According to Taoist reckoning, winter has already arrived, and with it, the rains here in California. As we enter Winter, season of Water according to the Taoist 5 Elements, it’s a good time to reflect on our relationship with water. Water is Life. In Taoist understanding, Water is understood as the embodiment of the Tao. It holds the deep, mysterious source of all life, the ancestral codes of our DNA, the well of energetic reserves we tap into to get through life’s challenges. Our bodies are two thirds water. Ever flowing with life to follow the path of least resistance, water can take many forms. A tossed and stormy sea can become a calm warm tropical shore, or a gentle rain, even morning dew on green grass or a plunging roaring white waterfall…glacier ice, or delicate new snowfall.
So what is the state of your water? Just like the water in nature, our own water can take many forms, and reflects the state of our being.
Maybe your water feels tired and parched, like a spring running dry. It could be time to refill your well and get some good quality rest. Perhaps your water is frozen- nothing seems to warm you, the joy and warmth is gone from life. You’ve become cold and removed in your interactions, emotionally unavailable. Perhaps your water has gotten a little murky, like a muddy lake? What are you hiding from yourself or others? Water is also the element of Wisdom. Just as a still lake reflects our inner state back to us, like a mirror, our water can tell us about our inner state of being, and be a wise guide on our journey.
Here's a simple meditation you can do to connect with your own Water, and receive the wise reflections your Water can offer you. Find a comfortable place where you can lie down and relax. Allow the body to ease itself into a natural place of stillness and repose. Imagine a body of water, one you know and connect with in real life. Really see and feel that water, as though you were sitting right beside it. Think about all the gifts that water has given you, and say thank you. Feel how that water is also a part of the water of your own body. Your water connects you to all life, and is wise. Feel the water of your body, moistening the skin, flowing through the blood, creating saliva and other fluids, nourishing the organs and keeping them healthy, gently bathing the heart and brain. Feeling the water in every cell, the intelligence of all life, the memories of algae and glaciers, whales and butterflies, wise ancestors, are all a part of you and your water. Ask your water to show you its current state in your body. What do you need to know about the state of your water? What wisdom does your water have to share with you?
Slow down, take your time, and really let yourself listen and receive. Like dropping a stone into the depths of a well, give the water time to respond from its depths, and you may discover your own hidden wisdom.