The soul is here for it's own joy.
Rumi
Ritual for Aphrodite
Ahhh. That elusive concept of beauty. Must we all be thin and have long flowing hair? Or can we just...be ourselves. I devised this ritual one evening when I wanted to feel glamorous. What developed was a very interesting commune with the Goddess of Beauty. It was like chatting with an older (and more experienced!) sister. You do not have to have the perfect body type to feel good about yourself. Acceptance of who you are and the courage to assert yourself are the primary ingredients to perfect beauty.
This ritual works best when you decide to slow down and experience what is going on around you. Explore the sensations of the hot water on your skin versus the cool skin lotions. The whole experience cannot be rushed. For it to be effective, it must be done with the knowledge that you will take your time and savor the moment!
 Clean your bathroom
Just like any sacred space, a cleansing must be done. I go in and clean the floor, sink and tub areas and give plenty of time for the chemical smells to evaporate. It's not drudgery work when you remember what the purpose is for which you are cleaning.
Prep the environment
I use wonderful smelling candles and lay out all my beauty stuff in nice rows. Take time to smell the candles before and after being lit. If you want, turn off the bathroom lights and just work it with candles.
Start with your head
I use gentle cleansers for my face. Take time and use a mask so your skin will feel extra clean. While my mask is drying, I deal with my legs or file nails.
Take a hot shower
Nothing feels better than a really hot shower. Use a loofa and sweet smelling shower gel. Really get yourself clean, but remember to savor how the water and loofa feel on your skin. Wash your hair and put conditioner in it. Feel how silky your hair is while running your fingers through it.
Towel off
Take your time! Feel the cloth. Pat your skin so you do not stress it. Blow dry your hair and comb/brush it.
Put on your powders and skin lotions.
This is the final step. Now survey yourself in the mirror. How do you feel? Smile at yourself and leave the cleaning up for tomorrow.
Don't forget to talk to the Goddess while doing the ritual! She wants to hear what you have to say about anything and will gladly give you advice if asked. Enjoy the week that follows and remember to stop and smell the roses. (Her special flower you know...)
To flip through the pages of my BOS faster...
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Brightest of Blessings