Water. Water is one of those things that has a cycle of living and breathing. It goes from evaporating, to perspiring to flow and returns. It never ends. It encompasses so much. Experts say our adult bodies are made of anywhere between 50% and 65% water. You can’t live for more than three to five days without it. And, As one of the elements, water traditionally represents our emotional self. How long can you live without an emotion? So, it’s best to understand and take note of the element. You can use it’s power to help it soothe our emotions.
So, I love the Grateful Dead. Jerry Garcia got the melody of Brokedown Palace right. It is spot on but Robert Hunter got the lyrics wrong. He wrote “Listen to the river sing sweet songs to rock my soul.” Our souls do not need to be rocked. Our souls are strong and wise and true. It is our Emotions that need to be rocked. Our emotions that need to be soothed and the sweet sound of water does just that.
As able as I am in my soul to stay grounded, there are times when emotions can draw upon my strength. This week is one of those times when life seems so unfair. When loss can come be so arbitrary. It is one of those weeks when your grief for another’s pain is profound. It’s winter and yet the River still runs here in my sleepy town.
It is one of those weeks when I find myself going back to the River over and over again to soothe my emotions so that I stand in my inner strength and wisdom. So that I can be a comfort and support to all those around me. So that I can continue onward because even if life seems so unfair, so arbitrary, you can still discover the joy in the moments. For that is all we really have each and every precious moment. It is by the River that I can remember that and allow my soul’s strength to rise. It is by the River that emotions can flow and I can easily hear my soul’s whispers. It is my soul that is true ~ not my emotions.
Emotions are our’s. They are a part of us. It is in the choice of how we want to use these emotions to bring about peace in our lives and in-joyment in our moments. We can not get away from our emotions. Like the River, it is wise to let them flow. And like the River washes, it is just as wise to use water to soothe our emotions so that we can move into moments of Joy, Love and Laughter.
There are so many ways to use water to soothe our emotions. Imagine using it to soothe your emotions.
Wash your hands and allow the emotions to flow out of your body.
Take a Shower and allow the emotions to go down the drain.
Bask in a warm tub and allow your emotions to be carried away.
Allow the rain (or snow) to fall on you and let the emotions roll away as the drops (or flakes) do.
Sit by The River and envision your emotions going downstream.
And allow yourself to replace them with Joy & Love.
In what other ways have you used water to soothe your emotions and allow your soul to shine? Can you see how one of these examples can take the sting out of any emotion?
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Lovely photo, I never gave this much thought – now I will. WOW – the simple idea of using water to soothe our emotions. You can wash you hands almost anywhere – that is powerful. Thanks!
Comment by Cindy Key — February 17, 2014 @ 5:26 pm
Everyday spiritual practices can be just as easy as these!!! You are most welcome, Cindy~ KEEP SMILING
Comment by Laura Clark — February 17, 2014 @ 8:23 pm
Well this is certainly my balancing element… I’m so fire – everywhere… what do I do to rebalance??? WATER! My husband even got me a new clock radio that has water sounds -We listen to it every night before we go to bed! thanks Laura…
Comment by Cena from SaneSpaces.com — February 18, 2014 @ 4:38 pm
That is so cool! I love ambient nature noises to go to sleep to when I’m not at home and can hear the real thing!!!!! 🙂
Comment by Laura Clark — February 18, 2014 @ 7:41 pm
I had to smile when I read this. Last night about midnight as I was heading upstairs to bed I thought I heard a sound unfamiliar to me. Went into the basement and both my sump pumps were just about to overflow. They were both running, but with all the cold weather/quick thaw/ then freezing I believe it’s frozen outside and the water can’t exit. Thus it was recirculating, and boiling up a storm. A recipe for a sump pump to burn out. Creative me got out my pond draining pump and emptied the one and the other I am having to empty by hand into the laundry tub. I am hoping for enough melting today that it will open up and water can exit again. Could this be a metaphor
for emotions stopped up? With all that is going on I suspect yes!
I love the lake and need to walk down them for some healing energy.
Thanks for you post.
Comment by Joan — February 19, 2014 @ 12:02 pm
Joan!!! It is no doubt a metaphor for you~ I can not tell you how many clients I’ve worked with, especially when we start looking a the energy of their home, who have plumbing issues. Never fear, release some emotions and you will be able to drain that basement fast! We had 4′ of water during a flood in our basement once. We were one of the first people in our town to receive relief ~ we let our emotions run wild for a few hours upon discovering it and then, it drained quickly. We continued to do healing work on ourselves after 😉 oh, and I’m a lake gal too!! Let me know how I can support you!!!!
Comment by Laura Clark — February 19, 2014 @ 1:19 pm
I’m with Cindy; I’ve never given it much thought either, but now I understand why I love long showers so very very much!
Comment by Lori Nash Byron — February 23, 2014 @ 7:57 pm
🙂 Showers are a great way to soothe emotions ~ the Greeks used baths ~ the Mayans used swimming holes ~ I love the river for just this purpose too!!! KEEP SMILING, Lori!
Comment by Laura Clark — February 24, 2014 @ 1:14 pm
I love your comment that water has a cycle of living and breathing – just like emotions. When we are feeling the intensity of an emotion we often think it will never end but then we find that it passes. I love your suggestions about ways to use water to soothe the intensity of your emotions – more tools for our self-nurturing practices! Thank you!
Comment by Kelley Grimes — February 24, 2014 @ 2:47 pm