Water is.

Slippery and yielding, water is shape shifting. A swerve to the left of that stone, a slow rise into clouds, the fall of the rain. Water will change form to fill its container. Water is a precious source of nourishment and one of the nature’s endangered resources. Endangered, not because of any lack of abundance, but rather a mistreatment, ignorance on behalf of humans who need it the most. Water is associated with the sacral chakra (connected to the uterus) center of sensuality, sexuality, desire, creation. Water has a strong relationship to the enigmatic orb: the moon. Water lives in the sacred outlet of our emotional lives, our tears. Whether tears are shed in joy, in grief, in wonderment, in longing, water is always there.

For those who are paying attention, water is perhaps the most awe-inspiring of all the elements. Its ever-changing nature, its mystery, depth, its essential nourishment, its dreamy palate of blues. We drink it, we bath in it; water moves through us and around us every single day.

Water in the Wild.

When we turn to the wild for guidance, water is there: nourishing us, cleansing us, allowing us to swim, to float, to dream. Immersed in water, we are light, held, in constant movement. Water in some environments, can be sweet, loving, subtle, calm (think baths, streams, lakes). In other environments, water can be volatile, overwhelming, crushing (think waterfalls, rapids, Tsunamis). Water requires a self-mastery for those who wish to enjoy its fruits.

Water in the Body.

Made predominantly of water, we humans have access to the water element constantly. What many forget is the healing, emotional, purifying, intuitive layers this of this element. When we look to our inner waters, we have access to another world. When looking out on the ocean from the shore, we only see the surface. It is not until we dive in and take a look around do we see the world below the world: so full of unusual creatures, colors, unfathomable depth, darkness, treasure, life, so much life. To access the water in us, we must dare to dive into the unknown.

Water delivers its messages in a poetic manner. Swirling and felt, beyond logic. Water’s messages come in wrapped in mystery. Words don’t often come first in water’s language. Instead, there is feeling, imagery, symbolism, some deep inner call. Our inner waters abide in our emotional natures, our intuition, our dream world. Water requires us to learn the language of inner knowing. This can be a slippery slope, yet can yield that high reward: intimacy & connection (with ourselves & all of life, above and below).

A Note about Water & Patriarchy

Water is strongly associated with feminine nature (in all people of all genders): The part of us which dreams, feels, imagines, intuits. Because of the beyond-linear, mysterious, other-worldly power that feminine/water brings, the inner water (and the feminine) became mistrusted at best & violently oppressed at worst. What has happened to the feminine is much like what has happened to the physical water on our own planet: rivers damned up, oceans poisoned & polluted, an abundant natural resource bottled up and sold.

There is much work to do toward healing the damage, in the physical world & internally. Reclaiming our inner waters, learning tools to feel, receive, understand & navigate these waters, creating safe & sacred spaces for this exploration is a large part of purpose, aim, mission of The Wild Woman Project.

Navigating Your Inner Water.

If one wishes to walk on the path of one’s own true nature, the inner water must be visited often & given permission to do what it does best: flow & nourish.

Know thyself: For the Naturally Watery Types

We all have access to our inner waters, some more than others.

For Naturally Watery folks: Those with strong Cancer, Scorpio & Pisces astrological aspects. Also, those who identify with the Kapha (earth & water) & Pitta (fire & water) doshas (from the Ayurvedic System), may find yourselves swimming through your inner waters more often. When one with a watery constitution has not learned to navigate & understand the watery world of emotions, intuition & dream life, the inner landscape can be confusing, murky & even melancholy. Excessive water can mean extreme sensitivity, delusion, illusion. There can be so much feeling in these watery beings, it can sometimes overwhelm & become so intense that water folk seek out ways to numb. Excessive watery constitution is often is linked to addiction where the drug of choice (including food, sex, alcohol, television and other drugs) often temporarily soothes the pain & intensity that can come this much water.

The Medicine.

Water folk need to take a lesson from the scuba diver who must first train, then suit up with all manner of helpful tools, find a safe space, and finally dive in. Seek teachers & guidance from trustworthy humans in the areas of emotional intelligence, dream work, intuition, archetypal understanding. Gather helpful tools like: a purification practice, a meditation practice, a dream journal, a helpful book, personal daily rituals. Find a safe space perhaps in a class setting, in circle, with a therapist or guide, to be supported in safely listening into your inner waters & gaining deeper understanding of their messages.

Make art of come kind, especially those that do not require words, such as: painting, crafting, sculpting, playing music, dancing, etc.

Self-Knowledge is most important for you, dear watery heart. You have within you the greatest gifts of creativity, right brain thinking, depth, empathy. The more you can see your sensitive nature as a gift, the more your give your inner waters permission to flow.

Caution for watery folk: In times of intense emotions, know that your feelings are the truth, but not the whole truth. Make sure you are seeing the whole situation clearly before you make any big moves.

Prayer for the water folk: May you courageously dive into the inner waters, with wisdom. And may you bring back the treasures of knowledge, compassion & beauty to transform yourself & those around you.

Allowing Your Water~ for my airy, earthy, fiery friends.

It should be noted that the other elements have the most amazing gifts to offer (and challenges too). See the fire & air & earth posts. For today our exploration is her majesty, water.

Understanding the Value

The water in us is where we feel, where we connect on the deepest levels. The soft strength of vulnerability, the precursor to intimacy & connection, is associated with water. For those with less water, emotions & intuition are often consciously or unconsciously undervalued and/or feared. Which is totally understandable. For to feel is to feel all: the joy & the grief, the connection & the longing, the confidence & the insecurity. Likewise, with intuition, to See is to see all: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Diving into the inner waters is one of the most courageous & rewarding things one can do.

To increase your water: Sit with the paragraph above. Ask yourself honestly: do I mistrust my inner waters? Find your way into environments & relationships where emotions are celebrated, allowed, even honored. Ask yourself often: how am I feeling? Take baths, go swimming, drink water consciously. Dance from your hips. Learn about the Sacral/2nd Chakra, explore yours. Intentionally develop a relationship with the moon, conductor of the tides. Read fiction rich with archetypes and passion.

Contemplations for the drier constitutions:

• Earthy Folk: Let the rain of your feelings & dream life nourish your inner soil.
• Fire Folk: Careful to not to let your white-hot-will dry up the inner waters. Think bonfire by the ocean.
• Air: The balance of Water & Air as symbolic of the Marriage of the right & left hemispheres of your brain.
  

Prayer for the drier constitutions: May you learn to allow, trust & swim through the waters of life, inner & outer.

In closing.

The most illuminating words on water I’ve ever read-a quote from Chinese poet & philosopher, Lao-Tzu:

Water is fluid, soft, and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. This is another paradox: what is soft is strong.

FLOW FORTH.

XO

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans; in one aspect of You are found all the aspects of existence.

~Kahlil Gibran