The Wisdom of Water
Today I walked alongside a river, and it spoke. Of course, it didn’t gurgle or spit words as I know them, but still, it had much to share. I watched it carefully, flowing steadily forward without looking back. I witnessed it dodge branches and climb over stones, and change course to avoid passing hurdles. It never complained about these surprising obstacles. I stood in marvel and it gently reminded me that it is born to flow, to take the shape of whatever it falls into. It is fearless and simple, and unafraid of change or loss. It accepts the path, wherever it leads, and trusts that time will unfold better seasons.
We are not as far removed from the nature of a river as we may think. Human beings, of course, are composed of great quantities of water. A new-born baby can be made of up to 75% water, while most adults are between 50-60 percent. The source of life itself is swirling within us, and in difficult times, it might be helpful to remember that, aided by the very nature of our watery structure, we have the muscle memory to flow and adapt with intuitive ease.
Many years ago I read a New York Times bestselling book called “The Hidden Messages in Water” by alternative Japanese researcher, Masaru Emoto. He was a pioneer in the study of water molecules, arguing that water is highly sensitive to human words, thoughts and sounds. He gathered this information through taking photographs of frozen water crystals before and after exposure to opposing stimuli. He found that when water was exposed to kind words, prayer, and soothing music, its molecular structure completely shifted in positive and spectacular ways to create beautiful patterns. And in the presence of unpleasant sounds, fears, or harsh negativity, these water molecules became disfigured, disconnected, or ugly in appearance. The photos of these crystals are breath-taking. Emoto’s research may not have been wholly endorsed by the scientific world, but his discovery that water could potentially have some form of consciousness is profound. And why shouldn’t it? Water is at the very core of our human physical foundation, with our brains and hearts alone composed of over 70% of this fascinating elixir, and we humans are unique in our ability to exercise conscious intelligence. What could this mean for us, taking into account all of this water within us? And how is our molecular structure affected, given the daily positive and negative impressions we are subject to? And furthermore, what is that voice inside us saying—that internal voice that’s completely inaudible to others, but often our loudest and most influential critic. Is it a voice of disapproval or one of encouragement? How we treat ourselves and others is a matter of great importance.
Like water, we have the ability to shift and evolve. We are malleable. We are not fixed beings. We can be like the river. We know how to flow. We have the vitality of water within us and we can call upon those properties when we need them most. Already, we have adapted greatly in life, and we will continue to. Human beings are simultaneously completely ordinary and utterly magical. As is water. The sheer fact that we are able to exist on this uncoincidentally water-covered Earth at all, is amazing. Thank you river, for sharing your wisdom.
