A Spring Cleansing Ritual
An hour outside of town lies the high country. This high alpine desert speckled with rocky juniper ridgelines, sage meadows, grassy marshlands, and meandering creeks is where I venture on the first warm day each Spring for my annual cleansing ritual. I’ve never shared this ritual with anyone because I hold this communion close to my heart. It is an intimate moment, after all, between myself and the creek.
She runs dry in winter; a rocky wash of granite stones buffed smooth from ages of ice, wind and water. Come early Spring, her flow trickles quietly through mounds of snow. The first truly warm day unlocks her frozen waters, whence she gushes forth reanimated. The alders, cattails, cottonwood, and grasses bordering her shores stand a little taller on this day. The birds rejoice in song for this glorious moment. I make the drive, in part, to spend an afternoon relishing in the awakening of the wild, but also to re-awaken the wild within.
To bathe or cleanse oneself in wild waters is a gift everyone should experience in their lifetime. It is not at all like a swim, a shower, or even a tub soak at home. A wild water bathing cleanse transports the naked to a transcendental state of mind. Here it is possible to commune with the spirit of the river and the betrothed land in which it penetrates. Here it is possible for the secrets of the land and the heart, that have long been locked up frozen, to flow freely. The movement of the water buffs away the calcified grime of the body and the spirit, revealing the rawest form of the human animal. The minerals in the water, absorbed through the skin, nourish the body bone-deep. It’s often a cold wash which can be uncomfortable for the domesticated. Yet, the time spent air-drying in the warm sun reveals a brighter, wilder, more abundant world ahead.
I typically pair this annual excursion with my first Spring foraging scout. This outing gives me an opportunity to connect with the rising energy of the land and to check in on how the plants are transitioning from one season to the next. As you can guess, it’s an opportunity to check in with myself too. This early in the high country the water isn’t roaring enough to bathe full body, so I use my first river bath as an opportunity to transition from my winter skin care routine into my Spring/Summer routine. Cleansing my face and decolletage in the creek at the cusp of Spring definitely wets my palette for all the summer river baths to come.
Featured here (but not sponsored) are Evan Healy products, my go-to plant based skin care brand. The Nourishing Cleansing Oil softens and smoothes my complexion. After the cleanse I mist my face with Immortelle Facial Tonic HydroSoul, then gently pat a couple drops of the Neem Immortelle Purifying Infusion onto my wet skin. The water and oil combination is incredible and has changed the texture of my skin over the years. I also love the Rose Geranium Facial Tonic HydroSoul as well as the French Rose Clay Mask. As I my skin matures, this sequence deeply nourishes my sensitive, reactive, and oily skin that is constantly exposed to the elements.
About ImMortelle Plant Ingredient
Imortelle is a common nickname for the plant Helichrysum italicum which is a flowering plant of the daisy family Asteraceae. It’s also known as Italian strawflower or it is sometimes called the curry plant because of the strong smell of its leaves. Helichrysum is a bushy herb growing to a height of two to three feet. It is distinguishable by its many tiny yellow flowers and gray to silvery leaves, similar in appearance to sage. Flowers bloom during spring to summer months and both the leaves and flowers can be harvested at any time.
It grows on dry, rocky or sandy ground around the Mediterranean. The essential oil derived of these yellow blossoms is prized for its cosmetic use, and the fresh or dried leaves and blossoms can be collected and used in culinary and cosmetic recipes.
Immortelle is anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal ingredient which makes its suitable for the treatment of acne, eczema, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and inflamed skin. It not only soothes wounded skin and burns but also prevents scarring. Immortelle can also be used for vein problems and muscle pain and nourishes the skin after sunbathing.
About Neem Plant Ingredient
Neem is a natural herb that comes from the neem tree, other names for which include Azadirachta indica and Indian lilac. It is a member of the mohogany plant family and is native to India and Africa. The extract comes from the seeds of the tree and has many different traditional uses. Neem is known for its pesticidal and insecticidal properties, but people also use it in hair and dental products. Unlike many synthetic pesticides, neem oil has a low toxicity rating, making it minimally harmful to beneficial wildlife, such as pollinators. It also has a low toxicity for humans.
Neem has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that may soothe irritated skin. With the advantage of getting a cooling effect on the skin, neem is beneficial for treating skin sensitivity. Additionally, neem features a soothing effect on dehydrated or dry skin.
*It’s worth noting that I worked in the resort spa market for 5+ years as a Spa Director, so I’ve tried every luxury skin care brand you can imagine - both plant-based and chemical based. I’ve attended years of aesthetics training and am well versed in ingredients and skin care techniques. Evan Healy, which I source for an affordable cost at my local Whole Foods Market, continually provides the best results for my skin. Another brand that I love is Eminence Organics.
** It’s important to be aware of what rivers, streams, and creeks it’s okay to bathe in. Do your research in advance by asking your local land management source. Waterways are extremely delicate ecosystems and many soaps, lotions, and other body products are not suitable for use in these waters because they can kill important bacteria and life. Any products used in wild waters must be 100% plant based and if possible, biodegradable. In many instances bathing with just water and the sand/silt/mud layer of the water-bottom in a clean wild water source is just as cleansing as using manufactured products.
Have you ever bathed in wild waters? What do you love about your experience?
