enjoy!
When you are done, let the water out and watch it drain. Towel yourself
off and treat yourself to a bit of lotion. Remember that your body is Their
sacred selves and carry that into Circle with you.
Ritual Soaps
~from Scott Cunningham's "The Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews"
Chapter nine of Section II
By the light of a candle's flame, you're lying in a tub of herb scented water, preparing yourself for magic. Incense smoke drifts on the airs as your form a perfect mental image of your magical goal. Steam rises, laden with the fragrance and energies of flowers, seeds, roots and leaves.
Then, nearing the end of your bath, you reach for the soap, it's sickly sweet, artificially perfumed. Your concentration is destroyed, pulling your attention from your ritual preparations.
Has this happened to you? Although soaping isn't necessary in magical baths, a ritually correct soap can be a boost to any spell's effectiveness. Even if you don't bathe before ritual, it is wise to wash your hands. Even such a minor purification ritual can trigger the state of ritual consciousness. Therefore, spell soaps would be ideal for such uses.
Where can we obtain them? Don't try the supermarket. Make them at home. Not many people know how to do this today, but it's a lot of fun. Most commercial soaps are formulated with caustic chemicals. They can be quite irritating to the skin, and are usually obnoxiously perfumed. Ritual soaps (of varying quality) are occasionally available at occult stores, but why not try making your own?
Don't worry, you won't have to get a fire crackling under your cauldron out in the countryside to do this. And unless you want to upset your neighbors with nasty smells and risk burning your hands with lye, it's best to start out with pure, natural castile soaps. These can be purchased at most drugstores and markets. Oils or herb brews are then added to the soap. The magic is in the scent and in your empowerment of the soaps.
Pure castile soap is usually made of coconut oil. Kirk's a coconut castile made in the Philippines, is ideal. Castile soap(named after Castile, Spain) is also made from olive oil.
Any castile soap can be drying to the skin. If you have problems in this area, try adding one to two teaspoons apricot, almond or coconut oil to the water prior to mixing (see the below recipes), reducing the amount of water accordingly.
There are two types of ritual soaps: sphere and liquid. Here are complete directions for creating both forms.
***RITUAL SOAP SPHERES***
Using a very sharp, thick-bladed knife, cut a four-ounce bar of castile soap into very small pieces no longer than 1/4-inch square - the smaller (so long as they're cubes) the better. Place these in a heat-proof nonmetallic container.
Heat slightly less than 1/3 cup water until nearly boiling. Pour the still- hot water over the cut-up soap. Let is sit until the water has cooled sufficiently to allow you to handle it. Mix the soap and water with your hands. This will moisten the soap chips, but they shouldn't be floating on the surface of the water. If they are, add more soap.
Let the soap and water sit for about nine minutes until mushy. If the soap cubes are still hard, set the bowl in a pan of water and reheat it gently until the soap is soft.
While the soap is melting, mix together the oils and empower them with your magical need. Then add 20-50 drops of the combined oils to the soup/water mixture. Very warm water evaporates the oils, so wait until the water has cooled. Mix them in thoroughly. The scent should be strong; if not, add more oils.
The quality and strength of the oils you use determines the quantity needed to overpower the natural, rather antiseptic scent of genuine castile soap. Just add them until you can smell the oils.
Divide the scented soap mass into three or four parts. Form these into sphere with your hands. Place each on a nine-inch square piece of cotton cheesecloth. Pull the ends tightly around the sphere, gather them at the top and twist together. The cloth should be tightly wrapped around the soap sphere. Tie the ends closed with strong string. Repeat with each sphere.
Hang the soap spheres in a warm place for three days, or until the soap is completely hard. When the spheres won't give to finger pressure, remove the cloth wraps. The soaps are ready to be used in ritual baths. Or, they can be wrapped in clean cheesecloth, labeled, and given as gifts to friends who would appreciate them.
***LIQUID RITUAL SOAP #1***
Liquid soaps are a new trend today, thanks to aggressive advertising by major manufacturers. These soaps, however, are actually detergents, and aren't the best substances to put onto your hands.
While ad agencies trumpet liquid soaps as if they were brand new, the idea is actually as old as soap. American Indians agitated yucca and other suds-producing plants in water to create cleansing solutions. Ancient Hawaiians used the flowers of a wild ginger plant for the same purpose. Many saponin (soap-producing) plants grow throughout the world and were often the only source of soap for various people.
But we'll use castile as the basis of liquid ritual soaps. Here's the method:
Grate castile soap into a large bowl. Pack this into a measuring cup until you have exactly one cup. Remember to pack that soap!
Heat three cups water until almost boiling. Add the soap chips to the water. Turn off the heat and whip with a wooden or (if you have nothing else) metal wish until the soap is completely melted.
Let sit until cool, then add 50-60 drops of the mixed, empowered oils. Once again, the exact amounts vary. You'll know it's time to stop adding oils when the soap is heavily scented.
