Bathing as a spiritual ritual has been around pretty much as long as people have. The element of water is seen as cleansing and refreshing. Submersion in sacred rivers, holy springs, and magical wells is a theme we find in faerie tales, myth, religious texts and documented history.
Indian Brahmins and devout pilgrims must bathe themselves prior to entering certain temples and making sacrifices to their Gods. Jews have a long and beautiful tradition of immersion in sacred water known as the Mikvah. For many Christians water--whether they are submerged in it or sprinkled with it-marks the beginning of life and/or the renewal of a life illuminated by faith. Native Americans not only had washing rituals around themselves, they also had rituals for washing down certain objects--like weapons and sacred religious tools. In both Medieval European Alchemy and Chinese Taoism water was seen as a mutable substance--strong enough to wear down rock and flexible enough to take the shape of any container it is put in. Those who live agrarian lives in tune with seasons and weather cycles know that water is often life itself, an element that restores nutrients and nourishes, keeping plants moist, fragrant, and flourishing.
In American Conjure spiritual bathing is utilized to cleanse, protect, heal, draw in desired goods and banish unwanted conditions from an individual's life. Some workers, like myself, offer hands-on bathing which is especially popular in removing crossed conditions from your life. Special baths composed of minerals, or herbs and roots, or salt and condition oils can be prepared and shipped to clients all over. There are several sources that go into detail about how to take a spiritual bath in traditional Conjure style, but nevertheless it is one of the most frequent questions I get asked. So here is a quick description:
Preparing your bath:
Once you or your worker has selected a bath that is appropriate for your condition you will need to prepare the bath. Because traditional Conjure spiritual bathing occurs pre-dawn, some folks like to have their bath already made and ready to go. Others prefer to prepare their baths prior to actually bathing as they consider the preparation to be part of the full bathing ritual. Whichever road you take, there is wide consensus that the bath should be fixed with Spring Water--you can buy bottles of it at the store if there is not a natural river or spring in your area--the point is that you want "natural" water, that is, water that does not come from the tap.
Your specific preparation technique will depend in part on the kind of bath that you have. If you have a crystal salt bath for instance, then you probably want to heat up a couple of big pots full of Spring Water, pour them in your tub, and then put in the salt bath, letting it dissolve in the warm water. If you have an all herb and root or mostly herb and root bath then I find it is better to treat it as you would a tea, where you add boiling Spring Water to it, allow it to steep, and then add it to a bathtub full of warm Spring Water. All mineral baths tend to be treated like crystal salt baths.
Herb and root mixtures can also be placed inside of muslin tea bags and left floating freely in a tub of warm Spring Water. Some workers suggest that you take two white candle, small offertory candles, birthday candles, or even white tea lights work well for this, and arrange them so that when you step out of the bathtub or shower, you are stepping through a doorway of candle light. This is especially appropriate if you are doing uncrossing, healing, blessing, or protection work, but I find that it adds a nice aspect to the experience for all baths.
Your specific preparation technique will depend in part on the kind of bath that you have. If you have a crystal salt bath for instance, then you probably want to heat up a couple of big pots full of Spring Water, pour them in your tub, and then put in the salt bath, letting it dissolve in the warm water. If you have an all herb and root or mostly herb and root bath then I find it is better to treat it as you would a tea, where you add boiling Spring Water to it, allow it to steep, and then add it to a bathtub full of warm Spring Water. All mineral baths tend to be treated like crystal salt baths.
Herb and root mixtures can also be placed inside of muslin tea bags and left floating freely in a tub of warm Spring Water. Some workers suggest that you take two white candle, small offertory candles, birthday candles, or even white tea lights work well for this, and arrange them so that when you step out of the bathtub or shower, you are stepping through a doorway of candle light. This is especially appropriate if you are doing uncrossing, healing, blessing, or protection work, but I find that it adds a nice aspect to the experience for all baths.
If you do not have a bathtub but only a shower don't fret. A kettle of your spiritual bath combined with Spring Water can be brought into the shower and used just as you would with a bath tub. Make sure you place a container at the base of your feet to catch some of your water for disposal at the crossroads.
Taking the Bath:
Once your bath has been prepared, it is time to actually take the bath. The rule of thumb when spiritually bathing in the Conjure tradition is to stroke towards you to bring in desired conditions (like love, money, or success) and to stroke down and away from you to get rid of unwanted conditions (like bad luck, poverty, and heartbreak). Some folks like to completely immerse themselves in the water. Others do not like to get their hair wet and so can bathe themselves from the neck down.
I often suggest to my clients that they say a verse from the Bible or a Psalm as they are bathing. This simple act of heart-felt recitation can really strengthen and emphasize the spiritual benefits of the bath. The act will be much more natural if you will take the time to memorize the verse or Psalm prior to bathing.
It is also often suggested that along with or in place of reciting a Bible verse or Psalm you pray in your own words and from your heart about the condition(s) that you are either trying to draw to you or to remove. Do this as you are running the water over your body.
At the end of your bath, make sure that you collect a bowl full of water to take to the crossroads. Stop out of the bathtub and allow yourself to air dry--DO NOT use a towel. You have just taken a spiritual bath and you want the essences in the water to dry on your skin. After you are dry you can add finishing touches by using an appropriate sachet powder to powder yourself and/or a skin-safe condition oil to anoint yourself for added oomph. Put on clean clothes, drain the bath, reserving the bowl of left over water. Go to the crossroads to dispose of your bathwater.
Fast Disposal tips: How to properly dispose of ritual bath water is an area of great debate among root workers. My general rule of thumb is as follows: For getting rid of conditions--go to the crossroads, stand facing East with your back to the West. Take the water, throw it over your left shoulder, and walk away without looking back. Pray that the Lord or whatever higher power you acknowledge will remove your afflictions from you and that they will go down with the sun and drown in the ocean as you are tossing the water over your left shoulder.
For Drawing conditions to you-Stand facing West wih your back to the East. Toss the water over your right shoulder asking that as the sun gorws and strengthens so too shall your (name of condition) grow and strengthen.
Do I have to get up at dawn? The short answer that I give my clients is: yes. And before dawn means a little before the sun rises, not at midnight (although there are some baths that are actually supposed to be done at midnight.) Why do we get up before dawn? As I mentioned earlier, spiritual bathing is a very established tradition, it is one of the oldest traditions found in modern Conjure practice. I believe that there is a deep connection between very ancient sun worship and spiritual bathing, and that harnessing the energy of the sun to your cause is a large part of what has made and continues to make spiritual bathing such a powerful tool of transformation and healing.
Keep the work going: Many clients will continue the work that they start when they take a spiritual bath by using special types of soap and scrubs to keep the work going. Using lemongrass soap regularly can bring the benefits of that herb into your life--road opening, good luck, cleansing, and blessing. Sage can be used for strong cleansing and protection. Rose, violet, or any number of sweet smelling floral soaps can work to draw love.
Keep the work going: Many clients will continue the work that they start when they take a spiritual bath by using special types of soap and scrubs to keep the work going. Using lemongrass soap regularly can bring the benefits of that herb into your life--road opening, good luck, cleansing, and blessing. Sage can be used for strong cleansing and protection. Rose, violet, or any number of sweet smelling floral soaps can work to draw love.