Bath Time

Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis)

I wrote on here a while back about coming home cold and wet and taking a hot bath. I have gradually turned this into a sort of ritual. I love to take long soaks in the bath when I have the time to relax. I invite the water spirits to the bathroom as the taps are running. I light candles for atmosphere. I don’t much like incense or overbearing aromas, but I do like lavender.

So I have made up some special bath salts based on recipes on Kim’s Blog. To her recommended mix of salts I add essential oil of lavender, dried rose petals and some ground-up leaves of soapwort and rosemary. I sprinkle this mixture under the running taps then lie in the water, giving myself up to the waters completely and stay there until it starts to get cold. I have also begun to set up a sort of altar in the bathroom with tea lights and images of water spirits and mermaids. So I can recreate the Water World.

Other times I shower, but bathing is special. It’s not just getting clean. It’s not even just therapy. It’s a communion with the elemental spirits of Water.

A Stream

Lovely bright and crisp sunny day. Had to go out to a meeting and stopped to eat a sandwich on the way in a place just off the road. I saw a stream running across the field that I didn't know was there. I could see that it was flowing into a larger stream by the road, but I couldn't see where it was coming from. There must be a spring somewhere as I'm sure there is no stream on the other side of the field where it seems to be coming from.

Going to discover where streams come from is a good thing to do. If I could find a spring that would be wonderful. I imagine myself washing my face in it, though today the water would be very cold. But the water would wash over me and I would be blessed.