 Spiritual: January 16, 2008 Issue [#2175] |
  Spiritual
This week: Edited by: Sophurky  
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Hi, I'm Sophurky ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter. This week we'll talk about the spiritual significance of water throughout many of the world's religions, and how that spiritual connection impacts our writing.
The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book Finding Your Religion, compares humanity's innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountain. In his view, we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative mountain in our search for the divine, we just may take different ways to get there. In other words, there is one "God," but many paths. I honor whatever path or paths you have chosen to climb that mountain in your quest for the Sacred.  |
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The Spiritual Power of Water
All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full;
to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again.
Ecclesiastes 1:7
On those who enter the same rivers,
ever different waters flow.
Heraclitus
We all come from the Goddess, and to her we shall return
like a drop of rain flowing to the ocean.
Z. Budapest
This past Sunday Christians around the world observed "Baptism of the Lord" Sunday, commemorating Jesus baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptizer. Because water plays such an important role in Christian baptism, as well as other religious traditions, I thought it would be an interesting topic for us to consider this week, as the power and meaning of water can also be a common theme in writing.
For instance, in some pagan celebrations water is associated with feelings and camaraderie. When covens celebrate sabbats, they will pass the chalice around the circle, each member taking a sip while another member offers this blessing: "May you never thirst." Further, in all earth-based religions water is one of the four elements (air, water, earth, fire).
In addition, those who practice Judaism observe ritual cleansing within the tradition of the Mikvah (or mikveh), a specific type of bath designed for the purpose of ritual immersion. The word "mikvah", as used in the Hebrew Bible, literally means a "collection" - generally, a collection of water. Other ritualistic cleansings are part of the tradition, and water was also used throughout Jewish history to anoint a person as a sign of their being chosen or accepted with a special identity or calling.
In Hinduism, the festival of Kumbha Mela occurs four times every twelve years (it begins around the time of the Christian celebration of the baptism of Jesus and goes through the end of February). The origin of Kumbha Mela lies in the story of the time when the gods and demons churned the ocean in search of the nectar of immortality. And part of the celebration of Khumbha Mela includes a sacred pilgrimage to ritually bathe in four different rivers during the twelve year cycle.
These are just a few examples of the centrality of water in religious traditions. It's not surprising that water plays such a key role in some religious traditions and rituals. After all, the human body is a "body of water" in and of itself. It is what we are made of and it keeps us alive. Water and its dissolved constituents make up the bulk of our bodies, and determine the nature of nearly every physiological process. We are made of intracellular fluid, the liquid within our cells, and of extracellular fluid, which includes our plasma and other solutions which are under our skin. Thus, when we bleed, our blood is as wet and salty as the sea, for our biochemistry is still based to a great extent on the salinity of the oceans from which we evolved. We land-dwellers rose up out of the oceans, and are filled with the substances which birthed us onto terra firma in the first place.
Water has long been considered a sign of "life" to scientists. The discovery of signs of water near the surface of Mars a few years ago gave a boost to the already hot field of astrobiology, the study of issues related to other life in the universe. Scientists have long believed that the materials that led to life on Earth also exist, or previously existed, on Mars. These ingredients include carbon, certain minerals, energy, and … WATER. Further, water is essential to our survival. Studies have shown that we can live for weeks without food, but we can live only days without water. And though most of us don't, we all know that we should drink eight glasses of water every day to maintain optimum health.
Finally, water invites us to think about the depth of the Sacred presence in our lives and about a limitless love, which pursues us relentlessly, and which is both within and without. Water suggest, at least symbolically, the deep and limitless mystery of the very essence of existence, which we contain within ourselves and which also dwells outside of ourselves. Water can serve as a reminder of the connection we have to the Sacred and to the rest of creation.
No wonder water is such a powerful theme in writing. One can't help but make a spiritual connection to water, and so may books, poems, and movies are filled with meaningful references to it. For just one example I am reminded, for instance, of the closing lines of the movie/book "A River Runs Through It," ...
Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of those rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.
I am haunted by waters.
How does water flow through your writing?
Sophurky
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Below you'll find some offerings from other WDC members about the significance or power of water in their writing. Please let the folks know if you read their piece by leaving a thoughtful comment and/or review.
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Here are some responses to my last newsletter about "light in the darkness!" Hope to hear from more of you next time! And don't forget to pass on subject ideas for future newsletters. 
From larryp
Very good seasonal newsletter Sophy, with a nice contract of light and dark. Nurturing our concern for the well being of others, particularly for those who are not in a position to care for themselves, is the only way that human society will overcome the realities of fear, violence and greed that have so long dominated our existence. ~~I really liked this concept.
kansaspoet
Larry
Thank you once again for your kind words, Larry. I'm glad you liked it!
  
From orman5
Very well put even tho I have developed my own religious belief and behaviour..it used to be a ladder to climb but in this day and age its not so difficult...I believe that everyone is looking for something without most realising that what they are really looking for is themselves..the road to god I believe is thru the real self first..(I know there are many implications and arguments to that)..however..God first in whatever form they seek..respects orman5
Thank you for sharing your perspective, Orman. I think our spiritual paths must also involve finding our authentic selves as well, and appreciate your words.
From Gracious 
Thank you so much for the information on the different traditions that use light as a guidance through these holidays. I am a christian who celebrates advent and I am an african american who also celebrates Kwanzaa. While kwanzaa may not seem like a religious or spiritual thing I assure you it is more because it is what we as African American are made of. Every thing to us is spiritual. This is a great newsletter. Thank you for your honesty. May you have a blessed christmas this season.
Thank you for your thoughtful and kind words, and for making the clarification about Kwanzaa. What I meant was that Kwanzaa was not specifically a religious tradition, but indeed it is very spiritual, so thank you for making that more clear. I hope you had a blessed Christmas and Kwanzaa!
From Charles
Dear Sophie.
I believe spiritual visions are quite common and would be more common if only it was ok to expect them. For me it has been common since the age of 10 and now I am 65.
It would lend tremendous power to the good we wish - to be and to do - if only it was acceptable in normal sharing of experiences.
Then it wouldn't be limited to religions and sects or the paranormal.
I enjoyed this newsletter of yours!
Thanks,
Charlie
Thanks so much for sharing your perspective, Charlie! It is greatly appreciated. You make an excellent point about our being more open to and accepting of spiritual visions. Thank you!
From Wren
A wonderful letter, SophY Bells. I especially appreciate the description of Kwanzaa, which I didn't know anything about. Keep on shining your light in the darkness.
Glad I was able to share a new spiritual tradition with you! And thank you for the compliments!
From donald
Dear,SophY where ever u turn in this life or the next life the light of a loving God will be "there"...It is the choices we make that are very important...Don.
Thanks, Don, for your comment about the light always being there, which I also believe, and what you say about our choices. More for us to ponder!
Please keep your comments and suggestions coming, they are greatly appreciated! And on behalf of myself and the other wonderful Spiritual Newsletter Editors, Puditat larryp kittiara -- thanks for reading this newsletter!
Until next time! Sophurky
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