Tantric Bathing Ritual for the New Year in 12 Steps

Tantric Bathing Rituals (also known as “Sacred” or “Ritual” Bathing) is a practice that has been used for centuries as a tool for healing and regeneration in cultures all over the world.

In the Western culture, it is commonly accepted that baths can be used to foster relaxation, help with detoxification, stimulate the immune system and facilitate the healing process.

Tantric Bathing can also be used to enhance sensuality, romance and intimate connection.

Essentially, the water itself is a blank slate. The ingredients you choose to add to the element of water determine how that power is directed, and how the body/mind/spirit will use that energy.

I have used tantric bathing rituals for over 20 years as a tool for self connection, self-healing, relaxing, and arousal.

Today I am sharing with you a recipe for a very specific Tantric Bathing ritual which I use on a regular basis for cleansing, self-connection and consciously aligning my energy with my intentions.  

The bathing ritual I describe below is based on Shamanistic practices I have been using since 1995, which I have integrated with the Tibetan 5 Element Practices for healing and empowerment.

This particular bath is the perfect recipe for a New Year’s bathing practice because the purpose is to cleanse, relax and renew your energy, and help direct your focus to calling in auspicious circumstances for your next 365 days on this planet.

Here are the supplies you will need:

• Journal and pen
• Cloth to dry hands with
• Several unscented candles
• Glass of water with lemon (to drink)
• Sea Salt and or Epsom salts (Sea salts are preferred)
• Essential Oils

Essential Oils:

Cedarwood- Spiritual Properties: Balance, Rebirth, Regeneration, Regrowth. Magical Properties: Healing, Protection, Purification. Cedarwood Essential Oil brings balance and steadiness to the spirit. It encourages us on our path and helps to bring our dreams to reality. Cedarwood Essential Oil holds the spirits of the ancients, teaching us to hold fast to the Earth.

Juniper- Spiritual Properties: Enlightenment, Inner Vision, Sincerity, Uplifting. Magical Properties: Health, Love, Protection. Juniper Essential Oil clears obstructions on our pathway to the divine spirit allowing enlightenment and inner vision. When Juniper Essential Oil is inhaled, a cleansing, purifying action takes place, leaving one feeling more sincere mentally and spiritually. It uplifts the heart, mind, and spirit.

Lavender- Spiritual Properties: Restorative, Calming. Magical Properties: Happiness, Love, Peace, Protection, Purification. Lavender Essential Oil is caring and nurturing. It brings the warmth of protective love from Mother Earth. Lavender Essential Oil lifts the weight of depression and sadness from the spirit, bringing an emotional balance to the psyche.

Orange- Spiritual Properties: Creativity, Lightheartedness, Positivity. Magical Properties: Divination, Love, Luck, Money. Orange Essential Oil brings happiness to the heart, regeneration of the spirit, and vitality to the soul. It conquers fears and obsessions. Please note that orange oil can burn the skin, so use cautiously and sparingly!! No more than 3 drops at a time.

The last 2 are a matter of choice and resonance. You can either use Rose or Jasmine

Rose- Spiritual Properties: Contentment, Happiness, Patience. Magical Properties: Healing, Love, Protection. Rose Otto Essential Oil brings unconditional love and giving. It gently brings comfort and harmony.

Jasmine- Spiritual Properties: Anti-depressant, Sedative. Magical Properties: Dreams, Love, Money. Jasmine Essential Oil rides the waves of our emotional tides. It brings understanding to the conscious mind; desires and wishes of the heart to light, and brings the angelic realms close.

(Essential oil properties sourced from Mama Bear Musings)

To complete your Tantric Bathing Ritual you will need to do the following:

Step #1. Create time in your schedule. Set aside an hour for this tantric bathing practice

Step #2. Gather your supplies and create your sacred space. Run the bath, add the salts as the water is running. Add the oils when the bath is full and “stir”. Add about 5-10 drops of each oil (except orange oil! You will burn your bum if you use too much orange oil!). Be mindful of skin sensitivity when using essential oils and use the minimum amount until you know how your skin reacts. Light your candles. Make sure your glass of water with lemon, journal, pen and dry cloth are within arms reach.

