We are inseparable from water. The first time we experience water is from within our mother’s womb when we are floating in the warm and dark amniotic fluid that gives us life and makes us grow into newborn human beings.
Every creation story of all major religions and myths begin with a water story. Life both in our individualistic way and life on the planet itself begins inside water.
We are 77% water at birth with our skin delineating the boundaries of our internal waters. This is a fact of our existence: We are a body of water.
The water that flows through our physical being is deeply connected to the rivers, lakes, streams, waterfalls, seas and oceans of our planet. We are all one in that sense. Their fate reflects upon us. When we pollute them through our careless acts, we are polluting and damaging ourselves. When we strive to clean and protect them, we are healing ourselves.
Waterfalls, rivers, lakes, streams and oceans have always had a deep impact on the human psyche. The sound of waves and waterfalls and even the falling rain provides an instant calming and relaxing effect. The touch and sound of water instantly communicates with the waters within us and reminds of us of our connection. We feel a sense of calmness and peace that transcends all of our distracting and anxious thoughts. It puts us into a meditative state of mind. It reminds us of our own spiritual self and its characteristic of being a wanderer.
The Biblical verse about the Spirit of God moving over the face of the waters is soothing as it gives an idea of the Creator’s closeness to this aspect of creation.
Water is able to purify and renew. The body needs at least eight glasses of water a day in order to keep our inwards ocean satisfied.
Two exercises for healing and restorative aspects of even thinking about water are mentioned in Water, Wind, Earth and Fire: The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements by Christine Valetrs Paintner.
• “Begin your time of prayer by finding your pulse and reflecting on the life-giving blood and water being pumped through your system.”
• “Spend some time by a fountain, listening to the flow of the water and contemplating its invitation for your own life. Pay attention to those places where water wants to surge up and offer its refreshment. Make note of the streams, rivers, and other water sources near you as places for prayer.”
Watching the vast, mighty yet tranquil ocean with seemingly endless boundaries is one of the best therapies. The serenity it brings to the mind, body and soul is not less than the power of meditation. The rhythmic waves dancing on the shore, the radiant blue-green hue, the squealing birds, the solitude of the beach, everything is perfect to connect to nature which in turn makes one connect within.
Standing near a powerful waterfall and watching the myriads of water drops flowing over the rocky edge in a cascading volume is one of nature’s most wonderful gifts. The mighty roaring sound of the water crashing and the sight of the mist rising up is something that can be done for hours and hours. Just sitting near a waterfall and closing your eyes and hearing that sound is a form of meditation that brings bliss, joy, comfort, serenity and at the same time impresses upon the mind and soul of the power of nature.
So what is so mystical about water? The fact that it is life sustaining says much more than what we take for granted.
Water is one of the five elements of life. It is a cleanser and healer. Water is the opposite element of fire and hence both of them balance each other. Metaphysically, water holds vibrations perfectly and for sustained periods of time. The element of water symbolises the ebb and flow of our complex emotions. Too much of this element in our life can ‘flood’ us; too little can ‘dry’ us up. Maintaining a sense of equilibrium is hence crucial.
We have used water for healing since ancient times. Every culture has the practice of purification through water. For example, baptism in Christianity and bathing in the Ganga river in Hinduism. Most ancient cultures uphold spiritual creation stories accepting water as the origin of life.
Dr Masaru Emoto, the Japanese scientist who revolutionised the idea that our thoughts and intentions impact the physical realm, is one of the most important water researchers the world has known. For over 20 years until he passed away in 2014, he studied the scientific evidence of how the molecular structure in water transforms when it is exposed to human words, thoughts, sounds and intentions.
The extraordinary life work of Dr Emoto is documented in the New York Times Bestseller, The Hidden Messages in Water. In his book, Dr Emoto demonstrates how water exposed to loving, benevolent, and compassionate human intention results in aesthetically pleasing physical molecular formations in the water while water exposed to fearful and discordant human intentions results in disconnected, disfigured, and “unpleasant” physical molecular formations. He did this through Magnetic Resonance Analysis technology and high speed photographs.
Likewise positive words and energy can have an impact on the water that is within us. That water energised with positive vibrations can heal us from and prevent us from getting negative vibrations which in turn cause diseases of the mind and body.
Other practises involving water that can be used include salt water cleansing to cleanse off negativities from you and your house. Words yelled in anger, hatred, fights and negative emotions from people in our house can lower our energy. Spray the water mixed with lime and salt on your walls and windows. Wipe it off clean.
Take rock salt and mix it with warm water in a bucket. Put your legs in the bucket. Sit with focus on good intentions. You will feel lighter and relaxed after this therapy. Please throw the water in the sink as it contains the residue of your negativity.
You can also soak in a bathtub filled with lukewarm water mixed with Epsom salt and essential oils. Use candles instead of artificial light. The calm effect it will have on your body and mind is incredible.
By warming water, we are essentially inducing fire elements in water and hence using both to our use. Cold water can also be used if we want regenerative vibrations and cool off from tension.
Water is an inseparable part of our lives. Recognising it spiritually makes us aware of the significance and magical effects it can have on us. May we get cleansed and nourished by the magic of divine water, eternally!
Prashant Solomon is a Delhi-based author and businessman.
