Magickal Herbalism - Cleansing Brews And Ritual Baths
by Blayze

Cleansing brews and ritual baths are often used as a preparation for ritual or as part of a transition between one section of ritual and another. They are for external use only.

Cleansing brews are generally used for group ritual purposes where a cauldron or pot of the herbal brew is placed at the entrance to the ritual space for participants to cleanse themselves prior to entry. This usually involves pouring a dipperful of the brew over one’s hands, or, if the ritual is skyclad and outdoors, then pouring it over the whole body. The brew itself can contain either herbs of cleansing or herbs that resonate with the purpose of the ritual itself. The herbal brew can be used to bring participants into a desired frame of mind and body prior to the ritual, as by cleansing them magically, participants enter the ritual space free of the detritus of the outside world. However, the brew can also be used to impart magical results such as protection or strength or a grounded connection, basically what ever the maker sees as the main need for the brew in the first place. 

We have used these brews with wonderful results, especially where we are dealing with large numbers of people who may not have worked together before. For example, in a Tribal ritual at gatherings we have used a brew consisting of patchouli, oakmoss and clary sage that participants pour over their hands after they have made their solitary journey, but before they enter the magical space of the tribe they are to be welcomed into for the weekend. As the participants have embarked on a solitary meditation, the brew serves to refresh them as well as prepare them for the next section of the ritual. The patchouli contains grounding qualities of earth, the oakmoss contains strength and protection and the clary sage shifts the focus, in this case from the awareness of self to the awareness of the tribe. A word of caution here though, always let participants know what is in the brew beforehand so that people who have allergies or are pregnant etc, will know to avoid it. We use charged, plain water where allergies are present.

We have also used brews during rites of passages where, after long periods of meditation and trials, the participant is washed in the brew to refresh and cleanse them prior to the final part of the ordeal. Those who have experienced this cleansing will remember the ecstasy of having warm herbed water poured over them after they have been cold and hungry and dirty for hours on end. The effect is amazing in refocusing your mind and weary body and spirit. Of course, if the ritual is in the heat of summer, then a cold brew would be more appropriate as a refresher.

So how do you make a cleansing brew? Physically it is as simple as making tea. Just steep your chosen herbs (either fresh or dried) in hot water for around 20 - 40 minutes. You can charge the herbed water whilst stirring it or after the herbs have completed steeping. You can also make the brew the previous day and heat it up when needed. Sun-teas also work well, especially if you have a black vessel that you can leave to be warmed by the sun. Depending on the ritual, this may be more appropriate for you. Alternatively you could leave the herbs soaking in hot water under the light of the moon, also with an appropriate crystal to focus the energies. A silver bowl for the moon would add to the correspondence magick of this process.

Herbal baths are aimed more towards individual preparation for a ritual. They can be made by steeping the herbs directly in the bathwater itself (although this can make cleaning a nightmare). A good technique is to tie the herbs in a square of muslin before placing them in the bath, in effect, making a giant magickal tea-bag. Alternatively you can use appropriate essential oils. Just be careful with the amounts and types of herbs used as you don’t want to poison yourself prior to your ritual. Any good herbal will have lists of herbs that are good to use for immersion. For examples, see the reading list from the previous Ointments article.

The use of cleansing brews and herbals baths is only limited by your imagination, ethics and your herb cupboard. So go forth and get wet!