Podcast 56: Everyday Rituals for Sacred Connection with Water

In this deeply grounding episode of Two Crones and a Microphone, Betty and Sally explore our sacred relationship with water—from daily habits like showers and dishwashing to ancient rituals of gratitude, blessing, and conservation. With personal stories, spiritual practices, and wisdom passed down from Oh’ Shinnah Fast Wolf, they remind us that water is not just a utility—it is life, mystery, and teacher. Tune in for practical ways to transform your everyday relationship with water into an act of reverence.

Also: spit is involved. And it’s holy. Trust us.

Big thanks to our sponsor Minervaed.com and to everyone supporting Two Crones and a Microphone with donations, reviews, and shared stories.

Walk in Beauty!

Video for video spots by Joel Dunn: https://www.pexels.com/video/droplets-of-water-in-a-water-basin-creating-a-splash-3535854/

Transcript

Betty: Hi everybody, and welcome to Two Crones and a Microphone. I’m Betty.

Sally: And I’m Sally. We’re cultural midwives, sharing wisdom through storytelling and research as experienced crones and friends.

Betty: We offer spiritual practices and experiences that nourish the body, mind, heart, and spirit—tools to help you connect meaningfully with our beautiful Earth. We believe it all comes down to this: the courage to choose love over fear, even when everything feels chaotic and uncertain.

Sally: One of our listeners said our first episode on water helped her see her relationship with water in a whole new light—something many of us take for granted. Today we’re continuing that conversation with everyday spiritual practices to deepen your connection to this sacred element.

Betty: Before we begin, a quick shoutout to Linda—she’s off on vacation and will be back next episode. And thank you to our sponsor, the Minerva Educational and Wellness Treatment Center. Visit minerva.com to check out our current classes.

Sally: Most of us in North America just turn on the tap without a second thought. But disasters like hurricanes and fires remind us how quickly that can change.

Betty: When I moved to the Poconos over 30 years ago, I went from city water in Brooklyn and Manhattan to a house with a well. I learned fast—no electricity, no pump, no water. Thankfully, my husband built our well twice as deep as required. It’s been a blessing.

Sally: I’ve lived all over, including in Colorado where our water came through old wooden pipes—pristine and freezing cold, but delicious. In other parts of the world, people walk miles to carry water home. Bob has photos of people balancing huge jars on their heads in Africa. It’s a daily ritual, and it takes a toll.

Betty: I’ve seen that up close, during medical missions with the military in Central and South America. Women would walk for hours carrying heavy water jars. We treated a lot of neck pain and headaches from that. When the Army Corps of Engineers dug wells, entire villages celebrated.

Sally: And still, here, we waste water like it’s infinite. When Oh’ Shinnah first taught us about conservation, I brushed it off. But seeing the reality elsewhere made it real. So let’s talk practices. What’s one thing you do every day, Betty?

Betty: Every time I shower, I bless the water. I thank the spirits of water for their cleansing and healing. In the military, showers were rare—sometimes we had to wash with water in a helmet. Now, I don’t take it for granted.

Sally: Same here. I used to grumble about rain. But now I try to remember: rain is a blessing. It fills wells, nourishes plants, sustains life. I try to shift my attitude and express gratitude. I take shorter showers—five minutes tops—and turn off the faucet when brushing my teeth. Even gray water can be used to water plants.

Betty: I love that. And don’t forget the practice Oh’ Shinnah taught us—offering our own waters. Yes, I mean spitting! At first I thought, “Ew!” But it’s a powerful, ancient offering. You can spit into water as a blessing or gratitude. I explained this to my grandkids once—they were horrified. But now it’s second nature.

Sally: It’s humbling, but it makes sense. And you always have that gift with you. Even if you don’t have cornmeal or tobacco to offer, you can give of yourself.

Betty: When we gather for retreats, we conserve water too. Remember the old saying: “If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down.” It helps with septic systems when you have a house full of people!

Sally: Let’s talk about sacred bathing—especially for folks without a tub. Betty, you’ve got some great ideas.

Betty: We have a kid-sized tub, so I do foot baths or hand baths. I’ll add herbs from my garden—rosemary, lavender—plus a bit of salt or essential oils. If you're using oils, mix them with whole milk or vodka so they disperse in the water instead of sitting on top.

Sally: I make scrubs ahead of time—sea salt with cedar or sage oils for energetic cleansing. Just be careful—oils can make the shower slippery. As nurses, we’ve seen what happens when people aren’t careful!

Betty: Yes, safety first. And remember, these rituals help you connect—not just with your body, but with Earth and Spirit. Water is part of us. Different sources say we’re 60 to 98% water, but the point is: we are water. So let’s honor it.

Sally: We’ll post a YouTube Short later this month that goes deeper into sacred bathing practices, with visuals. It’s easier than trying to explain it all in a podcast.

Betty: As always, we invite your questions and comments. Visit twocronesandamicrophone.com or minervaed.com to learn more about our classes and events. Let us know what wisdom practices you’re trying, and what you’d like us to talk about next.

Sally: Remember our four pillars: Oh’ Shinnah’s teachings, our collective wisdom as crones, our wonderful guests, and you—our listeners. You help shape this podcast.

Betty: Thanks for walking with us through the muddy waters of our time. Please share this with someone who might need it.

Sally: And sign up for our monthly newsletter—it’s full of bonus content and reflections we don’t always share on the show. Our next series will explore the element of Earth. Until then...

Both: May you walk in beauty. All is made beautiful. Thank you for listening.