Читать книгу The Buddha's Guide to Gratitude - Becca Anderson - Страница 27

Power Practice: Ritual Purification

Many religions and cultures have their own forms of ritual cleansings (baptisms/christening, mikveh, ghusl/wudu, snanam, etc.), each with different symbolism. Though many of these rituals are purely spiritual, some also incorporate material objects for both physical and metaphysical cleansing. For instance, the Romans used oils and fragrances, the Indians used herbs and spices, and even Cleopatra added milk and honey to her baths. These rituals are typically used to mark a rebirth or significant change in one’s life, and are often believed to have purifying properties. While some of these ancient rituals have come under criticism by women for suggesting that women are unclean, modern feminists have reclaimed spiritual bathing as a way to appreciate femininity and oneself. Any woman can incorporate the idea of ritual cleansing into their life, in a variety of forms, either similar or symbolic to the original concepts. Taking a meditative bath with your favorite oils and candles, cleaning out your house, or even deleting toxic friends from social media can all be compared to the cleansing and rebirth that is at the core of these ritual ceremonies.