Orange Peel Baths

One of my favorite intimate rituals as a child was taking a bath with my mom. For me, there was nothing more maternally bonding than being naked with her. I learned about her curves, what a woman’s body looks like, and what my body would someday look like.

After dinner, we would start by peeling oranges and dropping the rinds into the running bath water. I remember the sour smell of the peels and the feeling of the spray on my face as we would unfurl each layer. As they soaked and infused the bath with their essence, the insides of the peels would turn slimy. The feeling of those slimy peels is a particularly potent and precious part of this memory for me.

As an adult studying feng shui, I learned that orange peels clear the energy of a space. It brings in yang energy, which is bright and sunny. The color is vibrant and the scent is uplifting. It makes perfect sense if you think about it. Oranges represent health and nourishment. For spaces that need a refreshed energy or new qi, we apply oranges in very specific feng shui rituals.

Now after a long day with a client for a feng shui session or an art installation, I make a point to take a shower with orange peels. This can look a lot of ways, but right now, they come in the form of a scrub made by my daughter. It is important for me to carry through this routine as it clears my energy from the day and also connects me to my ancestry and my family. I love that something as basic as orange peels can add meaning and magic to my modern life. Not to mention, on days when I don’t include orange in my bath routine, I feel like crap!

What memories or rituals from your childhood do you bring into your life today?