Spiritual Bathing - Ancient Maya Technique
Modern medicine is beginning to understand the healing wisdom of ancient cultures. The link between many physical illnesses is connected with unresolved emotional stress and distress.
Spiritual baths are used to refresh and purify the body. A Spiritual bath is for the spiritual body and returns us to a more relaxed state of balanced well-being. By reconnecting, recharging and rebalancing an individual’s life energy flow, the spiritual healing process changes the chemical makeup of the brain. The combination of the power of water along with the healing, life-force properties of the plants, sacred prayer and incense provide the individual with a deep cleansing and renewal at an energetic level. The plants are collected or chosen with prayer and intention in preparation for the bath. Often the individual is involved in this portion of the process and is also instructed how to perform this at home.
Some general symptoms of spiritual illness may include:
Nightmares with recurrent themes
Feeling disconnected from the body
Feeling depleted and listless
Bad luck and misfortune
Frequent domestic quarreling, failed relationships
History of substance abuse (prescription or street drugs, alcohol etc.)
Tendency to be inordinately angry
Weak immune system
Sudden bouts of heart palpitations
Tendency to tearfulness
The Maya speak of four major kinds of spiritual illnesses:
1. SUSTO-(FRIGHT or TRAUMA): The most common spiritual disease of the Maya is SUSTO, which means “fright” and usually refers to a trauma or a shock. Susto is one of the manifestations of soul loss. It is felt that the soul was frightened out of the body by some traumatic event. Sources of this obstacle can begin in utero if mother experiences a trauma (e.g. in a violent relationship, suffers a loss, etc.) The baby at birth will show an unusual amount of distress, hands will be clenched into fists all the time, body will be tense; it will have serious digestive problems such as diarrhea, and constipation. Susto can also result from disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes, 9-11, tsunamis etc. Other sources of susto include experiencing the death of someone close death, bullying and loud startling noises. In adults, susto can result following car accidents, almost being in an accident or witnessing an accident. The individual is easily frightened and jumpy, develops immune system ailments particularly the unexplainable ones that medicine is unable to diagnose and tests cannot confirm or deny their existence. Young children have symptoms of sleep disorders and nightmares.
(The above information is taken from the book “Rainforest Home Remedies” by Rosita Arvigo & Nadine Epstein as well as from my own Spiritual Healing training received directly with Rosita Arvigo D.N. in Belize, Central America.)