The moon is an intoxicating symbol of nature’s rhythm. Its cycle of phases, from which all cycles of life from birth to death emerge, have been revered by cultures across the globe from time immemorial. This gentle cycle of waxing and waning is said to nourish and protect all that is sacred on Earth.
Such rhythms of nature have a profound impact on our lives, and our physical and emotional cycles are perpetually impacted by them. The lunar cycle is particularly influential because the moon rules the flow of water, both on the planet and within us. Since around sixty percent of our bodies are made up of water, the moon has a powerful effect on our physical form, as well as our thoughts, emotions and dreams.
When we tune in to this cosmic influence — to the ritual dance of the lunar seasons — we regain a connection with the divine, to our own innate rhythms, and to the cycle of intention, creation and release within our own lives. Ritual moon bathing is the act of setting an intention, and then immersing oneself in warm, healing water, in alignment with the lunar cycle. When bathing intentions are aligned with the energies of current phase of the moon, the macrocosmic and the microcosmic patterns harmonize, and the benefits to our life and wellbeing are amplified.
BEGIN YOUR MOON BATHING PRACTICE
To begin your moon bathing practice, use a lunar calendar to familiarize yourself with the moon cycle and decide which phase you’d like to begin bathing with.
Prepare your bath by brewing a botanical bath tea made up of the botanical bath tea that matches the current phase of the lunar cycle. Once your tea has steeped for at least 15 minutes, strain it, and pour into a tub of warm water (96° F - 100°F). To bring your bath experience to life, surround your tub with candles, crystals and fresh flowers. Burn sacred smoke to clear energy, purify the air and create space to tune in.
NEW MOON BATH
The Moon Phase: The New Moon phase is the week during which the moon is invisible or appears as a slender crescent, the sky is dark and the stars shine bright. The air and ether elements are dominant during the New Moon time, evoking the cool and wavering energy of vata. The New Moon is a time of rebirth and renewal, calling upon us to tune inward and take rest.
The Practice: Take comfort in the void, as this is the open space in which we plant the seeds of new intentions. Before your bath, listen deeply and set an intention for the upcoming cycle. Physically write your intentions for the month ahead. Put the paper somewhere that it gets supercharged with energy or can provide a subtle influence on your life such as under your pillow, on your altar, or buried in the Earth.
The Bath: During this time, your moon bath should be deeply calming to the mind and soothing to the physical body. Infuse your bath with the New Moon Botanical Bath Tea, which includes a combination of grounding and warming botanicals.
WAXING MOON BATH
The Moon Phase: The Waxing Moon phase is the week in which the New Moon builds toward the Full Moon, and more of the moon is visible each night. As the Waxing Moon is replenishing light in the night sky, our bodies are rebuilding with the nourishment of kapha, the combination of the water and earth elements. The Waxing Moon is a time of gathering energy and strength, calling upon us to replenish our immunity, sensuality and vitality.
The Practice: During your bath, consider what resources you are grateful for that you are calling upon to bring your intention for this cycle to life. Spend some time imagining your intention in vivid detail, and incorporate all of your senses. This practice enriches the soil in which the seeds of your intentions have been planted.
The Bath: During this time, your moon bath should nourish the body and soul, encourage stability, and promote strengthening and regeneration. Infuse your bath with the Waxing Moon Botanical Bath Tea, which includes repairing, building and stabilizing botanicals.
FULL MOON BATH
The Moon Phase: The Full Moon phase is the week during which the moon is the most visible, the time in which the moon appears as a bright, round circle in the sky. The Full Moon evokes the intensity of pitta, the fire element, and is a time of abundance, fertility and light, calling upon us to celebrate and dance in the lunar glow.
The Practice: Before you bathe, do a dance meditation or journal about the successes you are celebrating during this cycle. It is best to do this outside under the light of the Full Moon. Place a chalice of water outside to be charged with moonlight, and pour this water in to your bath.
The Bath: This Full Moon bath is a celebration of having brought your seeds of intention to life, and should elicit a sense of hope, abundance, beauty and joy. Infuse your bath with botanicals that activate the body and mind for focused energy, delicious sensuality. Infuse your bath with the Full Moon Botanical Bath Tea, which includes both cooling and activating botanicals for potent internal and external alignment with the cosmos.
WANING MOON BATH
The Moon Phase: The Waning Moon phase is the week during which the Full Moon fades to the New Moon and less of the moon is visible each night. This is a time to release the excess kapha, the water and earth elements, that were cultivated as the moon expanded to full. We are called to unwind and reflect, to let go and release during this phase.
The Practice: Before you bathe around the time of the Waning Moon, write down any thoughts, feelings or actions that you are releasing during this lunar cycle. Then, in a fireplace or clay pot, safely burn the paper on which you wrote. Actively let go of that which no longer serves
The Bath: The Waning Moon bath quiets our bodies and minds after the intensity of the Full Moon energy. Infuse your bath with botanicals that support you to surrender, cleanse and detoxify, preparing you to journey inward again during the New Moon. Infuse your bath with the detoxifying and cleansing Waning Moon Botanical Bath Tea.
A moon bath is a deeply healing and sacred ritual that weaves together nature’s rhythms, personal intentions, water therapy and plant medicine. The practice has been a part of many of the world’s ancestral traditions, and now it's your turn to join the modern bathing renaissance!
In our book, Moon Bath | Bathing Rituals And Recipes For Relaxation And Vitality, we share more Moon Bath rituals like these — each designed to balance our bodies with the physical and energetic qualities of the four phases of the moon during each of the Earth’s seasons. With each bath ritual, you dive more deeply into what makes you YOU, as you cultivate clarity, vitality, and balance for your whole being.
Moon Bath’s mission is to invite you to tune in to the rhythms of nature and create space to connect more deeply with yourself through Ayurvedic self-care rituals. Learn more about enriching your moon bathing bath ritual with Botanical Bath Teas, Infused Sundance Sea Salt, Facial Rituals and Sacred Smoke. Share your moon bath ritual with us! IG: @moonbathritual #mymoonbath