Step #3. Get into your bath, settle in and relax. Begin to breathe deeply into your body with one hand on your heart and one hand on your belly for about 10 breaths. (If you know the Authentic Tantra Ocean Breath Practice do that here!)

Step #4. Next, you will begin breathing into each of the major energy centers of your body according to the Tibetan Five Element Tantric Teachings. Be aware that Tibetan-based Tantric practices use a different chakra system than the one used in most other styles of Tantra. 

During this process, the intention is to see these energy centers and their associated colors as healthy, vibrant, and strong. If these energy centers feel dull or blocked when you put your attention on them, just relax and allow them to be as they are. Then invite them to join you in your vision of health and vibrancy. Take your time, be patient, gentle, encouraging, and kind to yourself and your body at every step along the way.

Chakra One is your sex chakra. This is located inside the body, mid-way between your pubic bone and your tail bone. This energy center represents the element of Fire. See this energy center infused with red light- glowing, beautiful, vibrant, brilliant red light. Take 3 deep easy breaths here while feeling, sensing, seeing the energy-burning clear, bright and strong.

Chakra Two is your navel chakra. This energy center represents the element of Earth and is located 2 inches below your navel, inside the body. See it as radiant gold light as you take 3 deep easy breaths while feeling, sensing, seeing the energy-burning clear, bright and strong.

Chakra Three is your heart center. It represents the element of space and is visualized as white or clear light. Take 3 deep easy breaths here while feeling, sensing, seeing this energy center filled with clear, bright, and strong white light.

Chakra Four is your throat. This energy center is governed by the air element and is seen as green and vibrant light. Take 3 deep easy breaths here while feeling, sensing, seeing this energy center filled with strong, bright green light. Healthy, vital, and pure.

Chakra Five is your head chakra. This energy center is governed by the water element and is visualized as brilliant blue light. Take 3 deep easy breaths here while feeling, sensing, seeing this energy center filled with brilliant, blue, cleansing light.

After you have completed 3 breaths all the way to the top, bring your awareness back down to your sex chakra by moving down each energy center pausing for one deep breath at each place.

(Please note~ If you have been trained in how to correctly “run” the elements by a Certified Authentic Tantra Practitioner, then do that in place of the exercise described above.)

Step #5. Feel into your body, and notice any changes.  Use your dry cloth to wipe off your hands and write down anything you noticed while doing that practice.

Step #6. Now think about 3 things you would like to accomplish or achieve over the next year and write them down in your journal

Step #7. Next, focus on each one at a time, and imagine how good it will feel to have them as a reality. Really get in there and pretend that you have already achieved them. See it, sense it, feel it.

Step #8. Now ask that any and all obstacles, known or unknown, which may be preventing you from realizing these goals, be deleted, uncreated, de- storied, released, and removed- effortlessly, easily, and gracefully. For the highest good and truth and light for yourself and all beings.

Step #9. Feel into these achievements and again feel/ imagine what it is to have them in your life. Really savor the sensation of having them and allow that to imprint into your cells.

Step #10. Write down how you feel holding the energy of having accomplished your goals

Step #11. Breath into your body again with one hand to the heart and one hand to the belly.

Step #12. Enjoy the rest of your bath!

Please be aware that sometimes this exercise brings up the pain of not having these achievements. That is good! Examine that pain, examine the beliefs and thoughts that give rise to that pain. Write them down so you can see them.

Then ask yourself- is there anything I can do to begin having a different experience? Allow yourself to be in a state of inquiry and possibility.

For me, Tantric Bathing rituals are all about cultivating connection and mindfulness. They are a time for me to connect more deeply with my intuition, my body, my sensuality, and my inner magic.

I encourage you to use this tantric bathing ritual as often as you like as a tool for self-connection and self-empowerment.