What about the water?
Varying to some degree only by age and gender, our human bodies are approximately 70 percent water. Water is the primary building block of human cells. And, water covers nearly 71 percent of the Earth’s surface. It’s vitally important to our existence, as individuals and as a species. And yet, or perhaps precisely because of its prevalence in our world, we tend to take it for granted. You’d think it would be difficult for us to ignore, but somehow we do?
What if we pay more close attention to the water? What can we learn from the water? And, what can the water learn from us? What impact, if any, do we have on each other? Is it unidirectional or bidirectional? In this edition of Soul Notes, let’s dig a little deeper, and dive beneath the surface, if you will!
The truth is in the water
“There are messages in the water.”
During a quiet, self-reflective meditation session not too long ago, I distinctly heard these words: “There are messages in the water.” I didn’t know what that meant. What I did know, however, is that I would be looking to the water, in all its many forms, for clues.
And, as I sat down to outline this blog post, I was reminded of the set of water crystal experiments conducted by Dr. Masaru Emoto. I decided to look up his written works, and smiled as I discovered that one of his volumes is entitled, “The Hidden Messages in Water.” Not one to overlook a good cosmic coincidence, I quickly ordered a copy of the book and devoured it before sitting back down to finish writing this article. The book is replete with high-speed photographic images of frozen water crystals, observed and amplified under a variety of conditions.
The Emoto experiments
By putting bottles of water on a table, and then freezing them while exposing them to a number of pre-set conditions, and then taking high-speed photographs of the resulting crystal formations, Dr. Emoto was able to test for certain variables such as: exposure to chlorine in the water (common in some communities’ tap water); exposure to music, including Beethoven and Mozart’s symphonies; and exposure to written words such as “Thank you” compared to “Fool”. Each resulted in specific shapes and formations, some beautifully complete, and others blurred, ill-shapened, or even completely fragmented.
From these experiments, Dr. Emoto concluded that our thoughts can influence water and that words have spirit. Water definitely responds! We can impact the very structure of water – to our betterment and to our detriment. That goes for each of us, and for the planet as a whole.
So, what does that mean, if and when we hear the universe whispering to us that “there are messages in the water?” What if the opposite is also true? Can the water influence our thoughts? Can the water affect our mind, body, and soul? What about its potential to impact our joie de vivre, our very experience of life? Or, how about its effect on our next course of action? Maybe it’s not only what we say, but what we hear? I would suggest that both propositions are possible. It’s a magical, mystical dance in which we, with consciousness, shall benefit from being willing participants.
(For a refresher on the importance of listening, click here for the previous edition of Soul Notes, entitled, Trust what you hear when you listen. In the Jap Ji, the 8th stanza translates in part as: “All my pain departs listening to my heart.” Your heart in the physical sense also benefits from water, as it is a major component of what flows through the blood in your veins and arteries. Blood is 92 percent water by weight. Water is our life blood.)
“I have no doubt that water crystals will become a common focal point for people all over the world who are trying to make sense of chaos.”
— Dr. Masaru Emoto
The truth is in the water. It is such a fundamental element of our existence, how can there not be wisdom in it? I say we pay attention to it. Why? Because as Dr. Emoto posits: It, like many aspects of the natural world, is a way for us to make sense of the chaos in our human existence.
The self-organizing nature of nature
In its natural form, water when frozen forms into hexagonal (six-sided) shaped ice crystals. The details within the outlying formation do vary (you may have heard the expression “no two snowflakes are exactly alike”) – but what remains constant in nature is the self-organizing pattern of six-sided frozen water crystals. There’s lots to explore with regard to sacred geometry (beyond the scope of this blog post), many aspects of which have been observed and studied over the past many centuries. It’s not merely a coincidence that many parts of nature, left to their own (divine?) devices, fall into recurring patterns. It’s the intervention of humankind that threatens to, and often does, however, disturb these naturally occurring patterns – as the Emoto experiments demonstrate.
So, the invitation is to observe the water, and to listen for its messages, as well as reflect on ways we can enhance the experience of those around us – by the ways we interact with one another. As everyone is comprised mostly of water, think of the impact we have on each other, physically and spiritually?
What have I heard? I’m still listening. And, listening. I listen in my morning and evening practices. I listen in the ocean. I listen in the shower. I listen in the bath. I listen in the rain. I listen in the garden. One thing I heard clearly was this: “Make water the next topic to be explored in Soul Notes.” And, so it is. Welcome to the conversation!
For your consideration:
We tend to bless our food. How about we remember to bless our water, too? We each have that choice, and we have good reasons for making that choice.
Okay, your turn:
What lessons are there for you in the water? Is it time to start paying attention? Is it time to start paying more attention? To what end?
I invite you to share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in the Comments section, below. Soul-to-soul!
