by Neala Peake: Taking a ritual bath is a form of spiritual cleansing that can clear your aura of negative energy and lift your spiritual vibration. Water has been used as a spiritual cleanser throughout history and is still a relevant option today.

When you immerse yourself in a ritual bath, you are participating in an initiation to open yourself up to spirit. Ritual bathing implies that water and prayer wash away any spiritual grime — cleansing and purifying your body and your aura. It suggests that you are willing to listen to your higher self and begin to trust something outside of your rational mind. It indicates that you are open to ask the universe to transform what you believe needs to be changed in yourself.

Taking a bath to cleanse your spirit is different from taking a bath to clean away the everyday dirt from your physical body. It is meant to cleanse and protect a person spiritually, so there are some rules that should be followed in order to create the desired effects. When taking a ritual bath, you don’t use soap, shampoo, or bath oil. Once the bath is prepared, you are entering a spiritual experience so you will want to mentally separate regular bathing with ritual bathing.

Although ritual baths can sometimes help alleviate certain physical ailments (especially skin conditions and muscle soreness), they are meant for spiritual healing and purification, not physical healing. So if you have a physical illness, please see your doctor for treatment. Also, if you have open wounds or have just had surgery, do not immerse the wounded area in water. You must keep the incision dry and covered.

The bath: take a shower before taking the ritual bath and wash yourself thoroughly. Clean the bathtub before filling the tub with water. Fill the bathtub about half full of lukewarm or cool water and mix the ingredients in the water. Immerse yourself totally from head to foot and use a washcloth or clean glass and keep cleansing yourself with water. Stay in the bath for 6 to 8 minutes. Pray for the release of any energy that you no longer wish to carry, or that is not for your highest good. Ask for spiritual support and to raise your spiritual vibration. For the best results, air dry when you get out of the bath. You may use a towel for your head and put a robe on, but do not towel dry. If possible, don’t take another shower or bath for 24 hours.

Mix: ¼ cup Epsom salt

1 cup bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

1 tablespoon sea salt

Note: You may purchase ready-made spiritual baths in your local metaphysical shop.

When you have finished taking the ritual bath, you should feel lighter, spiritually cleansed and recharged. Water is considered the essence of life and has the capacity to cleanse your energetic system of psychic blocks and the accumulation of grungy, emotional and spiritual energy you have accumulated in your everyday life. A ritual bath taken on a monthly basis lifts your mind and spirit and can help keep your aura clean and clear of unwanted spiritual debris.