Telling a Story of Water
Water has continually written my life story! From my watery beginnings floating in the womb, to my very first word uttered, “arsh” which I pronounced as the sound of water emerging from my parents kitchen faucet The above photograph shows the icicles hanging from a red sandstone cliff on a bend ofHighway 550, traveling south from our home nearing Ouray, Colorado, which is home to the Ice Climbing Park and you can see why. Almost every day I make the drive to go soak and swim in the Ouray Hot Springs Pool. I admit it, I am a water addict, a true “Aquaholic”. Water and stone, I love you!
Water and Stone
Water and gravity are the masterful writers and stone is the recording tablet for all events of life on earth. When you look at this photograph that I took on the edge of the Gunnison River near Dominguez Canyon, it tells an ancient story, which can be investigated like a detective in a crime scene. If I were to file a report, I would say; “A geologically recent boulder rolled off the sandstone cliff above, probably loosened by water and freezing temperatures. With the assistance of the unseen hand of gravity, it rolled down the embankment and landed on top of the older Pre-Cambrian Granite which was sculpted by the river water flow.“ The time-scene is a revelatory moment, uncovering the history of geologic events which occurred millions of years ago, and the immediate moment, the watery dance of the river, a gentle breeze caressing the grass, and the shape-shifting clouds drifting high above the canyon walls. Welcome to the ancient present!
Water is the Master Stone Carver
I traveled to the Escalante River near Delta on a fairly warm day in late December to scout for possible places to do cold dips in the river. I had read that during run-off season the river is too high to be entered safely, but thought in the dead of Winter, the water should be fairly placid. I went to a place about twelve miles along a dirt road that mostly follows the Escalante River called Potholes Recreation Area and Campground. It is a short walk to a cliff area that gives a great view of the river below. The rock in the lower area and around the river is all a type of hard precambrian granite and over many years of erosion created by the action of water there are some amazing pools! I took a cold dip in two places after finding a way to descend the canyon cliffs to get next to the river. There was nobody else around, just me and the very alive, cold water stream.
Frozen Bubble
This is so cool, a bubble blown in freezing temperatures and then photographed. I will try to make some.
Beautiful Creations of Water
A few weeks back, Vanessa and I, and our dog Rosie, were taking a walk out in back of our rental near the Uncompahgre River between Ridgway and Ouray and noticed the most dramatic examples of surface hoar frost I have ever seen. Some of the frost crystal were four inches in height and made a forest of little ice trees. Upon close inspection, you can see the exquisite patterns of the way water vapor freezes, similar to snowflake architecture but with vertically oriented flat blades . Once again, I am blown away with the creativity of water to produce such amazing beauty overnight, simply using moist air, freezing temperatures, and a base layer of snow!
Ice Lake
Ice Lake is one of the most popular destinations in our area of the San Juan Mountains. The lake is located between Ouray and Silverton and the lake basin is surrounded by spectacular high peaks. The turquoise color of the water is unique and in this photo by Lars Leber, the lake is quite still and very reflective. The temperature of the water is always super-cold and makes a great, brisk cold plunge. Come visit!
Immerse in the fluid universe
Immerse in the fluid universe which is continually morphing, dying, and being reborn.
Move like water
Move like water, fluid and undulatory. “Undulatory” means wave-like, and captures the essence of the unique movement of fluids and water. The mobilization and subsequent release of our watery tissue creates waves and oceanic tides of cellular movement. This the creative crucible, where life began and continues to be renewed.
Fluid Ground
Finding our ground in fluid is the best way to stay in the “flow” state. Our original home was in the amniotic fluid of our mother’s womb, so we all have a deep cellular connection to fluid and water as our original substance of creation. We like to think of “ground” as something solid and stable, but in actuality, everything is in a constant state of flux and movement. Therefore, following “The Way of Water” is orienting to fluids and flow as our original and true state of being.
Pulsating Bell
Our diaphragm is like the pulsating bell of a jellyfish. The shape and tissue of the diaphragm facilitates a very basic undulatory and pulsating movement that carries our life forward.
Primitive Undulations
Primitive cellular undulations are the basis of life. This video demonstrates that basic pulsatory movement of jellyfish in their deep sea environment. A very simple undulatory movement from a form of life that is mostly water. So, the appearance is akin to seeing water moving within water. In our body, the diaphragm is like a big jelly fish. When it is free to move, it undulated and sustains our inner watery organs and facilitates the intake of vital respiration.
Primordial Pool
Play in the primordial pool, the place where life begins, and has continued to proliferate since the dawn of time on our planet.
Embryonic Regeneration
Embryonic regeneration is the way our bodies renew vital functioning. I call it “embryonic” because it echoes the original generation of our bodies in the womb, where cells form and migrate where they are needed to build a human form. We all still have that capacity to renew and heal even after significant damage to our body-mind. Water plays an integral part of this process, both in aquatic bodywork and immersion therapy. When the body is floated in a womb-like environment, embryonic regeneration emerges in a big way and provides the necessary healing and re-patterning.
Water is life and life is Water
Water is life, and life is water, they are inextricable and interchangeable. This is why I worship water as my creator and creator of all that is alive on this planet. Why pray to a god in the sky, or follow a religion based on some miracles that supposedly happened in the distant past? What is most sacred is written into our watery cells from millions of years of the evolution of life with the elemental creator, Water!
Dive into the fluid universe
Let’s stand at the edge of the shore
and dive into the fluid universe
The plunge and immersion
will welcome us home
back into the watery world,
the primordial pool
where our bodies dissolve
and magically become renewed
Embody a Universe
Don’t just inhabit a body, embody a universe! It is too easy to limit our embodiment process, which is actually a continual process of creation and incarnation, with beliefs about what we are and who we should be. These are called ‘limiting beliefs” and never take in to account the vastness and depth of who we are, galaxies of cells and bacteria spinning with the larger universe.
Body of Water
We are all bodies of water with millions of fluid cells, dancing and constantly shape-shifting. Wear your dress of water to the Dance of Life and spin your cells into a new galaxy!