SELF-CARE: Egyptian Goddess Ritual Bath
Baths are a powerful and luxuriously soothing way to heal and connect to your inner goddess. Harnessing the power of the water element helps you clear old energy and become a conduit for channelling messages from the divine. One of the few places we don’t bring our phones, it’s the perfect time to get quiet and look within.
Fierce women from history are the best inspiration in my opinion and Cleopatra might just be the queen of indulgent baths as well as the ultimate example of beauty and brains. Not only was she a pharaoh who ran ancient Egypt, spoke over nine languages and formed alliances (and romances) with Rome's Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, but she was well known for her stunning beauty and innovative self-care rituals. Her milk bath was the stuff of legends as was her glowing skin. She reportedly used donkey milk with honey, lavender and scattered rose petals to make for a decadent skin soothing bath.
The queen, who believed she was the reincarnation of Egyptian goddess of magic and fertility Isis (and totally may have been), was definitely onto something considering that milk is an alpha hydroxy acid. Alpha hydroxy is found in so many products on the market today because it helps cleanse the skin, releases dead skin cells and acts as an exfoliant to reveal smooth, radiant, soft skin. Over time, alpha hydroxy can even effectively decrease the look of wrinkles and roughness.
Not into dairy? The modern goddess update is to swap it out for coconut milk or coconut flour. Coconut milk contains vitamin C, E, B6, magnesium and iron and unsaturated fatty acids so it’s super moisturizing and it brightens up your skin plus its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial qualities help with acne.
EGYPTIAN QUEEN BATH RECIPE:
Mix together 2 cups milk or 3 tbsps coconut flour and 2 cups water, 10-20 drops chosen essential oil, 1 cup epsom salts and/or sea salt, 1/4 cup of honey and a handful of dried roses. Mix together in a jar, add half a cup to your bath.
For ritual baths it all starts with your intention. Pull an Oracle or Tarot card for guidance if that’s part of your practice, decide what you want the water to help you cleanse and add in essential oils that will help support what you’re asking about or calling in.
Some of my fave essential oils for their relaxing, feminine properties include:
- Rose (attracts love and boosts libido ),
- Jasmine (anti-bacterial aphrodisiac),
- Ylang Ylang (promotes sensuality and calms the nervous system),
- Lavender (super relaxant and helps with menstrual symptoms).
Soak for at least 20 minutes and allow yourself to be restored and soothed from the inside and out. Be sure to keep your heart open for any messages that may want to come through from your spirit guides or higher self.
Voila, a beautifying soak fit for a queen!
