Blog 4 - Water is Water is Water

‘The wise man delights in water’.

R. Murray Schafer (Universal Edition Score, 1973).    

Over a century ago the healing waters of Banja Guber in Srebrenica, Bosnia-Herzegovina had been medicinally used to treat varying health conditions (Sarajevo Times, 2016). Guber Water contains forty-eight springs, sixteen of which have been tested scientifically and found to contain healing properties (Furaj. ba, 2024). It has been particularly successful in treating skin conditions such as Leprosy. What was once a spa resort in 1961, Banja Guber had been a popular tourist destination, but was abandoned due to the 90’s conflict.  It has since been revived in March 2016 with the water being utilised as a medicinal treatment for conditions such as anaemia, and multiple sclerosis. Written records evidence the popularity of this water in the US market by the millions of bottles that were transported there at the end of the last century (Sarajevo Times, 2016). I experienced this healing water firsthand when a friend introduced me to the Banja Guber in 2005. As we walked, they pointed out varying parts of the springs that were for healing specific parts of the body such as skin or eyes. The very aura of Gaia, Mother Nature seemed to permeate the senses, particularly the scent instilling a sense of calm and restoration.  

‘Everything in the universe vibrates’.  – Dr Masaru Emoto (The Wellness Enterprise, 2017).

Japanese Scientist Masaru Emoto believes Mother Nature is at the heart of everything (GOYSTube, 2013). Through his vibrational experiments with water, Emoto has been successful in presenting us with visual photographs that evidence the impact words and music have upon water. By conducting varying experiments, of not only speaking positive and negative words on glasses of water, Emoto has additionally proven how the power of thought impacts vibrationally (GOYSTube, 2013). By freezing water droplets, Emoto analysed varying qualities from comparative sources such as natural springs and tap water with positive and negative water experiments: a distinctive difference was produced.

Emoto discovered that hexagonal crystals were produced when something positive was said or ‘given’ to the water. However, when something negative was expressed, a smudged shape or no hexagon was produced.

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Image, (GOYSTube, 2013)

Emoto believed that the hexagonal shapes represent harmony and alignment.  He explained that when the hexagon does not appear, it means there is imbalance (GOYSTube, 2013).

Image, (GOYSTube, 2013)

The flower of life is symbiotic of life itself, (Out of Stress, 2023).

This image can be seen in the background visual design during one of Karlheinz Stockhausen’s performances where there is a curtain of the flower of life (Swenson, 2018).

                                                                    Image, (Swenson, 2018).

The flower of life is thought to be one of the most powerful sacred geometric symbols representing the blueprint of the universe containing 15 symbols (Out of Stress, 2023).

Image, (Out of Stress, 2023).

Cymatics is visual representation of sound which forms as sacred geometry which can be seen in the image below.

(Eneix, L.C. (Ed) (2017.  p. 228).

The flower of life symbols contain hexagonal shapes with six sides. The Book of Life – The I-Ching’ is an ancient oracle that is based on the use and understanding of trigrams which are combined together to create ‘hexagons’, (See below for images and the representation of water.) I learned how to integrate the use of the I-Ching by activating the sixty-four patterns through the use of rhythmic drumming in my initial beginnings training as a sound practitioner in 2011-2013 (Wen, 2019).

Image, (Wen, 2019).

Image of 64 I-Ching Hexagons, (Wen, 2019).

(Eneix, L.C. (Ed) (2017. p. 134).

Ancient ways appear to our attention in modern times and perhaps there is an innate calling to rediscover what has been covered or forgotten. Emoto was able to prove that words contain vibrations that travel and impact on the environment (GOYSTube, 2013). In his book, ‘The Biology of Belief,’ Bruce H. Lipton explored the power of belief: and cultivated an environment that can alter our genes. There has been growing interest in how behaviours and environmental factors can impact on genes, which is known as Epigenetics (Lipton, B, 2015).

Emoto’s belief regards human nature as creating music that rebalances the ‘vibrations distorted by history.’ This may also offer us a mirror to the present day in how we interact on a societal level and indeed with the natural environment. ‘That’s why I’m so certain that music is a form of healing before it is art' Dr Masaru Emoto (GOYSTube, 2013). There appears to be a recognition that music is far more important in our culture than it is currently valued, and even an essential communicative component in our ecosystem. It can also be considered that on the basis of Emoto’s experiments, and the impacts of Banja Guber, that water can also heal. The merging of both together could offer us a global a healing river if we listen, learn, explore, and experiment for ourselves.

‘Water is the life’s blood of our Mother the Earth; Water is the life blood of our own body’, (Jerome, Sing The Water Song, 2018)

This Algonquin Water Song was composed for Grandfather William Commanda's 2002 Circle of All Nations gathering. It embodies appreciation and celebration for the water mirroring its purpose to elevate the consciousness and, ‘connection of women with Mother Nature’s greatest gift’ (Sing the Water Song, 2018). This song is reflected in Shafer’s composition ‘Miniwanka’ that, ‘the wise man delights in water’ (Schafer, 1973). This union of respect honours ancient ways in modern days.

