Self-Care as a Ritual

Ritual: a ritual is any act done regularly, usually without thinking about it.

The bath can be a place of solace, sanctuary and contemplation. In a life that all too often leaves us constantly on the go, it's important to remember to take time to pause; self-care is important in maintaining a holistic health. Thus, a bath offers more than just a cleansing routine -- it gives us a perfect opportunity to take time for the self and create an environment that is yours alone.

From the full moon to the busying city, we can create a ritual bath experience that can be uplifting, sedating, contemplating or meditative.

To consciously create a ritual bath experience, you can take the following elements into consideration:

• lighting
• scent
• ambience

Lighting

Candles are the most obvious choice here, but feel free to get creative. If you have twinkle lights in your bathroom, lights in your soaker tub, or hanging lanterns, those would all be lovely lightly for your ritual bath.

Scent

You may wish to create an essential oil blend that aids both the body and mind, or incorporate a body oil, bath salts, bath tea or a scrub. Cater any scents used to the outcome you are seeking -- commonly either uplift; sedation; contemplation or meditation. Add a total of 5-6 drops of essential oils to 1 tbsp carrier oil and mix, then add to 1-2 cups of salts (Epsom, pink Himalayan or sea salt; or magnesium flakes). Alternatively, you may add 18 drops of essential oils to 1 oz of carrier oil and either apply to your body before climbing into the bath, or add straight to the bath water.

Another element of scent is doing a smoke cleanse before your bath, using responsibly and mindfully cultivated or wildcrafted material such as juniper, pine or even lavender, or a resin such as pine or frankincense.

Ambience

The environment in which you bathe is perhaps the most important element of a ritual bath. Spending time as the solitary self is therapeutic not only for healing but to treat ourselves to a well-deserved pampering. Everything present or conspicuously not present contributes to this ambience, starting with the lighting and scent. Next, consider sound. Do you crave silence? Meditative music? A podcast to dig into?

Some people like to add crystals or flowers to their bathing environment to make the experience feel more special.

Lastly, you may add a drink (water, tea, coffee, wine or a cocktail), and a book or journal.

We now offer a Ritual Bath class! The class focuses on the concept of the solitary self, not only for healing, but to treat ourselves to well-deserved pampering; and includes all supplies, products to take home (body oil, bath salt, bath tea), recipe cards, and an information guide towards a ritual bath. Check out the sign-up page for more information and upcoming dates!