The mythical power of water has enchanted human minds for millennia. With many origin stories claiming that human beings were created from earth mixed with water, folklore reminds us that the power of this element (and its importance to life) has always been known to us.
We often tend to forget exactly where the water we drink comes from. We see this clear, life-giving liquid in a bottle and forget that it was made by Mother Earth, forged in clouds, or sprung from the depths of the soil. We forget that drinking water connects us to all things and that this element reminds us of the web of life and the continuous cycle of nature.
Our planet can be seen as a ball of water floating in space, with fire at its center and rock embedded in its depths, and this play of water, fire, space, and earth is mirrored within ourselves – a balanced mixture of water, heat, space, and flesh.
With this in mind, drinking water becomes a sacred ritual of connecting to (our) nature, replenishing ourselves, and sustaining life within us, and research has shown that while humans can go over 7 days without food, we last a mere 2 days without water.
Since choosing to live my life more intentionally, I’ve found that taking the time to shift my perspective and view the bigger picture often reveals the magic in the mundane, and with water, zooming in to appreciate the minute details does the same.
This is especially highlighted by one of my favorite scientific experiments which was performed by Dr. Masaru Emoto, a Japanese scientist who revolutionized the idea that our thoughts and intentions impact the physical realm, by proving how the molecular structure in water transforms when it is exposed to human words, thoughts, sounds and intentions.
Water exposed to loving, benevolent, and compassionate human intention results in aesthetically pleasing physical molecular formations in the water while water exposed to fearful and discordant human intentions results in disconnected, disfigured, and “unpleasant” physical molecular formations.
This proves that water possesses an innate intelligence that responds to different forms of emotional energy and that how we think about and treat the water we drink, is likely to change how it makes us feel in return.
Apart from the energetic make up of our water, the purity of our water is vitally important as well. As our minds and psyche have become cluttered with hyper-consumerism, capitalism, power, and greed – our water has mirrored our inner pollution to us. Over half of the world does not have access to clean drinking water and those who do, have over-treated water, lacking in minerals and full of micro-plastics.
However, as our future begins to look more and more dire, I’ve often found that ancient lessons from the past provide solutions, and filtering water with charcoal is one such example.
Back in 2000 BC, ancient Sanskrit texts referenced filtering water through charcoal – a carbon residue formed from burning wood – and by 400 BC, Nile-dwelling ancient Egyptians also began using charcoal or charred wood to treat their water after accidentally discovering charcoal’s antiseptic properties.
Filtering water with charcoal is another way human beings have tapped into our connection with nature and the cosmos. Carbon – the star dust within us – is one of the most enduring elements on our planet and makes up close to half of all dry biomass on Earth, as well as 12% of our bodies.
Charcoal water filters use a process called adsorption to filter out unwanted compounds from water. Adsorption (not to be confused with absorption) is when a solid substance attracts other molecules to its surface, and because carbon bonds easily and strongly to other chemicals, charcoal filters act like a magnet for unwanted compounds in water.
In this way, charcoal filters leave all of the good stuff in our water while inexpensively improving its taste and quality which is great for taste and for our wellbeing.
With all of this being said, it’s clear that our relationship with water is far more than just skin deep – water is a part of us and a part of our world, and drinking water is a sacred act of remembering who we are and how we are connected to this incredible world around us.
In closing, here’s a short and sweet mindfulness practice you can use the next time you take a sip of water to help you connect to its magic:
1. Take a deep breath and make your water “happy” by telling it 3 things you are grateful for.
2. Pause and look at your water reminding yourself of the many oceans, lakes, springs, rivers, and clouds it is connecting you to.
3. Filter your water using charcoal and remind yourself that you are purifying it with star dust, just like our ancestors did.
4. Savour the taste of your water and imagine it cleansing you from the inside out, washing away any fatigue, worry, or stress.
5. Lastly remind yourself to hydrate more – aiming for at least 2 liters of water a day.
Written by Dr. Anesu Mbizvo
@dranesumbizvo
Product Images by Vusi Mathe
@vusi.mathe
About Dr. Anesu Mbizvo
A holistic health advocate, certified yoga teacher, and passionate proponent of sustainable living ♻️. As the founder of The Nest Space (@thenestspaceza) and Head of Wellness at Thornybush Safari (@thornybush.safari), Dr. Mbizvo integrates wellness and environmental consciousness into daily practice. Recognized as one of the #MG200Young, she leads with a commitment to inclusive and sustainable health solutions 🧘🏾.