Teachings of the Water

"It wasn't the sculptor's hammer that shaped these stones so perfectly. It was the water, with its gentleness, its dance, and its song. Harshness destroys; gentleness shapes."

Rabindranath Tagore

Water is our teacher when we open our hearts and listen to it with our whole presence. Today we will explore this sacred element and some of the abundant teachings it has to offer. It is a truly miraculous substance. On Earth, water can exist as a solid (ice), liquid, and gas (steam) because our planet's environment is close to water's triple point. This means the temperature and pressure are just right for all three states of water to coexist in a stable balance.

Water is a miraculous substance, it is within each of us and every living being on this planet and covers 71% of Earth's surface. The average human body is 70% water. As a foetus, we are made out of an incredible 99% water at the beginning of our existence. When we are born, we are on average more than 75% water, and by the time we reach adulthood, we are down to 60%. If we die of old age, we will probably be about 50% water. So from a physical perspective, we exist mostly as water throughout our lives.

Because of its significance in all our lives, I want to examine water from a holistic point of view to understand the pearls of wisdom it holds. Like all of the elements, water is a great spirit, so we must respect and nurture it, ensuring we have access to a pure water supply and acknowledge its impact on our body, mind and spirit.

The Hidden Messages in Water

Japanese scientist Masaru Emoto shows how the influence of our thoughts, words and feelings on molecules of water can positively impact the earth and our personal health.

When we pray to water with intentional sound, the crystals of water change, which is truly magnificent. Because we are made out of 60% water, it makes sense that when we speak to ourselves positively, with loving compassion and kindness, the water in our bodies resonates with it, too. For me, the practice of Affirmation is immensely powerful, it helps us to change the pattern of our thoughts and self-talk, resulting in a better mood (which is not only positive for you, but also those in your close environment!)

Limiting beliefs and ideas are often the cause of illness, Louise Hay's book "You Can Heal Your Life" unpacks how to use the power of affirmations to bring about self-healing and positive change, improving the quality of your life. Louise was able to put her philosophies into practice when she was diagnosed with cancer. She considered the alternatives to surgery and drugs, and instead developed an intensive program of affirmations, visualization, nutritional cleansing, and psychotherapy. Within six months, she was completely healed of cancer.

The Ripple Effect

When we throw a stone into the water and let it bounce, each point where it touches creates a circular ripple. These ripples expand outward until the water becomes still for the visible eye. What is invisible to our perception is all the parts between and beyond the circles, where the water still creates change through patterns. If we zoom in on these circles, we would see the interconnectedness of the water, how everything moves together in synchronicity. Similarly, we need to think about how our actions correspond in reality with others, asking ourselves, "what effect do I have on close ones, my inner circle? And what effect does that have on others, beyond my circle?". When we observe these circular ripples, we realise that they are extending towards each other until they are touching. Similarly, our actions extend far beyond our close environment.

Most of us have heard of the butterfly effect, which is the idea that small things can have non-linear impacts on a complex system. The concept is often imagined with a butterfly flapping its wings and causing a typhoon. Symbolically, it means that we need to be conscious of our actions, because we don't know how our actions may impact others. I believe that the smallest actions can lead to a big shift in the world and that every one of us is responsible for the change we want to see in this world.

Maybe you can think about it this way... 100 years from now, everyone you know who has a living memory of you on this planet will be gone. So what is it that you want to leave behind? What impact will you have on the world? How you treat this planet and people today can have a lasting impact on the ones to come.

You can change the lives of so many around you, not with force or the intention to control, but with openness and love. With the understanding that we are all sharing this human experience and have more in common than the things that separate us. I wish that I leave something beautiful behind, planting seeds of consciousness and kindness, and to treat people equally, realising that the only separation is in our minds.

Be like water

“Men are born soft and supple; dead they are stiff and hard. Plants are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry. Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death. Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life. The hard and stiff will be broken. The soft and supple will prevail.”

Lao Tzu, Tao te Ching

Water teaches us the importance of finding stillness within. Even though things can be turbulent at times, it is necessary to slow down so we can regain our focus. While water is soft in its liquid form, it can shape a hard material like rock. Through the friction formed by its movement, water gradually grinds the rough edges of rocks until the surfaces become smooth and soft. Although water does not intend to do this, it has a profound impact on its environment. It might seem surprising at first because we don't expect something soft like water to affect a solid rock. Yet, through persistence, little by little, it gradually shapes the surface of its seemingly solid companion.

When we look into ourselves, we may find hard, edgy rocks somewhere in our lives. This could be in the form of suppressed emotions, or maybe a relationship with someone you love, where the energy can't flow freely at the moment. It comes to me that there is no way to argue our way through it, being impatient and harsh results mostly in more pain and conflict rather than resolution and harmony. So when we practice our gentleness, being open for free-flowing conversations, where we respect the boundaries of each other and compassionately listen to what each of us has to say, we can find the balance, we can find stillness and through this stillness we allow this energy to flow without obstacles. When this happens we allow change into our lives, room for growth and insights, which is so beautiful and heart-opening. Sometimes things may seem static at first glance, but in its essence is energy, everything is vibrating and constantly changing.

