I must confess something. When psychologist Paulette Sherman, PsyD., asked me to review The Book of Sacred Baths, it made me wonder if adults still took baths. I suppose this says something about me, doesn’t it? In case I need to spell it out, it says this: I haven’t taken a bath in a really long time. 

So I posted about it on my Facebook page, where I suggested that baths were for babies and Victorian women. For the rest of us, there was the shower and, if we’re fortunate, the hot tub at the gym. I heard from a number of people who told me that they seriously could not live without a daily soak. Could. Not. Live. Without. For these women, a nightly bath was what kept them going. Without that bath? They would have walked out on their spouses, children and jobs long ago.

It got me thinking. Just as there are dog or cat people and beer or wine people, maybe the world was split into bath or shower people. And maybe if more shower people like me took baths, there would be world peace, you know?

So I decided that I needed to read Paulette’s book, just to see what I am missing. But, seriously: did I really need a book to help me figure out how to take a bath? How hard could it possibly be?

Did I mention that it had been years since I’d taken a bath, so many years that I couldn’t remember the last time? More important our bath tub doubles as our shower and I honestly don’t remember the last time we really cleaned it. Plus, we lost the little stopper years ago. It seems I need a how-to manual. I really do.

So I told Paulette I’d take a look.

And let me tell you: You don’t have to be a bath person to know that her book is pretty dang awesome. She offers dozens of bathing rituals to help you unwind, find love, release anger, fall back in love, and feel good about your body. There’s even a bath for vitalizing your feminine power. Every woman I know needs that bath, am I right? She offers a prescription for each bath, complete with a meditation, suggested candle to burn in the bathroom, and series of essential oils.

It’s a must have, especially for bath people.

As for me, I never got around to buying a stopper, which kind of makes filling the bathtub somewhat impossible. But I did get around to asking Paulette a few questions.

Q: How does someone turn their bathroom into a sacred space? For example, I live with a husband and 12 year old son, and we all share the same bathroom. Our bathtub is also our shower, and it’s a small space. It’s your typical home built in the 1950s — nothing fancy. To me, it doesn’t feel sacred or like a place I could relax and let go. What could I do to change this?

Paulette: I live with my husband, 8 year old son and my 5 year old daughter in an apartment with one small bathroom.  This is where I take my sacred baths and where I wrote this book.  This one bathroom is also the only toilet and shower.  So, I definitely understand the challenges for a working mom in this situation.  However, it can be done and you will be the better for it.

This became the one sacred time for myself and I was determined to make it work.  So, even when my kids were a bit younger I let them know not to disturb mommy for 25 mins when I was in the bath.  They would watch TV and ask daddy for help or only get me in an emergency.  I even started out with a Do Not Disturb…Bathing sign as a physical reminder on the doorknob.  I would ask everybody if they needed to go to the bathroom before I’d go in, and I still do.


Also, I should mention that our tub was small and not too pretty.  We own our apartment and were allowed to change it but I was quoted 20K to put in a small claw foot tub and to redo the small bathroom so we decided to reglaze our existing tub and tile instead for $1100 so that it looked clean and new.  I understand that if you don’t own your bathroom you may be stuck with whatever you have and that’s perfectly fine.  I did my sacred baths with the old version for a year and it worked the same.  Ultimately, this is about inner transformative work, not outside cosmetics.  Your intention and consciousness are the key things in the shifting of your energy and what you attract.


Now, besides your actual bathtub, you can do other things to create sacred space.  You can burn sage, Palo Santo wood, incense or use a beautiful air spray to clear the space or energy in your bathroom.  You can play beautiful music or hang a picture of your favorite Goddess or something that inspires you.  I ordered a decal of a muse-like woman in water that I got on Etsy (under $30) to put on my bathroom wall.  You can get a mermaid shower curtain or whatever makes you smile.  I also recommend quickly putting dirty towels in the hamper and using a nontoxic cleanser like Seventh Generation to wipe down your tub with a washcloth.  I know this can sound like a lot but you only decorate once and the rest of this never takes me more than 25 minutes, including the set-up and ritual.  You deserve that time.


Q: Your book mentions essential oils, candles and meditations/visualizations that can be paired with a bath for different kinds of goals. If someone is on a tight budget, are all of these things absolutely necessary? And could you suggest a basic, low cost, low fuss starter kit for people who think they may want to try the idea of a sacred bath, but are not quite ready to completely jump in? 


Paulette: If you’re on a tight budget, don’t let that stop you from taking sacred baths.  I do say in my book that you do not have to buy such an extensive list of essential oils and crystals.  You can definitely start wherever you are.  I tried to write a deep, layered book that would appeal to the spiritual seeker at all levels, including initiates and masters.  Some Llewellyn readers want in depth knowledge of essential oils and crystals and what they attract, so I included this in the book.  The use of certain essential oils and crystals in each bath recipe do enhance and support your intention and they energetically help to build the thought form.  So, if you want to take a bath for relaxation, Lavender essential oil has that energy and Frankincense essential oil can be spiritually grounding, while a Celestite crystal can be good to release your stress.  There is a meditation, visualization and prayer to release stress and these other elements support that intention.


Having said this, when I first started taking these sacred baths, I just used Lavender and Rose essential oils, a small white candle, Epsom salt and a quartz crystal (which can magnify all of your intentions) in my baths.  So, this would be a good starter kit that you could order on Amazon and it would come right to your door or mailbox.  It’s easy, cheap and fast.  The most important thing about sacred baths is making the time to get still and to connect to your Spirit and to fill up with love and wisdom.  Your angels, your Higher Self and Divine Mother don’t care what color candle you have.  You can gain mental clarity, increase your creative ideas, get guidance and embody love and peace by shifting your energy and consciousness in your sacred bath and that’s what is most important.

 Q: Could you suggest one really simple thing readers can try today to show them how relaxing sacred bathing is and why they absolutely need your book?

Paulette: I would suggest picking an intention for a sacred bath, for example Self-Love and to use this time as a place then to release all stress, negativity, lower thoughts, emotions and beliefs and to allow yourself with unconditional love and peace and to ask whether Divine Mother or your Higher Self has any messages for you.  This can help you to view your life from a higher perspective.  You can visualize yourself as a divine vessel or a chalice, overflowing with love so it benefits you and others as you go through your day.  Sometimes we need a reset ritual where we love ourselves and refuel with positivity before we go back there.  This can affect the type of mother you are, the kind of worker or even the way you treat yourself.

To learn more about the benefits of sacred bathing you can visit my website: www.sacredbathing.com.

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