The “white bath” comes into American magic (including hoodoo) from the African-derived traditional religions practiced in the Caribbean. Obatalá is the ruler of peace and all things white, so baths taken to connect with or honor him are frequently white with milk or cascarilla and may contain white flowers. White baths bring peace and calm
There is also the long European upper-class tradition of milk baths for beauty and luxury. Not to mention the Biblical associations of a natural abundance of “milk and honey” with God’s blessing in tough times.
I was only vaguely aware of this when I developed my own white bath, the Consolation Bath. I developed this recipe for blessing, calm, cleansing and courage. This is one of the shiniest, most peace-making things I know. Take it as often as you need it!
- Start with the petals of a rose and a couple of tablespoons of dried basil, at least one bay leaf and some yellow (so-called “white”) mustard seed. Boil them together as if making herb tea
- Now add some cascarilla (see photo above), a cup of milk or coconut milk, and a spoonful of honey. Stir it all together – the cascarilla dissolves quickly, and half a cup is enough for one bath. The cascarilla has both protective and cleansing value — and it gives the bath a deliciously silky feel.
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If you can’t get cascarilla, you can pray the 23rd Psalm over a piece of plain, ordinary chalk from the drugstore or toy store.
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- All these herbs add further protection, cleansing and blessing. The bay leaf also brings wisdom and hides you from your enemies. The mustard seed builds up your faith (remember what Jesus said about the mustard seed!).
Stir in the sugar or honey until it dissolves; then add the milk.
- You may now mix the Consolation Bath with any bath salts that address the condition you want to improve — love, money, legal issues, peace in the home, etc. If you have no such bath salts, you can leave it as it is.
- Pour it all into a tub of warm water. Light a candle if you wish, step in, relax and luxuriate. Play some uplifting music, read from an inspiriational book.
- Then, as with any other “bring good stuff” bath, wash from your feet toward your head. Pray Psalm 20 or Psalm 23 or both. Don’t worry about getting them letter-perfect.
- Use a little of the bathwater to sweep good luck from the street to your front door. Thursday — Jupiter’s day — or Friday — payday, for many people — are the best days to do this as a prosperity bath. Of course, Friday is also Venus’ day, the best for love work. Sunday isn’t bad either; that’s a good day for any kind of blessing work.
Don’t rush a Consolation Bath; it’s the most consoling wallow, soak, or laze that you will ever have.
Make your Consolation Bath ahead of time
If your energy is limited, you need Consolation Baths more than ever. You can simplify the process by making a batch of “Instant” Consolation Bath ahead of time.
Thrifty Version
From the supermarket:
- Powdered milk (this will be nonfat and does not require chilling)
- Powdered or superfine sugar
- Basil
- Bay leaf
- White (yellow) mustard seed or mustard powder
From the toy store or drugstore:
- Several sticks of plain white chalk, over which you pray Psalm 23
From the craft store:
- Dried rose petals or rosebuds
Luxury Version
All these ingredients are available online — but you can still get the basil, bay leaf and mustard from the supermarket.
- Whole milk powder
- Honey powder (made from finely divided crystallized honey and dextrose)
- Basil
- Bay leaf
- White (yellow) mustard seed or mustard powder
- Cascarilla or powdered eggshell – use plenty!
- Dried rose petals or rosebuds
Make your blend
Start with powdered milk, enough to make about a gallon of reconstituted milk. Add a cup or so of sugar or honey powder.
Grind the herbs and chalk/cascarilla as finely as you can in your favorite pulverizing machine: blender, smoothie maker, coffee grinder.
Mix all the ingredients together.
To use: Add a generous cupful of the mixture to a tub of warm water.