Shadow Ritual Bath
This ritual bath kit was designed to invite a compassionate encounter with your Shadow.
In order to engage meaningfully with our Shadow, we need to be willing to be vulnerable and open to seeing ourselves in a way that could feel painful and challenge deeply held beliefs we have about ourselves and the world. It is important to be grounded and ready to meet such an encounter with compassion. Therefore, this ritual was designed to reveal only what you are ready to safely handle. There is no need to try and force a Shadow experience with intensity, and doing so would be counterproductive.
This ritual kit will give you the tools to support your shadow work practice exactly where you are at, whether you are just beginning or a seasoned seeker. Follow the included directions for the ritual bath, then use the journal to record insights and dreams that arise in the days that follow the completion of the ritual. The included sticker is a sigil of my own design that promotes awareness and integration of the Shadow – you can put it somewhere that you will see often or wherever pleases you.
In this kit:
Ritual bath salts and spice bag
Black candle and ritual instructions
Handmade journal with pen
Sigil sticker
Ingredients:
Black Lava Salt: grounding, cleansing, invokes the Shadow with the color black
Poppy Seeds: promotes feelings of relaxation and safety, reduces ego defenses, making unconscious contents more accessible
Roses: warm, loving, and protective
Mugwort: enhances dreams, third eye perception, and helps release emotional blockages
Ritual Instructions
Incantation
Candle guide my inner light
To meet the depths of darkest night
To find my Shadow cast from me
Reveal the path to harmony
Spoken words enchant this bath
See that I safely trek the path
With grounded feet and open heart,
To meet my Shadow and hear their part
And so it is
Recommended Items
• fire safe candle holder – a small plate can work
• journal and pen
• soothing herbal tea or water to drink
• ambient/meditative or shamanic music playlist
• ambient lighting such as fairy lights, candles, or projector
• water-safe crystals (please research)
Procedure
1. Prepare your candle by placing it in a candle holder or use a lighter to get the bottom a bit melted and stick it to a plate. Make sure to trim the wick.
2. Gather any other items you wish to incorporate so you will not be disturbed after getting in the bath.
3. Use the included spice bag and fill it with the bath salts. Place it near the candle.
4. Take a moment to ground your energy. Visualize rooting down into the earth and drawing up energy to clear your aura. Do this until you feel complete.
5. Cast a protective circle or barrier around the ritual space (likely your bathroom). There are many methods to doing this. You can use your preferred method or simply visualize a protective dome around your ritual space filled with bright white light, then speak the words “I call upon the spirits of protection that guide me in the interest of my greatest and highest good to bless this ritual space. I declare that this space is safe. Thank you.”
6. This step is optional. Before starting the ritual, you may take a moment to dedicate the ritual to any deities or God/Spirit you work with or would like to invite to work with you in this ritual. Some suggestions to consider if you’ve felt their call: Persephone, The Morrigan, Brigid, Isis, Hekate, Shiva, Kali, Lilith, Dionysus, The Horned God of Wicca, Cernunnos, any number of archangels such as Michael or Gabriel.
7. Light the candle and speak the included incantation over the bath salts.
8. Draw the bath. Place the spice bag in the water and get in the bath. You can let it steep on its own or squeeze the bag a bit to release the contents, but take care not to break the bag so the herbs don’t clog your drain.
9. Enjoy your bath as you wish. I highly recommend using a meditative or shamanic playlist to journey inward and contemplate your intention, using a journal to record your experience and any insights you receive. Especially pay attention to any dreams you have that night.
10. Towards the end of your bath, take a moment to dunk and “pass through” the water head-to-toe a few times. The best way to explain this is to imagine a pendulum swinging from one end of the bath to the other – that’s what you want your body to be doing. Do not rinse for at least 12 hours.
11. Drain the tub. Visualize the water carrying away everything – energy, thoughts, beliefs, blockages – that is ready to be released. Discard the spice bag in the trash.
12. Close out the ritual. You can use your preferred method or speak the words “The ritual is complete. I release the spirits of protection from this space. Thank you for your blessing. And so it is.” Be sure to thank any deities you called upon in step 6. Remember not to rinse or shower for 12 hours after the bath if you can manage – hand washing is ok. If your candle is still burning, move it to a fire-safe location (such as an empty sink or an altar) and allow it to burn to completion.
After-Care
The effects of the ritual may or may not be immediate. It may take several days or weeks to notice any changes in your behavior or awareness about your Shadow, or you may have an immediate insight during your bath. The goal of the ritual is to build a relationship with your Shadow that is respectful and meaningful – the path to get there will look different for everyone.
You may find it easier to notice when you are feeling triggered or reactive following the ritual, you may have intense dreams, and you may feel extra vulnerable as your unconscious opens itself to you. It is important to be patient with yourself and to take it slow when you are trying to do shadow work.
Please note that this ritual kit is not a substitute for professional mental health intervention. If at any point you experience feeling out of control, panicked, overwhelmed, or any signs of a mental health crisis: contact a mental health professional or a crisis hotline. For Washington State residents, visit this website for access to local hotlines. The National Mental Health Hotline is 866-903-3787. For residents outside of the United States, visit this website to find your local mental health hotline.