In life we need to be persistent to co-create, we need to be patient and trust into the process, realising that every step along the path is the goal. The destination is to be here in this moment, and through presence, we can access all that we need, to be in service of our purest form and likewise for others. Water doesn't intend to be anything, yet it is everywhere at the same time. It doesn't force or want to control, yet through its flexibility it has immense strength. It is formable and adapts to its environment, which can create so much peace and fertile ground for inspiration.

For instance, when we sit on a stream in the forest and listen to the movement of the water, we allow its gentle sound to soak us in its stillness, which creates a feeling of peace and contentment, allowing us to restore our minds and find clarity. This stillness balances you, it can be the source of brilliant ideas, and recharges your imagination and creativity, which you carry through your day, long after this magical experience has passed. It is such a beautiful internalisation to understand that we are a mirror of everything that is happening around us and our actions will reflect on those we love so dearly. If we have the ability and allow ourselves to be surrounded by nature, we are in our element, disconnecting ourselves from the superficial environment we are all navigating day by day, giving us the opportunity to recharge and reconnect with what really matters.

Even though we are a reflection of nature, it doesn't mean that everyone is a reflection of us, because everyone has a different set of beliefs, conditions and constructs in their minds and they will treat you differently. It is good to understand what kind of relationship you foster with individuals and understand the value of it. Every person we encounter has a lesson for us to learn and there is an infinite list. We need people to test our limits sometimes, so we can grow beyond our own expectations. But recognise the qualities you want to be inspired to reflect and what you want reflecting back to you. Align yourself with your values and spend time with people who do the same. Conscious relationships built on mutual trust and support enables more and more people to reflect positive attributes.

Water is cleansing

We all experience how cleansing water is, when we are tired and jump into the shower it can feel like we are reborn. It's not only cleansing for our skin, but can be refreshing on a hot day when the cold water is running down our naked skin. It is also purifying for our energy field, showering our aura with the intention to cleanse us of negative energy that doesn't belong to us or energy that doesn't serve us any longer. Showering is a simple yet powerful method for renewing and healing your own energy system.

In many native cultures, water is sacred and has been seen as a symbol of life, healing, love, compassion and fertility. Through connecting with water, we connect with spirit and strengthen our bond with nature. Maybe we feel so comfortable in warm water because we were surrounded by it when we were a foetus in our mother's womb. Water was with us from the beginning of our lives and will be with us until our last breath.

The Power of Balance

Water teaches us effortless actions, which can also be referred to as free flow or, like in the Taoist Concept, Wu Wei, which can be translated as 'non-doing' or 'effortless action'. Water doesn't desire or expect, it simply is in flawless state, which allows it to be dynamic and respond intuitively to every situation. Likewise, when we are present in this moment, we are able to interact with our environment to our full capacity. It requires inner strength and courage, as we need to drop our intellectual constructs and assumptions, so we can engage with the world as it unfolds itself.

Water does not have desires or intentions; it simply is. Through this acceptance and adaptability, it can co-exist with every given environment. For example, water evaporates from the oceans and condenses in the form of ice crystals and water droplets in rain clouds. A rain cloud starts to rain when the water droplets or ice crystals within it become too large and heavy to be suspended in the air.

When the sun dries the wet earth, the water starts to evaporate again and the circle starts from the beginning. This circle represents a perfect equilibrium, it symbolises harmony and teaches us the importance of balance between body, mind and spirit. Yet it doesn't desire to be anywhere, it is everywhere at the same time. It teaches us the power of letting go and being boundless and free in our actions. We are all a drop in the ocean of consciousness, and within each drop, the whole ocean is contained.

On the other hand, we can see the disastrous impact if too much energy accumulates in one area and is released at once, as seen in natural disasters like tsunamis, floods, or avalanches.

This demonstrates the importance of having tools to release or guide our energy into something outside of us in healthy ways.

Mind, Body, Spirit

We need to nourish these three pillars of our being; the body, mind and spirit. We must find ways to bring balance into our system, so we can create balance for others. One of the best ways to do so is when you start your day. For me, it is nature, meditation, visualisation, movement, writing, reading, and music. Think about what activities help you to find balance for a happy and healthy life. You don't need to do everything all the time, figure out what works best for you throughout the week. Build a routine that allows you to explore different parts of yourself, strengthening holistic connections. Finding ways to harmonise with the rhythms of nature is magical as it helps us to understand our own cycles. Everything can be seen as a mirror and we are a reflection of all that surrounds us.

There is so much more to say about this miraculous substance, this essence of life that embodies itself in all of us. Thank you water. May all beings be blessed with the water they need.

It is such a gift to look inside and discover new insights. Maybe you can share yours with us! We would love for you leave a comment, or send a DM via the form below or engage with us on instagram Co_Creators.connective. We are very excited to hear your unique perspectives. We are all Co-Creators, here to share and grow together.

Love & Gratitude

Co-Creators

Yannik (main author) & Tui (editor)