Dear Universe,

Today I was reminded of a time not too long ago when I was desperate to change the negative energy around me, desperate for a reprieve from the overwhelming stresses I was dealing with.  I was doing all I could to stay positive, keep my head up and all that, but it wasn’t making much of a difference.

That’s when I stumbled upon (okay, maybe searched and discovered) instructions for a healing bath.  There were quite a few bath “recipes” to choose from, but some required ingredients I didn’t have and didn’t know where to acquire like Rue, Yarro leaves or Hyssop.

It came down to this.  I wanted a spiritual bath that could perform wonders with a recipe that could be easily conjured up in my kitchen.

That’s when I found one that sounded easy enough.  Parsley and honey combined.  Stay in water for 6-8 minutes.  Immerse myself five times.  Promises of joy.  I could do that.

And so I did.  I woke up on a Saturday morning with no plans.  I got my bath ready and read the directions again.  I brought the instructions with me in the bathroom just in case I forgot what to do mid-bath.

I dunked.  I repeated.  I timed.  I prayed that somehow something magical was happening.  I felt I was almost done, but I checked over the directions once more.

That’s when I saw it.  The caveat I had somehow missed.  The ritual was clear.  I was not to have a regular shower or wash my hair for at least 24 hours after the bath.  Otherwise, the effect would wear off.  Also, air drying was recommended.  How had I not seen this?  I guess I had been so consumed with not messing the bath up I hadn’t realized that the after part was just as important as the before part.

So there I stood.  A different kind of desperate.  Desperately wanting a proper shower—with soap.  Desperately wanting to wash my hair—with shampoo.  Air drying.  With pieces of parsley stuck in my hair, in my belly button and who knows where else.

I felt the opposite of cleansed, yet somehow more refreshed than I had in a long while.  And of course I could see the humor in it.  I laughed harder than I had in months.  Maybe that was the point.

I’m still laughing about it now as I think back on it, but as they say, desperate times call for desperate measures.  If I had to do it again, I would.  I keep my stash of dried parsley flakes and honey in my kitchen just in case.

Thank you for the bath and laugh,

A