Photograph image from Miniwanka Score, (Schafer,1973).

Photograph image from Miniwanka Score, (Schafer,1973).

‘Water is sacred. Water is life. Water connects and unites us all. It is all Women’s responsibility to speak for and take care of the water' (Jaguar Bird, 2018).

Ancient ways can guide us through connectivity with water honouring what is has to offer us as a life sustaining gift. It can enable people to elevate in their delight of water, and how ancestral practices hold value in contemporary society. A returning to an awakening, and a fluid movement towards wellbeing, wellness, and celebration of life.

References:

Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Last reviewed 15 August 2022) What is Epigenetics? Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/disease/epigenetics.htm  (Accessed: 23 October 2023).

Collins, R. (1993) THE FU HIS I CHING – The Early Heaven Sequence. London: University Press of America.

Eco Institute. (Updated 2023) Cymatics: The Sacred Geometry of Sound. Available at: https://eocinstitute.org/meditation/cymatics/?mind_power (Accessed:11 November 2023).

Eneix, L.C. (Ed) (2017) 'Archaeoacoustics III - The Archaeology of Sound,' Publication of the 2017 Conference, Portugal.  Florida: The OTS Foundation (2018).

Furaj.ba (2024) Guber Water – The Medicinal Treasure of Srebrenica. Available at: https://furaj.ba/guber-water-the-medicinal-treasure-of-srebrenica/ (Accessed: 1 November 2023).

Gaia (2022) Water is Alive and Responds to Human Emotion. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmUk-gDfZA0 (Accessed: 11 November 23).

GOYSTube (2013) Messages from Water. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P78VZzaHDVA (Accessed: 11 November 2023).

Isha.Sadhguru (2015) Water Has Memory. Available at: https://isha.sadhguru.org/uk/en/wisdom/audio/water-has-memory (Accessed: 2 November 2023).

Jaguar Bird (2018) Algonquin Water Song: Women, Water Carriers & Protectors. Available at: https://youtu.be/dDGWuPUH5_A?feature=shared (Accessed: 4 December 2023).

Lipton, B. (2015) The Biology of Belief. London: Hay House.

Lush (2023) Lush Documentary: Water has Memory

Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vonRjPjEfys (Accessed 2.11.2023).

Out of Stress (2023) Flower of Life Meaning. Available at: https://www.outofstress.com/flower-of-life-meaning/ (Accessed: 3 December 2023).

Remembering Srebrenica (2021) Srebrenica Memorial Day. Available at: https://srebrenica.org.uk/ (Accessed 30 October 2023).

Sarajevo Times (2016) Beauty from BiH: the healing Water from Banja Guber.

Available at: https://sarajevotimes.com/beauty-from-bih-water-from-banja-guber/ (Accessed 11 November 2023).

Schafer, R, M. (1973) Music for Young Players - Miniwanka or The Moments of Water. Toronto, Canada: Universal Editon Ltd [Musical Score].

Silf, M. (2001) Sacred Spaces. Oxford: Lion Hudson.

Sing the Water Song (2018) History of the Water Song. Available at: https://www.singthewatersong.com/history-of-the-water-song/ (Accessed: 2 November 2023).

Sing the Water Song (2018) Sing the Water Song. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC2FHciQ0sU (Accessed: 2 November 2023).

Swan Clan Productions (2015) The Water Song Chenoa Egawa & Alex Turtle. 

Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_KNLo5Q7ek (Accessed: 2 November 2023).

Swenson, K. (2018) Stimmung: Tuning, Timbre, Form and Performance.

Available at: https://kevinswenson.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Stimmung.pdf   (Accessed: 12 October 2023).

Tat,W. (1977) The Exposition of The I-Ching. Hong Kong: Dai Nippon Printing Co Ltd.

Tharhythm (2009) Dr Emoto - Effects on Water Crystals. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFDYhG5rvqM (Accessed: 11 November 2023).

The Big Sing (2015) Miniwanka (or 'the Moments of Water') - R Murray Schafer.

Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R60Cx70V4nU (Accessed: 22 November 2023).

The Wellness Enterprise (2017) Dr. Masaru Emoto and Water Consciousness. Available at: https://thewellnessenterprise.com/emoto/ (Accessed: 16 November 2023).

Uplift (2016) Masaru Emoto’s Experiment in Gratitude. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDNhH8deZPg (Accessed: 11 November 2023).

Uplift (2017) Speaking to the Water with Pat McCabe. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeeAMNxuqio (Accessed: 2 November 2023).

Vancouver Chamber Choir (2016) Miniwanka - R. Murray Schafer.

Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViBbRM3gFnI (Accessed: 22 November 2023).

Vejzovic, A. BH Adventures (2022) Guber, Unused sources of healing mineral water, Srebrenica - Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Available at: https://youtu.be/QDbsEzC0C7I?si=ipzWq7LkbFB2zihS (Accessed 22 October 2023).

Wen, B. (2019) Reference Tables & Diagrams. Available at: https://benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle/reference-tables-diagrams/ (Accessed: 11 November 2023).