library

Life As A Path, Part 2 - Misogi-Harai in Every Day Life

After deciding whether or not you wish to have an ambient scent, you can also employ a variety of other things like ambient noises or music. You could also simply enjoy the sounds of the water falling, since that will be the most prominent. Some people prefer a backdrop, however distant, of forest noises or the like. The choice is of course yours, since it is your bathroom and your misogi-harai. Set everything up to be your ideal place.

The last decision is of course whether you want hot or cold water. You can also bathe before or after the misogi-harai, so it doesn't matter which you choose for the cleansing. If you would like to use the same temperature for both, that's fine too. Simply choose what is most comfortable to you. Some people may prefer a different temperature to their bathing temperature so that in their minds they will feel different, but to me it does not matter. What you are doing is more significant than the details, so choose what will make it easiest for you.

You can step in and close your eyes, or you can leave your eyes open. Presuming you'd like to bathe first, clean yourself and feel how special it is. Feel the negative emotions, thoughs, and other things being cleansed and rinsed away with the dirt you are washing from your physical body. Free yourself from it, and release it to go its own way. You need not keep it with you. It only upsets you and ties you down. Even if it returns later, for now you will release it and let it go down the drain, where it belongs. Be sure to wash completely, then rinse. Now you are ready for oharai.

You can stand or sit as you please. Some people find the lotus position to be calming, whereas others like to stand more than sitting. You can fold your hands at your hara center (solar plexus or stomach for most), or you can just let your hands hang at your sides or sit in your lap. Close your eyes and let the water run over you, and breathe in and out, slowly. Breathe in, fill your lungs carefully...don't inhale water!...and then hold it for a moment and let it out slowly. It's like cleansing breaths anywhere else, except now you are under the water. Let it flow around you, and feel it as part of yourself. It touches you and takes away your tension and negativity, and it flows off of you and separates from you again.

The water connects you with everything. The water is a force that is creative and nourishing, and yet with its patient flow it can also accomplish amazing things. A small stream can cut through a mountain and make it into a valley. Let the water inspire you and strengthen you, and also let it lend its abilities to cut through the negativity and emotional 'dirt' that has built up on you. It may not be able to get through it all at once, but in time it will.

Take time to calm and time to be serene and let these things go. You may not get through everything you ideally want to in one session...in fact, it is unlikely you will be fully cleansed in one. Don't have unrealistic expectations. Just go into it with a willing mind and do your best. There will be progress, but it may be slow. Enjoy the accomplishments you make.

Once some time has passed, you will want to end your cleansing for the day. Don't overdo it, especially not the first time. Finish your shower or bath and dry off. Take a few moments to return to the world. Breathe normally, still enjoying the relaxation you achieved. It's a good feeling, and you deserve it. Feel good about yourself, and how your body feels after this. Do some stretches if you feel like it.

Misogi-harai is not something that you will want to do every day, but done regularly it will help you in cleansing yourself of negativity and of the emotional baggage that all of us carry. It is a useful and important method of purification that, with the right mindset, can be done at home and at your convenience. The only essentials are you, the water, and some privacy. Enjoy misogi-harai yourself, at last!

copyright © Hushicho, 2005