A kid grinning in the rain is the perfect reminder of what rainwater rituals are all about: letting go, reconnecting with joy, and letting nature wash a little magic over you.
Here we are with yet another rainy day in sunny Southern California. I happen to love, love, love the rain and have no problem relishing every moment of it. I can always find something to make it special and restorative. But in case rain isn’t exactly your jam, I want to share some rainwater cleansing rituals and nature-based mindfulness practices to help make these wet days a little more bearable, and perhaps even magical.
If you aren’t particularly spiritual or “new-agey” (which I suppose is also spiritual?), rainwater cleansing rituals might sound a bit far-out. But rituals of any kind, whether deeply spiritual or purely practical, help anchor us in the present moment, cultivate mindful intention, and reconnect us with ourselves, others, and the greater world around us. These simple practices use the rainwater, which is considered purifying in many traditions, to wash away negative energy and welcome new beginnings.
You don’t need to have any specific religious or spiritual beliefs to try them. And as always, if something doesn’t float your boat, no biggie, do your own thing.
Physical Cleansing Ritual
Stand in the Rain
A woman embracing the rain is a whole mood, choosing joy, release, and a fresh start with every drop. Rainwater rituals can be simple, soulful, and even fun.
Go outside during a rainfall and allow the drops of water to land on you. Focus on the sensation of being gently (or not so gently depending on the intensity of the raindrops) cleansed: body, mind, and spirit. Wear a raincoat or don’t. This is your ritual.
Incorporate All Your Senses
Listen to the sound of the rain as it hits the ground, leaves, rooftops, or you.
Smell the earthy scents that accompany rainfall (hello, petrichor).
Watch how the raindrops fall, splatter, and gather.
If the air quality is good and you feel comfortable, taste a drop or two.
(Proceed with caution here: I'm not a rain safety scientist and cannot confirm where it is or isn’t safe to swallow rainwater. Use your best judgment!)
Rituals Using Collected Rainwater
Personal Cleansing Bath
Collect rainwater and mix it with essential oils before adding it to a warm bath. As you soak, visualize old fears, doubts, or stuck energy being washed away. This is perfect for those of you who love the idea of cleansing rituals but don’t love spending unnecessary time standing in cold rain.
Anointing Ritual
Use a tiny amount of collected rainwater to anoint your body or spiritual items with a symbol that feels meaningful, maybe a clockwise circle or a pentagram, while reciting an affirmation, prayer, or intention. If you have a religious background, feel free to choose a ritual from your own tradition. If not, create something that resonates with you.
Collecting rainwater for later use in rituals allows for more nature-based healing even after the sun comes out. Using your hands are optional.
Manifestation Ritual
Okay, so I have many thoughts about the manifestation industrial complex (more on that another time) but using rainwater to anoint candles or other symbolic items, or to sprinkle around your home to promote abundance can still be a beautiful symbolic act. I make no promises, but the placebo effect is powerful, so go with whatever feels good.
Rainwater Meditation
Place a bowl of rainwater in front of you during meditation, using the water's surface as a mirror for inner wisdom. When your mind wanders, as minds tend to do, gently return your gaze to the water. Who knows what insights might appear…
Spiritual & Cultural Contexts of Rainwater Rituals
These practices have deep roots across many spiritual, religious, and cultural traditions around the world. Water is widely regarded as a universal cleanser—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. While you can use any water for symbolic cleansing, rainwater holds special meaning in many traditions as a gift from the sky.
Here are a few examples:
Indigenous Traditions
Many (likely most) Indigenous cultures have rain-related rituals, whether rain dances during times of drought or celebrations when the rains finally arrive. Communities deeply connected to the natural world (often Indigenous communities) recognize rain’s healing power and honor it with awe and reverence.
Hoodoo
Hoodoo, an African American spiritual tradition blending African ancestral practices with European and Native American folk magic and Christianity, views rainwater as a natural purifier. It’s used to remove negative energy, blockages, and spiritual residue, often alongside herbalism, music, and ritual work.
Jewish Practice
The practice of Mikveh involves immersion in naturally collected water (often rainwater or spring water) for spiritual purification and renewal. While similar in purpose to Christian baptism, Mikveh requires water from a natural source rather than human-gathered water.
No matter your beliefs, the purpose of ritual is to ground you, help you be present, and guide you toward mindful intention. Even the rain itself can influence the meaning: Gentle drizzle? Perfect for calling in peace, joy, or clarity. Thunderstorm? Bring on strength, confidence, and powerful transformation.
Rain as a Force for Mindfulness & Restoration
Even if you don’t identify with any spiritual tradition, or any tradition at all, rainwater is still incredibly powerful. Rain connects us directly to the natural world we’re part of. It cleanses us physically, emotionally, and energetically. After rainfall, everything becomes more alive: colors brighten, smells intensify, animals re-emerge, and the earth feels renewed.
Rainwater literally sustains life by replenishing the freshwater we depend on. It is restorative, grounding, and freely available to anyone standing beneath its pour.
So, the next time the skies open up, whether you’re barefoot in the drizzle, collecting water in a jar, or just watching from your window, consider what you might want to release, invite in, or honor during your own mindful rain ritual.
Written by Amanda Stemen, MS, LCSW