Using a funnel, place the liquid soap in a jar. Cap and shake vigorously to mix the oils. Label and use as needed.
***LIQUID RITUAL SOAP #2***
You can also try making liquid soap with brews. To the three cups hot water add five to six tablespoons mixed, dried, ground and empowered herbs rather than the oils mentioned in the following recipes. Take off the heat, let steep for 10 to 13 minutes and strain. Gently reheat the water, add one cup castile soap shavings. whisk and allow to cool. It is ready for use.
Unfortunately, when herb brews are mixed with castile soap the scent changes dramatically. If you try it, you'll understand what I mean. If you don't like the results, fortify the scent with a few drops of the oil form of one of the included herbs.
To use the liquid soaps, simply wet your hands and apply a few drops of the soap. It foams easily and leaves your skin clean and scented.
The recipes follow. As you can see, there are endless varieties of soaps waiting to be concocted. Most of the oil recipes can be used in scenting soaps. Once you've mastered the basics, make up a few types and keep them on hand in case of ritual need.
Some of these recipes suggest using rose water or orange flower water in place of plain water in making the soap/water mixture. This can be used or not, but use only water scented with genuine orange flower essential oil or rose essential oil.
Store unused soaps in your altar if it is designed with cupboards or shelves below it. Or, simply place them in your herb cupboard.
Remember - use ritual soaps with power. Visualize your magical goal as you wash.
***THE RECIPES***
ISIS SOAP
3 parts Myrrh
2 parts frankincense
1 part Lotus Bouquet
Use before any Egyptian or Isian ritual. Also, wash with this soap to develop spiritual awareness. If you wish, substitute rose water for the water in which the soap chips are melted.
LOVE SOAP
4 parts Geranium
3 parts Palmarosa
2 parts Neroli
1 part Ginger
Wash with this soap to attract love, or prior to love rituals. And again, rose water may be used in the same proportions as plain water in preparing the soap.
LUCK SOAP
2 parts Vetivert
1 part Orange
1 part Nutmeg
Wash to change your "luck" or to bring positive energies into your life.
Orange flower water may be used in place of plain water during soap manipulation.
MONEY SOAP
3 parts Patchouli
2 parts Peppermint
1 part Basil
1 part Pine
1 part Cinnamon
Wash your hands daily with this soap to attract money, or use prior
to money-drawing rituals.
MOON SOAP
3 parts Sandalwood
2 parts Camphor
1 part Lemon
1 part Eucalyptus
Use before rituals on the Full Moon to attune with its energies.
PROTECTION SOAP
4 parts Rosemary
3 parts Basil
1 part Frankincense
1 part Bay
1 part Mint
Wash daily with this soap when you feel the need for protection, or
before such spells.
PSYCHIC SOAP
3 parts Lemongrass
2 parts Bay
1 part Cinnamon
Wash with this soap to increase your psychic awareness, especially
prior to divinatory or psychic workings.
SABBAT SOAP
4 parts Sandalwood
1 part Myrrh
3 parts Rosemary
1 part Bay
2 parts Patchouli
1 part Lemon
1 part Cinnamon
1 part Ginger
Use during ritual baths prior to Sabbats or as a general magical cleanser.
WITCH'S SOAP
3 parts Rosemary
2 parts Pine
1 part Cinnamon
1 part Orange
Wash with this soap before rituals of all kinds to increase your personal power.
Ingredients
bay leaves
1 lemon
flour
sea salt
This recipe is used to unhex or unvex yourself. It does not matter
whether
the negative energy is coming from an internal source or an external
source.
It can also be used to remove any sort of obstacle from your path.
Simply
add nine bay leaves, the juice of a whole lemon, three fistfuls of
sea salt,
and a sprinkling of flour to a full tub. Three and nine are numbers
of
completion. You want to make sure the cleansing is thorough.
Bay is ruled by the Sun and is used for protection and purification.
In
ancient Greece, the priestesses of the Delphic oracle would chew bay
leaves
to open their psychic channels. As you sit in the tub, chew on
a bay leaf
and meditate on the source of your problems. Answers or messages
should
come. In Rome, bay was used to ward off evil and is still burned
or
scattered in modern exorcism rites. During the Middle Ages, bay
was used to
protect against witchcraft. You can carry three leaves in your
pocket if you
feel someone is actively working magic against you. Flour is
used for
purification and stabilization. The combination of lemon and
salt is used to
drive away evil. You must sit in the tub for at least ten minutes
and
immerse yourself completely three times. Do not towel off but
allow yourself
to air dry.
~from Lady Ma'at's Book of Shadows
Bath Bag
for relaxation & meditation
In a small piece of linen, place the following:
lavender
orange peels
dandelion leaves
rose hips
spearmint leaves
Tie shut.
Start to run water into the tub. Tie the bag to the faucet and
let the hot water run over/through it.
~from Lady Ma'at's Book of Shadows