The Ritual Washing is intended to purify yourself prior to presenting yourself
Neter. You are not only purifying yourself physically, but you are also
purifying your heart and mind.
In the Ancient Egyptian tradition, purity is
essential prior to ritual. You must be ritually purified before entering the temple
or shrine. Hence, the ritual washing is important. Typically, a bath
is the means for this ritual washing.
You will need:
a bowl of water.
a bowl of natron.
Step One
Take the bowl filled with water, and say over it:
O Water may you remove all impurities!
Step Two
Take the bowl of natron, and say over it:
It is Pure. It is Pure. It is Pure. It is Pure.
My natron is the natron of Heru.
My natron is the natron of Set.
My natron is the natron of Dehuty.
My natron is the natron of Geb.
My mouth is the mouth of the milking calf on the day that my mother,
Aset, gave birth to me.
Natron is a naturally-formed substance in Ancient Egypt. It does not occur
anywhere else, however, it is essentially sodium carbonate and sodium chloride
(baking soda & salt).
You can create your own natron, or you can create the "lazy man's natron"
and simply mix baking soda and salt.
Step Three
Mix the natron and water in the bowl.
Gargle some of the natron and spit it out.
Pour the rest of the natron in your bath. Or if you don't have a bathtub,
but a shower, pour the bowl of water/natron over you in the shower.
Bathe as normal.
Step Four
Dress in loose white clothing.
White symbolizes purity, and was the commonly used color of robe worn
by priests.