The Wonders of Water: Metaphor in Motion

The Wonders of Water: Metaphor in Motion You may agree that the greatest metaphor for life is held deep within the beauty of water in its many splendid forms. It speaks for itself when you simply look at the rippling rivers, luminous lakes, wondrous waterfalls, sparkling streams and omnipotent oceans that abound us. This article was written as my personal invitation to inspire you to new levels of appreciation and higher awareness so you may become more grateful for the intricate Wonders of Water. My primary intent is that you will be able to take the time to reflect, appreciate and recognize the enormous multiplicity and immense value that this natural wonder provides for all of us all the time. Clear pure water is at the source of all life. It is universal. It is what we know inside the womb, where we each start out. It is what each and every one of us needs in order to live and stay healthy. In its most basic regard, one might say that it has no beginning and has no end. The evaporation/condensation cycle ensures a stable constancy of perpetual production within nature. We can find comfort in knowing that this continuous, eternal generosity which we rely on, sustains us all. This “stable constancy” itself conveys an underlying metaphor for the “stable constancy” of self. It lends itself both to the practical and to the metaphysical domain. We know that water purifies. It has been used in healing rituals throughout time. It has its own unique attributes and properties that all living creatures in the ecosystem need, including plants and all of our animal friends. Its broader metaphorical meaning has infinite bounty of interpretation. To mention just a few, water captures a full range of emotion. There’s nothing quite like sitting near the quiet stillness of a lake, which may represent patience and trust; On the other hand, the formidable crashing waves in a robust storm or hurricane may indicate feelings of anger, overwhelm or perhaps an impulsive reaction exploding as it washes to shore. It swishes. It soothes and it can sparkle in the sunlight an array of greens and blues that reveal nature’s healing energy. The tremendous marvels of water may also flow through a waterfall that oftentimes may “take our breathe away”. Similarly, we can all relate to a time when this has occurred in our lives as we’ve felt a sudden plunge at a split moment, when we have witnessed or reached a maximum point of critical mass. Yet even then we can breathe in once again when we flow with the currents of our own lives. The currents bring us back into the harmonious flow that was always intended. Water is a magnificent medium for healing meditation There is a certainty of knowing that we will hear the sounds of the rain falling sooner or later. The sounds in themselves have such unique healing properties that are being replicated in consumerism marketing, i.e. as sound makers have become popular for their use as sleep aids to muddle out background noise. Even the most sophisticated replications cannot measure up to the sounds of a real river that carries a lightness and spontaneity that we may internalize to align our innate spirit and sense of freedom. In essence, there’s nothing like the real thing which has the intrinsic ability to gently transport your soul into its own necessary journey, destined for you. It seems hard to imagine that you can actually float amidst the water’s surface, that which you cannot hold securely in your hand for all too long. This is how the fluidity of life keeps us afloat on the journey even though we can hardly grasp it! So we do know that water nourishes your every cell within your being and aids all of your body’s functions. It cleanses you both on the outside as well as from the inside out. It captures your every emotion and reflects it back to you so you may personally grow. On many levels it soothes you in so many ways. We use it in our daily living and often it has gone unnoticed. It has been something that many of us have taken for granted throughout most of our lives. It is my hope that you may now choose to feel a renewed gratitude when you take that next drink of water. It quenches your thirst and nurtures your being. We can all be grateful that it is abundant and flows with a fortitude and felt presence that we can all enjoy.