Women, we are one with the moon. Why do we say that? Well for starters, we are partially made up of water…and it’s no secret that the moon controls the ebbs and flows of the ocean tides. In addition, our menstrual cycles mimic the lunar cycle in a constant cycle of waxing and waning. So it would make sense that the moon has some sort of effect over us, right?!
Sometimes, things with our cycles can get out of whack, seemingly for no reason!. Be it a bad bout of acne, crippling anxiety, or some particularly nasty period cramps that leave us bedridden. While traditional methods such as NSAIDs, heating pads, or chocolate may help…we’re here to advocate for a more untraditional method: full moon baths.
If you’re never heard of a full moon bath before, you’re not alone! Full moon baths are baths that intentionally take place during a full moon, spiced up with some crystals, herbs, and other self-care goodies.
The full moon is like a monthly New Year’s Eve where you can evaluate what is no longer serving you. It’s the perfect time to let go of the old energy and make room for the new by indulging in a detoxifying and meditative soothing bath soak. We recommend developing a monthly full moon bath ritual for maximum self-care, healing, and cleansing.
Sounds lovely, right? Well, here’s how to treat yourself to a full moon bath.
Schedule Your Full Moon Bath
Full moon baths take place during a full moon. Luckily, there are ways to find out when the next full moon will be using tools such as Space.com or The Old Farmers Almanac. It’s helpful to input your exact location because the time and date of your full moon will vary depending on where you are in the world.
If you find full moon baths helpful to your self-care routine, we recommend putting up a lunar calendar in your bathroom! This way, you can plan accordingly and incorporate full moon baths into your regular schedule.
One thing to note: The peak of a full moon happens at a specific time of night. It’s your preference whether you want to take your full moon bath on the night of the full moon or if you want to time it to coincide directly with the exact time of the full moon’s peak. This will depend on your schedule; this will also depend on the convenience of when the full moon actually is. Sometimes, the peak of a full moon will fall smack-dab in the middle of the night. As much as we love full moon baths, we also need our beauty sleep…right?!
Prepare Your Space for Your Full Moon Bath Ritual
Once you determine when your full moon bath is going to be taking place, you need to prepare your space. We recommend cleaning your bathroom area prior to taking the full moon bath because it will make the entire experience feel more relaxing. At the very least, you will be on a regular monthly cleaning schedule for your bathroom…and who can argue with that, right?
Make sure the space where you will be taking your bath promotes total relaxation and is free from any visual clutter (see ya later, baby bath toys and overflowing trash cans!). In order for the full moon bath ritual to be fully effective, you will need your space to be calm, safe, and relaxing.
Gather Your Supplies
Now that you’ve prepared your space for the full moon bath ritual, it’s time to gather your supplies! Specific supplies will vary from person to person based on what you have available, as well as your personal preferences. However, there are a few items we like to recommend for anyone getting started with their full moon bath rituals:
- Mugwort
- Sea salt
- Sage
- Eucalyptus
- Crystals
- Rosemary
- Dried flowers
- Epsom salts
- Rose petals
- Rose quartz
- Essential oils
- Palo Santo
Any of these “ingredients” can be mixed with the bathwater as you see fit. Feel free to experiment with these different supplies until you find a full moon bath recipe that you enjoy and is effective for you.
Once you have spread your full moon bath elements in the tub, light your candles. Now, it’s time to get that water flowing!
Visualize the Moonlight Pouring Into Your Tub
When you’re pouring the bathwater for your full moon bath, it’s very important that you use this time to differentiate your experience from a regular bath. When the water is pouring in your tub, you want to make sure that you are visualizing the water as moonlight. This will help you differentiate between a regular bath and a full moon bath, and it will also remind you that you are one with the moon and that your menstrual cycle is one with your lunar cycle.
Get that moonlight, girl!
Set Your Intentions to Set the Mood
Before you get into the bathtub, take some time to set your intentions for your full moon bath.
Do you want relaxation?
Do you want clarity?
Do you want peace?
Do you want healing?
It’s important to recognize and acknowledge these questions prior to getting into the bath so your body and mind can give you the healing, peace, and promotion it deserves.
Soak and Be in the Moment
Once you’re in your full moon bath, let go of anything that no longer serves you.
Stress? It no longer serves you.
Regret? It no longer serves you.
Heartache? It no longer serves you.
Part of the full moon bath experience is creating space for positive emotions in allowing yourself to renew as the lunar cycle does every month. Then, it’s time to channel your focused energy into remaining present, soaking, and being in the moment. Ahh….
How long should you stay in your full moon bath? Well, we would say that you should stay in as long as it feels good. Yes, you may end up with some pretty wrinkly fingers and toes, but it’s totally worth it. Bring on the pruning, baby!
Reflect and Journal on Your Experiences
Once you have exited the tub, it’s time for you to reflect on your experience. Take this time to think deeply on how you felt upon entering the bath, and how you felt upon exiting the bath.
Do you feel lighter?
Happier?
More content?
Regardless, reflecting and journaling your experience is a very important part in completing the full moon bath ritual, because it allows you to visually see how you’ve grown from month to month since starting a full moon bath practice. If you want to go all out, you could even invest in a moon workbook.
So, there you have it! An easy way to create a full moon bath ritual that will cleanse you, reset you alongside the lunar cycle, and contribute to your overall well-being.
What’s not to like about that?
