Let’s face it: A goddess deserves and demands accessories . . . beautiful things to see and touch, inspirational objects to get her in the mood. Consider this as you decorate your bathroom: What luxuries caress your soul? What flowers soothe and intoxicate you? What fruits do you find seductive? What are your favorite colors and scents and sounds?

     Appeal to all your senses, and they will come alive. Certain items have been imbued with eroticism for thousands of years, mainly due to shapes that suggest the female form. (No doubt you’ve recognized yourself in Georgia O’Keeffe’s flowers.) On the next page is a list of sacred sexual totems. Consider incorporating these, or artistic representations of them, into your private bath to create a decidedly feminine essence, something worthy of your inner Aphrodite.
 

SACRED SEXUAL TOTEMS

     Shells, especially the cowrie, conch, scallop, and cockle
     Flowers, most often the lotus, lily, rose, and orchid
     Fruits, particularly the apricot, fig, peach, coco-de-mer, apple, pomegranate, and quince
     Nuts with a vulvar shape, such as almonds and walnuts
     Spices, such as cinnamon and cardamom, fennel, and myrrh
     Stones, large or small, with holes in them, or formed like archways, which echo the shape of a woman’s vulva
     Animals, frequently the dove (Aphrodite’s primary sacred animal) and the dolphin
     In addition, candles blend masculine (the stick) and feminine (the flame) symbols, plus they can inexpensively provide an exotic, aromatic ambience. You can acquire beautiful statues reminiscent of ancient fertility symbols or depicting goddesses, such as the Hindu Shakti and the Nepalese Uma, as well as reproductions of the art mentioned throughout this chapter. Small fountains come in a variety of shapes, some of them highly suggestive. Other objects may have personal significance for you, representing your creativity or self-expression or sensuality, and these would be great for the bath, too. You’re building a shrine to your womanliness, so use personal icons, plus any other symbols and sights that will help to create a lush, sumptuous retreat for relaxation and renewal.