The Wisdom of Water
Lay Speaker Cosette Blackmer
July 30, 2006

Water flows humbly to the lowest level.
Nothing is weaker than water,
Yet for overcoming what is hard and strong,
Nothing surpasses it.
from the Tao Te Ching

Indeed, water is weak for it will take any form. Yet, the Grand Canyon was carved out one drop of water at a time. There is little doubt how powerful water can be yet we still tend to take it for granted. This morning when I turned the faucet to make my coffee I had no doubt that the water would flow.

The subject of water is truly as vast and deep as any ocean and it was difficult narrowing down exactly what I wanted to share today. I have found on my own personal journey that water is more than just a physical element. With my Earth Centered world view I have elevated water to a living breathing entity in my life. So when I read the work of Dr. Emoto in the “The Hidden Message of Water” I was thrilled. His work suggests that water is alive. I also agree with Anita Roddick author and the founder of the environmentally friendly business The Body Shop who states “One really important thing is to be re-enchanted with water.”

She continues, “I think your experiences change, your values change, your thoughts about water will change when your experiences with water change”. I feel that we all can be re-enchanted by water, and that it can teach us about life, health and spirit.

One of the most profound moments in my life happened many years ago when I traveled to my home town of San Diego for my grandfathers’ funeral. I took the opportunity to drive out to one of my favorite places along the coast, Sunset Cliffs. As I drove along the winding road I pulled off onto one of the several viewpoints to look over the cliffs and contemplate the turbulent Pacific Ocean. As I sat upon the rocks I heard a faint sound beneath the scream of the gulls and the drone of human voices. It was the sound of water over rocks. The sound of water is mesmerizing. It calls to the human spirit. I explored the rock outcropping till I found a small hole about the size of my head exposing a narrow cave below. Over time the bottom of the cave had become filled with thousands of small stones, probably aggregate that had fallen from the top of the cave and then had been worn smooth by the relentless battering of the surf. I knelt down to listen more closely. As the surf rushed in over the pebbles below it created a clattering. Then as the water retreated in a whoosh the stones responded in a low rumble.

In that moment on Sunset Cliffs Blvd the ocean became truly magical to me. It became almost reverent, sacred.

Water is Life. Water is necessary for all life on earth. Life began in the oceans and seas. Imagine that primordial soup in which the first tiny single celled organisms began to emerge. Then over an unfathomable amount of time more complex life forms evolved till finally amphibians emerged from the sea.

Without water we would not survive. Humans can live several weeks without food, but only 3 days without water. Al Gore states in Earth in the Balance “Human beings are made up mostly of water, in roughly the same percentage as water is to the surface of the earth”. The adult human body is 70% water and the earth’s surface is also covered 70% by water. Of all the water on earth 97% is too saline to drink. 2% is locked as ice on our polar ice caps (at least for now). That leaves just 1% that is potable. 50% of that is polluted.

Fortunately, we have learned to recycle some of this precious resource, but it may not be enough. The world trade commission stated that in the 20th century the wars where fought over oil, but in the 21st century they will be fought over water.

Some of these battles are already being fought in the world today. One third of the population on earth must walk at least 15 minutes to access fresh water. Around the world tensions are already rising where borders share water resources. In our country politicians vie for votes over water usage. Right here in Frederick the new Mayor W. Jeff Holtzinger has set his first agenda on ensuring that every business and citizen in Frederick City will have enough water when the next drought comes. I understand that all construction was halted in Frederick City during the drought of 2004, but I thought that it was mostly our rural citizens that suffered from the lack of water. I know in Poolsville and Mt Airy wells ran dry, and farmers lost crops and livestock due to lack of water.

Still, we are quite blessed in this country. This continent still sits upon huge aquifers of fresh water and we can still rely on the river systems that traverse this continent. For most of our citizens there is usually ample supply.

Did you realize that water is the most utilized tool on the planet? Not only do we need it to drink and to raise our crops and animals, but we use it for cleaning our bodies, home and clothing. It is used to provide energy, for shipping and transportation, in industry and to create concrete (the second most utilized tool in the world).

Isn’t it funny though, that mostly we take water for granted until there is too little, or too much?

Civilizations have risen and fallen at the mercy of water. Long periods of drought and devastating floods alike have both destroyed cities and settlements. The flood myth, familiar to us as the story of Noah and his arc, is a universal myth. Hundreds of cultures have similar myths. Actually, the story of Noah in the Bible is quite similar to the flood story in “Gilgamesh” written long before the Bible. Was there one great flood that covered the entire earth? Or as we have seen in recent history are natural disasters like hurricanes and tsunamis just that prevalent world wide? I believe it is the latter. When you think of the stranded people in New Orleans last summer imagine how much more isolated they would have been as a population if not for modern conveniences. In ancient times small populations faced with that much destruction and loss would surly have felt that the flood covered the entire earth.

