~ Sacred waters, sacred skin, sacred breath

Warm baths in the early morning, just as the sun begins to rise, have become one of my most essential pleasures. In these quiet dawn hours, before the demands of the world reawaken, I step into a ritual that helps me wake slowly, a sacred return to myself. The bath is not just about cleansing. It is about remembering. Softening. Reclaiming. Re-entering my body with intention and care.

As the water begins to fill the tub, I set a small altar of comfort:

A cup of warm lemon water, warm chai or Tulsi-Brahmi tea
A generous handful of Epsom salts
A few drops of essential oil- lavender, rosemary, and frankincense… or bergamot, rosemary, and clary sage
A softly flickering candle (vanilla or eucalyptus), faint and soothing
My healing playlist, or the soft crash of the ocean low and humming in the background
A book, if I feel like wandering in its pages

I lower myself slowly into the bath and let the water hold me. I soak. I breathe. I begin to feel my edges soften.

With a mild, unscented soap and the softest of cloths, I gently wash my skin, aware that chemotherapy has thinned and sensitized it. I move slowly, without pressure. This isn’t about scrubbing. It’s about tenderness, and lovingly waking my skin.

The bathing ritual reminds us that healing can be slow, sensual and full of grace

When my body allows, (not in the days immediately following chemo), but usually midway between treatments, I deepen the ritual with a gentle lymphatic exfoliation.

🌿 Lymphatic Exfoliation ~ A Ritual of Flow & Detoxification

⚠️ Note: I do not recommend this ritual in the first 5–7 days following a chemotherapy session. During this time, the immune system is low, the liver is heavily engaged in detoxification, and the skin is fragile. Rest, hydration, warm oil massage, and stillness are better suited for the immediate post chemo days.

Using lavender sea salt scrub and soft exfoliating mitts, I begin…

Lifting a leg, I massage from feet to hips and glutes
I move in circular motions behind the knees (popliteal nodes)
I trace the inner thighs and groin (inguinal nodes) with awareness and care
I move up the arms, under the armpits (axillary nodes), and inner upper arms
I gently work across the neck, collarbone, and jawline (cervical nodes)
I place my hands on my abdomen and massage clockwise to stimulate organ flow
I give extra attention to my scalp, massaging my bald head, a place of heat, release, and feel good sensation.

I pause often. I sip my tea. I breathe in the scent of steam. I let myself be here, present…

Why Exfoliation Matters

Our skin is a living organ, the largest we have. During chemotherapy, its texture, elasticity, and resilience often change. Gentle exfoliation becomes an act of “communication”, a way to stimulate cellular renewal and awaken circulation without overwhelming the body.

Stimulates lymphatic flow and detoxification
Removes dead skin cells, renewing tone and texture
Lavender calms the nervous system
Natural oils protect and hydrate delicate skin
Supports reconnection to the body during recovery

The skin is a living organ. After chemotherapy, it asks for reverence, not force. This ritual reminds us that healing can be slow, sensual, and full of grace.

🌸 A Ritual of Devotion ~ The Self-Breast Exam in the Bath

As you soak, soften, and reconnect to your body, consider this part of your bath not only a time for healing, but also for honoring your body’s intelligence and being in relationship with it.

The warm water relaxes muscles, softens tissue, and makes this a gentle, sacred time to perform a self-breast exam.

This is not about fear. It’s about attention.
It’s about knowing your body so intimately that you’d notice if something has changed.
It’s about becoming a guardian of your own wellbeing.

🫀 Why This Matters (for All Women… and Yes, Men Too)

Breast cancer can affect any gender, and early detection saves lives.
Most breast lumps are found by individuals themselves, not doctors.
Monthly exams help you learn what’s normal for your body, so you can recognize what’s not.
The bath is a perfect time, you’re already present, already touching, already tuned in.

🌿 How to Weave in the Self-Breast Exam (Simply)

While your body is still warm and supported by water, gently raise one arm and use the opposite hand to explore your breast tissue in a slow, circular motion, starting from the outer edge, circling inward toward the nipple.
Use the pads of your fingers, not the tips, and vary pressure: light, medium, and firm.
Check the entire chest wall, including the collarbone and armpit area (axillary nodes).
Repeat on the other side.
Look in the mirror afterward if you can, taking note of any dimpling, swelling, changes in size or shape, or skin texture.

This is about care.
About presence.
About sacred attention.

If you find something new, unusual, or persistent, trust your knowing, and follow up. You are not overreacting. You are being in conversation with your body.

💧 After the Bath ~ Hydration and Closing Rituals

After releasing the water, I rinse under a shower, careful of the oils on the floor of the tub. I alternate between warm and cool water, supporting the lymph system with gentle contrast of heating /cooling.

I wrap myself in a soft robe. I wrap a warm towel around my head…yes, even bald, to hold warmth and moisture.

Then:

I sip warm water with a pinch of Celtic sea salt to flush toxins released from the lymph system
I perform oil pulling with sesame or coconut oil, swishing gently for 5–10 minutes to draw toxins from the oral tissues
I complete a neti rinse with warm saline water, clearing nasal passages, followed by nasya oil to nourish and protect the delicate inner lining
Finally, I give myself a gentle abhyanga (oil massage), working from the feet upward, sealing the body in moisture, attention, and warmth

Our skin is a sacred organ… the largest we have. It breathes, it speaks, it sheds, it protects. And during chemo, it suffers. This ritual is not cosmetic. It is devotional. A gentle way to honor the skin’s work and to whisper gently to your largest organ… you are still whole, you are still beautiful, you are still healthy.

This is not about fixing. This is about tending to your beautiful body and being.