A showering system comprising: a shower head; a controller for use with the shower head for receiving water according to first or second configurations, the first configuration providing a first operating mode which enables manual control for mixing hot and cold water (96, 100) for flow to the shower head when showering and when the controller is not powered, and the second configuration providing a user selectable second operating mode in which a user can program system settings with the controller to execute a timed sequence of automated showering steps, wherein the second operating mode automatically blends hot and cold water (96, 100) during a plurality of the showering steps to send water through the shower head at a predefined temperature specified by the user; a feed line providing hot water; a feed line providing cold water; first and second branch lines (102, 106) each coupled to the feed lines (144, 148) to send hot and cold water (96, 100) through the shower head; at least one manual control valve positioned in the first branch line to control flow of water through the shower head when the system is operated in the first mode; first and second normally open valves (176, 168) positioned in the first branch line and configured by the controller to prevent flow of water through the first branch line to the shower head when the system is operated in the second mode; and a plurality of additional automated valves, including first and second normally closed valves (116, 120) positioned in the second branch line, for controlling flow of water through the second branch line to the shower head, the plurality of additional automated valves configured to automatically control mixing of hot and cold water (96, 100) when the system is operating in the second mode. a shower head; a controller for use with the shower head for receiving water according to first or second configurations, the first configuration providing a first operating mode which enables manual control for mixing hot and cold water (96, 100) for flow to the shower head when showering and when the controller is not powered, and the second configuration providing a user selectable second operating mode in which a user can program system settings with the controller to execute a timed sequence of automated showering steps, wherein the second operating mode automatically blends hot and cold water (96, 100) during a plurality of the showering steps to send water through the shower head at a predefined temperature specified by the user; the first configuration providing a first operating mode which enables manual control for mixing hot and cold water (96, 100) for flow to the shower head when showering and when the controller is not powered, and the second configuration providing a user selectable second operating mode in which a user can program system settings with the controller to execute a timed sequence of automated showering steps, wherein the second operating mode automatically blends hot and cold water (96, 100) during a plurality of the showering steps to send water through the shower head at a predefined temperature specified by the user; a feed line providing hot water; a feed line providing cold water; first and second branch lines (102, 106) each coupled to the feed lines (144, 148) to send hot and cold water (96, 100) through the shower head; at least one manual control valve positioned in the first branch line to control flow of water through the shower head when the system is operated in the first mode; first and second normally open valves (176, 168) positioned in the first branch line and configured by the controller to prevent flow of water through the first branch line to the shower head when the system is operated in the second mode; and a plurality of additional automated valves, including first and second normally closed valves (116, 120) positioned in the second branch line, for controlling flow of water through the second branch line to the shower head, the plurality of additional automated valves configured to automatically control mixing of hot and cold water (96, 100) when the system is operating in the second mode.