Shadow Bath

I find this to be great for multiple uses. Originally it was developed to help explore pieces of personality that had been shut off by life events or traumatic experiences. A way to settle, ground, and get back in contact with pieces of Self that had been marginalized, shut off, or forgotten. I find it great also after a hectic day, where I have been stretched thin, too much tech focus, or dealing with a lot of other people’s energy.

Directions: Read through the steps twice, gather your ingredients, and run through the steps. It can be as quick as ten minutes and as long as until the water gets too cold to stay in. Remember rule #1: Keep it simple and #2: Use what you have that best fits the need

Ingredients:

Epsom salt (can substitute regular salt) with or without a scent you enjoy

1 piece of dark obsidian – preferably a nice egg-sized piece. Variations: preferably black or speckled with black, or dark with the gold shine in it. Also, Apache Tears will work just as well. Whatever you choose, it needs to be large enough to not go down the drain (this is important!), and smooth is preferred in case you step or sit on it. If you are aware of other stones that are grounding, aregood at dissipating excess energy, or are good energy cleansers, you could use those too. General rule #1: keep it simple! And General rule #2: Use what you have on-hand. In this case, just one stone is plenty, maybe two, but adjust as needed.

1 candle or smaller light source: what ever is handy. Preferably a neutral colored candle (white or black) or one made specifically for cleansing the environment. I prefer the little tea lights with a tiny metal cup that contains them for safety.

Recipe: Usually when working this recipe, I am already maxed out from the day, or a series of events, or an argument, etc. It needs to be easy and simple and effective!

1. Place the obsidian egg right on or next to the drain/drain plug so that the water will runs on it or near it as the tub fills.

2. Get the bath water running to fill the tub. Visualize briefly (no more than ten seconds) the water flowing on and past the obsidian egg. “See” the obsidian cleansing and preparing the bath for you.

3. Add the epsom salt (2 cups) and add the bubble bath (if using): As you sprinkle the epsom salt around in the water – “see” it also cleansing and preparing the water for you. Visualize and “know” that the salt is purifying and preparing (5 seconds).

4. Optional: light candle and place on safe surface: corner of tub far away from shower curtain, or on sink countertop (so that there is ambient light to see by but not brightly lit).

5. Once bath is ready, water is preferred temp, turn of lights and get in tub (safely). Remember you have a rock somewhere in the tub, so make sure you don’t step on it when you get in. Perhaps sit on the edge of the tub and swing in one foot at a time. I find my rock stays right near the drain, but it can move when checking the water, moving the bubbles around, etc. If you at all unsure, you should take the rock out before getting in. You can put it back in after you get settled in the tub.

Ingredient Variations:

In keeping with General rules #1: Keep it simple and #2: Use what you have on-hand, I will go through variations I have used over the years. After all, the real magic happens once you are in the tub, relaxing, and can work with energy, shape and form.

1. Obsidian: Preferred is the dark obsidian egg. Its not sharp, and the obsidian is just so superior in dealing with grounding energy, pulling out and away negative energy and cooling our mental and spiritual systems. That said, once I didn’t have any special stones handy where I was staying, so I just stepped outside and got a stone out of the garden.

2. Epsom salts: More is usually better (like 2+ cups) for a good epsom salt bath. But, one cup is fine. In a pinch I have used regular table salt. A cup is nice, but a tablespoon will do!

3. Bubble bath: Nice to have some bubbles. No bubble bath? I’ve used a squirt of regular liquid dish soap (like Dawn or Joy). Or, if the epsom salts are plain, I have added a few drops of essential oil.

4. Candle: I like the small tea lights in the tiny metal holder. I’ve also used a battery candle, and also I have used a small flashlight (on the floor). Just something so that I can have a little ambient light near the tub and turn off the over-head lights.

Shadow work: In most cases, this is used as a healing and grounding exercise to release unwanted energy or psychic “heat”, calm, then center, then visualize those pieces of yourself that were forgotten or misplaced earlier in the day that may have helped, so that you are more conscious of them going forward and they are available next time for you to respond with instead of react out of habit or old patterns.

1. Take ten deep slow breaths while relaxing into the water.

2. then breathing normally, with each exhale visualize any unwanted residue you find yourself carrying right now being released and dissolving in to the water. Some ideas for unwanted residue build up are: - a feeling of overwhelm from a busy day

- “heat” in your mind or racing thoughts

- feeling “full” or “stuffed” or “scattered” from a hectic day - more traumatic feelings or others like embarrassment, or feeling unworthy

- any feeling of helplessness, worry, fear, anger, smothering, etc

- any residual feelings from an event where you did not act as you would have preferred you did

- not sticking up for yourself

- not saying your real opinion

- over-helping

- over-sharing

- feeling of being intruded or imposed upon

The above list are just some quick ideas I came up with. You know whats really going on in your life. You know what to work with. Whatever you choose, and it can more than one thing, let it all out and into the water.

Don’t obsess! Just name it and let it go. Release it into the water with a deep exhale.

3. “see” the water turn cloudy and dark. Visualize it as very opaque and unclean as it is now filled with all the guck you have released into it.

4. then visualize obsidian removing this murkiness – all the impurities, doubt, fear, anger, all the rage, all the cloudy murkiness swirls and then just disappears and gets sucked up into the obsidian, to be gone for good.

5. Now visualize the water as dark and clear and shimming. Feel it is supporting you, healing you, and guiding you. With this, review what are those forgotten or hidden pieces of yourself? Ask the obsidian to speak the name of that which you forgot. Was it your own power? Was it your own self- assuredness? Did you forget how capable you really are?

6. Now visualize mythological thought forms that are extensions of your physical, mental and spiritual bodies:

Sitting there in the dark – feel the safety and security that comes from within you. Feel it grow in the darkness and warmth of the bath water. Now pick one or more attributes and visualize them in place on your body. Use the list below for a few ideas, and make up your own: Antlers: Majestic, tall, twisting and branching antlers for power and self-assuredness

Wings: Wings of eagles, or hawks, or owls to remember to keep your self uplifted and supported

Horns: Horns of Big horn sheep or antlers of moose or antelope: to remember to love yourself and maintain healthy boundaries, and to hold those boundaries with calm and poise

Claws: Perhaps a trying time requires a more aggressive metaphor. The claws of a tiger or cheetah for protection and holding boundaries with strength

Eyes and Ears of an Owl: Feel you ears perk up, your eyes see ALL with clarity

Spines: The spines of a porcupine: a popular one when needing to re-assert your personal space and your right to “be” somewhere.

See? Pick one and visualize the addition to your body, there in the tub. “See” the horns on your head, the shadow of them playing on the water by the flickering of the candle. “Feel” and “Hear” the sound of your wings flapping.

7. Whatever you choose – embrace it – “see” it on your body, “Feel” the addition of it on your body. “Hear” their support and strength and guidance.

8. Now in this place of power and calm, in this moment of possibility, lightly and quickly review the events that you let go. What events or actions or happenings could have gone better? Now let it go.

9. Now with your newly remembered power in mind (your antlers, wings, claws, spines, etc) – how would they have helped you as you review the events again.

9. Now, in this place of calm and clarity, tell yourself to remember this newly remembered attribute, and that you will carry what ever it is with you tomorrow for a better day. See yourself walking out the door to start your day tomorrow with your horns on, or your wings on, or your claws on, or your ears on….See yourself with this new attribute on.

10. Now ten normal breaths in this space of calm, seeing yourself as capable, creative, resourceful and powerful.

Finish bath as you normally would

If you become aware of something you’d like help and support working through as you move forward, please contact eric@deepharborcoaching.com