Whenever I face a series of changes, it's particularly tempting to retreat to bed and allow a pillow nest to swallow me up. I often take this route, dressed to the nines in fleece, and think fondly of my favorite Lin-Manuel Miranda tweet [1]. While there's merit in this healing method, I've rediscovered another hub to hold me when I'm feeling blue: the humble bathtub. For you, the bath may be where you go to drink wine and read your Kindle, or perhaps it's a sacred space to escape from housemates and shave away Winter fur [2]. I see it as the cauldron I can cleanse in when I'm feeling my lowest — with a little help from a bath blend.

In Everyday Magic: Rituals, Spells & Potions to Live Your Best Life [3], a modern spell book brimming with positive witchcraft, Semra Haksever suggests a series of bath blends you can create at home. The blend that has served my soul the most is Haksever's blend for "loving vibrations," which combines essential oils, rose petals, and crystals in a salted bathtub. "Taking time to honour yourself is the perfect way to relax and activate spiritual vibrations," Haksever explains. Her cleansing bath blends manifest peace, happiness, success, and grounding.

I opted for the loving vibrations blend to aid me in mending a broken heart. Though I may seem chipper and composed in day-to-day life with a logical understanding of how and why my last relationship broke down, my body still has some catching up to do. This bewitching bath time coaxed me into opening up my heart and releasing any weighty burdens it may be carrying. Emerging from a candle-lit, rose-scented bathroom, I felt as if I'd had a therapy session. The steps to cast this spell? Read ahead.

Add Some Flowers

Firstly, pick the petals from a rose and put aside. Alternatively, you can use dried rose petals. If you don't have any rose petals on hand, don't fret; this step is optional but adds to the experience.

Gather Your Crystals

Gather a selection of crystals for your bath. Haksever suggests rose quartz, the crystal of unconditional love [4], which I also seek when anxious. I added three rose quartz crystals to my tub, which charge on a photograph of two of my dear, supportive friends when outside of the bathroom.

Pick Some Essential Oils

While running your bath, add two big handfuls of salt. Haksever suggests sea salt, Himalayan salt, or Epsom salts.

Then blend five drops of rose essential oil with three drops of frankincense essential oil and put aside. Since these oils can burn the skin, you'll want to mix them into a carrier oil before adding them to your bath. I suggest stirring the two into almond oil.

Bathe

Light some candles, and add the petals, crystals, and essential oils into your bath tub. Then play the zen music of your choice ("1/1" by Brian Eno is my vibe), and start to feel the loving vibrations of this spell.

For more bath blends and spells for easing heartbreak, firing up sexual appetite, and manifesting love, check out Haksever's newest book, Love Spells [5].