We can thank water for large human settlements and civilization as we know it. Because of the need for water we have always lived near water whether it be the sea or by a river. It is well accepted that civilization began approximately 6000 years ago in what is called the Fertile Crescent, the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

It was the abundance of water that created the conditions by which humans could store a surplus of food for the first time. With a surplus we had to be able to record and distribute goods, so we began to write. This marked the beginning of the agricultural revolution.

So, as a physical element, water is not only useful but quintessential to our existence, and also has the power to destroy. It is little wonder than that water has seeped its way into our psyches.

Just as water cleans and purifies our natural world so too has it become a symbol of purifying the spirit. Many cultures throughout time have used water ritual for birth and death ceremonies because of its purifying capabilities. In death rituals the water cleansing often serves to return the spirit back to the salty realm from which it came.

Baptism, a common Christian practice is another example of water used for spiritual purposes. Baptism is the ritual of dipping, or immersing a person into water to symbolize purification, rebirth and change. Water is a symbol for change for it is ever changing. Think of the water cycle where water evaporates into the air becoming a vapor, then falls as a liquid to the rivers and streams. Also it becomes solid in freezing temperatures.

There is an ancient Greek saying “You could not step twice into the same river; for other waters are ever flowing on to you” (Heraclitus of Ephesus). Water is forever changing.

Throughout the ancient world people celebrated sacred springs and wells. This water was thought to come from Mother Earth herself, from deep with in her womb. Many of these sites still exist as sacred wells, although they have been adopted by new settlers. One excellent example is the well at Bath in England. The Celts considered this well to contain sacred healing water and dedicated to Sulis an ancient Goddess. Later the Romans took over the area and renamed it Sulis Minerva to dedicate it to one of their Goddesses. The Victorians turned the site into a spa and used to “take their waters” there.

Water is also associated with the moon because it is the moon, our ancient satellite that controls the tides of the oceans and sea. Water is also associated with emotions. When someone is lonely they are thought to be dry like a desert, and when someone is overcome by a deluge of grief or sadness with lots of tears they are “flooded” with emotions.

So, water is commonly used symbolically in ritual and like all the elements; earth, fire, air and water we associate certain human qualities with water. Still, what do I mean when I say water is sacred and “alive” if not for amoeba and bacteria living in it?

I believe that we are all connected to the web of life as our 7th principle states. When I think of the web that connects us all I think of it as more than the “circle of life” referenced in “The Lion King” movie. I imagine a great energetic field that if we could see would look something like white electrical strands enveloping us and surging with power.

I also believe each of us affects the other energetically as well as in a physical sense. For instance, imagine you are at a party and everyone is enjoying themselves. Then, someone walks in quietly seething with anger. The energy of the room will change. Certainly some folks will notice this new person’s tense shoulders and tight face, but I suggest that there is more to it, that the actual energy in the room shifts when the angry person enters and that we can feel it on some level.

So, how is energy connected to water? The fascinating work of Dr Masaru Emoto suggests that water actually reacts to positive and negative energy. Dr. Emoto had stumbled upon this profound discovery by accident.

Curious about the idea that no two snowflakes are alike he tried to replicate this natural event by experimenting with ice crystals and high speed photography. He found that tap water that had been chemically treated would not create crystals at all, but natural sources of water manifested beautiful, complex, snowflake like crystals. Furthermore, water responded with beautiful crystal formations when kind words where spoken, but would not for any crystals to negative input.

Now, I am not a scientist. For details about just how the photographs where taken you will have to read up on Dr Emoto yourself. I have brought some materials that you are welcome to look at after the service. The scientific aspect of his research is not my focus. My desire is to share that water responded to stimuli such as music and words both spoken and written.

I would like to share with your some samples of the photos Dr. Emoto took:

First here is a photo of natural spring water. Notice the beautifully formed snowflake like patterns and colors.

Next, we have a sample of chemically treated tap water. No crystals would form.

Here is a photo of water that has been exposed to the words “Thank You”.

This water was told “You make me sick. I’ll kill you”. Notice how these negative words affect the water.

This photo was taken when the words “Love and Gratitude” where taped to the container of water.

We are 70% water. What do we say and think about ourselves and each other? This research suggests that our health is affected by what we believe about ourselves.

Dr. Emoto suggests that we each pray over water, and simply tell the water “Love and Gratitude” or some other loving statement to improve the waters vibration level. Further, he feels that this vibration is carried through water throughout the world. The water in our glass and in our bodies speaks or communicates with water world wide. The idea being that as we express positive energy locally some of that prayer is expressed throughout the web of life.

I do not for a moment suggest that we should simply pray that the world become a safer healthier place and forget about social action. We must also act. But, I invite you each to be re-enchanted by water. Be mindful about what you think about yourselves and others. Being mindful is a positive step to making the world a better place for all.