Awareness >

(on Wikipedia)

Standing upright and spilling water onto your head.

See also slow dousing

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Notes ∞

Dousing has been reported as being an aid to relieving ones self of Headaches after physicality.

One guy wrote to douse twice a day: Once before midday and once before midnight, so that it catches "both parts of the bodies natural cycle".

• Sebastian Kneipp developed a system of hydrotherapy which is now used in one form or another by many spas.

2005-03-26 or earlier ∞

Observations from dousing

Some time has passed since my initial experimentation with "slow dousing" (cold showers). From that, I learned about how various subtleties in my breathing, posture and tension will help or hinder the "cold water experience". I especially loved being able to open the window in wintertime to experience just how warm that cold water really is (compared to the air). I miss that, since I moved three times since then and I still don't have another place with a window in the bathroom. Turning a fan on just doesn't do the trick. ;)

Well, yesterday I did some thinking. .wait.. first, I moved on the 24th. I moved and in moving I realised that I was missing a lot of the essentials in life. Like a mop and a bucket. "Aah, a bucket.." I was reminded. "I should get two, or three.. to include cleaning _and_ dousing."

Well, I ended up going off on a mental tangent, essentially worried about wildlife nesting in a bucket I would leave outside. In the end I solved both problems by using one of my storage bins. They're not big, but not small either, and attached to them are two halves of a lid which fold closed together.

So yesterday I ended up figuring that I could use one of these storage bins until I get a bucket.

Shortly after, I realised that my shower didn't work. I swear God is a cat, and I'm some kind of human ball of tin-foil. I supposed that I would have to douse now, just to keep clean! I did give an honest try at bathing in a bathtub without a stopper.. boy did I feel poor doing that.

So after I connected the two issues together (ok, I'm slow) I tried dousing with a bucket in the shower. This is when I realised that:

a) Water is heavy and I am weak

b) A rectangular bin is an odd shape to lift over one's head, especially when filled with water.

c) These storage bins aren't made for being lifted in non-standard ways, especially when filled with water.

d) When inside, there is a ceiling. When in the bathroom it's even closer. When lifting something over my head I'm going to run out of room.

e) Trying to squat or duck under a half-lifted and shaking bin of water isn't the safest thing to do.

f) Only two-thirds of me can get wet thanks to all of the above.

Of course I had other observations like "note to self: get a bathmat" or "crap, where's my towel?"

Right, so it seemed that I'd have to do this outside after all. So I filled up a bin and left it outside, wondering if I'll ever have the nerve to actually do it.

Later that evening, after working with my intuition a bit (I think the kids in this area already think I'm some kind of freak, but maybe I'll get into that when they approach me to ask why I'm swinging a shovel around or squat-walking with a stick over my shoulders.)

Uh.. ok, maybe I shouldn't tell an entire story in parentheses..

Later that evening, I was frustrated and annoyed and had this stupid headache because I hold my breath and tense myself really stupidly when I do certain exertions. So at about 8pm I found my bathing suit and went out to dump that bucket of water over me.

So I did.. I tried to go slow but I'll need practice to do this.

Observations:

• It's hard for me to get the back of my arms wet.
• I need to practice to pour slower
• I didn't get that "Holy sh*t!" shock, but my body certainly felt something.
• I noticed a bit of steam wisping off of me.
• I shivered afterwards.. because I was cold and wet. (duh)

• I left muddy footprints through my house. Note to self: get a doormat, maybe get indoor slippers. No, not fuzzy bunny slippers, plastic one's.. and not day-glow plastic either.

I did try to stay outside for a little bit, but I just didn't have the heart. Oh, and I also noticed I have a tiny patch of wildlife out my back door.. there was a raccoon who wouldn't have noticed if he hadn't looked at me (nighttime eyes).

I went inside and also poured a bucket of water over myself in the shower.. for good measure. It wasn't quite the same.

This morning, at almost 8am I went out. Well, a bird woke me up, so I figured I'd go try this stuff again. The neighbourhood is remarkably quiet compared to last night. I guess everyone is sleeping in or something.

So I went out there and did it again, resolving to pour more carefully and to stay out a bit longer.

• I still can't get the back of my arms very wet. I'd like to, because:
• Steam rose from my body quite readily.. and I self-dried in no time flat.

• Also, wet feet on concrete is really difficult to bear.

Next time I will try to step onto a patch of earth. I'm kindof tempted to try standing on the nearby storm drain.

Now this time around things were different in ways I couldn't quite understand. I believe that the water was colder and that the effects were more marked because I was being slower. I still don't get the greater "shock" people talk about, but I do notice how my skin and flesh will change a bit.. and especially how fascinating the steam is. Before, in the shower, I would notice this only slightly.. but standing outside I sure can see it.

I'll have to work on my breathing and such, and maybe give myself something to do outside so that I can stay outside a little more comfortably.

Stuff I'll learn in the future:

• Differences between a bucket which is left outside open-air and with a lid.
• Using one or two buckets to douse with.
• Pouring speeds.
• Surfaces I stand on.
• Differences in the various temperatures of water.
• Differences in the various times of day.
• Differences with various weather / seasons.
• Experiences with staying outside longer.
• Things to do while outside drying off a bit.
• Meeting interesting neighbours (or getting shocked stares)

• Maybe experimentation with hot buckets and cold buckets.. "contrast-dousing".