It was a week ago today that I began the uncomfortable habit of taking ten-minute cold showers. The first time was literally an eye opening experience. I turned on the shower, but only the frigid water flowed from the showerhead. This was intentional of course, but I really had no idea what I was getting into. Touching the water with my fingertips, a cold shiver ran down my body. I began to think that maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. In this day and age, we obviously had water heaters for a reason, so why was I so insistent on trying this out?
In Japan and other places around the world, those who practice Shinto will travel to an icy cold waterfall and stand underneath it in order to cleanse the spirit. This ritual is known as Misogi. Knowing this, I tried to convince myself that I was a Shinto master and meditating under an ice cold shower was the same as a Japanese waterfall.
