Magnesium Ritual
Magnesium is a powerful anti inflammatory. It can be used to relieve cramps, ease sore muscles, and may also decrease migraines and decrease the severity of hot flashes during peri-menopause.
The use of salt as a purifier, cleanser, and tool in energetic clearing has been deeply valued by many cultures. Do you throw salt over your left shoulder if you drop some? Perhaps you have done a salt scrub for your skin, floated in a float tank, or can relate to the full body energetic cleanse that happens when you immerse yourself in the ocean. Women are deeply connected with the pull of the moon and the tides, so this therapeutic ritual can bring a sense of the healing aspects of the sea to one’s home. This can allow for deeper relaxation and connection to the flow of the tides and the moon which pulls at the waters in each of us.
“For most women who menstruate, I think that our way of being is more fluid, more tidal, because of the constant surging of our hormones. And yet we have been raised to prefer the mirage of a solid structure rather than the reality of the sea, as a self-image.” - Lucy H. Pearce, She of the Sea
According to the US National Institutes of Health “Magnesium is involved in 80% of known metabolic functions. It is currently estimated that 60% of adults do not achieve the average dietary intake and 45% are magnesium deficient .”
You may be familiar with Magnesium from the chocolate cravings that come, perhaps, during the pre-menstrual, or menstrual phases of the menstrual cycle. One ounce, or about one square, of 70-85% dark chocolate provides 65mg of magnesium. That’s about 15% of your recommended daily value. So while chocolate, especially dark chocolate, can be a great source of magnesium, magnesium is more easily absorbed by the skin, than the stomach lining, so read on to set up your ritual.
For this ritual you will need:
• Epsom Salts - plain, with no dies or perfumes
• A bathtub, or large pot
• Magnesium spray - check your local natural food store
• A large glass of drinking water
• Options to add essential oils, calming music, and other DIY beauty products.
Making your own beauty products is not only fun and rewarding, it can also help balance your hormones.
The Ritual
Set an intention of something you would like to clear or become more deeply connected to. For empaths, setting an intention of clearing the energy that you have obtained that is not yours, is a great place to start
Set the mood with candles, items from an altar, music, or photos of something you would like to become further connected to - you can bring in a painting or photos of the beach, ocean, or rivers to further amplify the cleansing power of water.
Set your soaking vessel. Fill the tub or pot with warm water and generously add the Epsom Salt. This is typically 1-2 cups for a regular bathtub. Add a few drops of essential oils if you’d like.
Note: If you don’t have a tub or a pot for a foot soak, you can also rub some salt gently on your body, especially the hands and feet before going into the shower.
If it suits you, say a prayer or intention out loud as you move into the water.
Soak for 20 minutes. You may take this time to meditate, visualize, repeat your intention, or simply rest and daydream.
Pat yourself dry.
Take 2-5 sprays of magnesium spray to any of the areas of the body that are especially tight or sore. After spraying, gently massage the spray into the skin as you state an intention, hum a song, or send loving feelings to your body.
Allow the spray to dry and wipe off any additional salt.
Lastly, clear your internal landscape with a large glass of water (and maybe a square of chocolate!)
Ways to go deeper:
Join in on an online course to learn more about balancing your menstrual cycle and hormones through yoga.
Work with me 1:1 to get support for your unique situation.
Further reading and resources:
She of the Sea by Lucy H. Pearce
Foods - Https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-foods-high-in-magnesium
Magnesium Basics - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4455825/
