The deep, thunderous beat of the water drum vibrates through the tipi, echoing outside as the fire shines brightly. Each drop of water that strikes the deer skin stretched across the water drum falls to the ground, accompanied by a chorus of powerful prayers and ancestral songs that fill the air, observed by colourful feather fans. In the heart of this sacred ceremony, we embrace the profound essence of water—a force that transcends negativity, uniting all life in its sacred embrace, without judgment or prejudice. Together, we gather as one to offer prayers and reverence to this sacred element of life.
Recognising Water's Sacredness
Before participating in indigenous ceremonies like Vision Quests (hanblecheyapi) and Sundance (Wiwáŋyaŋg Wačípi), I had never truly understood the profound importance of water. Its sacredness, teachings, and healing properties were unfamiliar to me. However, through these sacred rituals and prayers, I discovered a deeper truth—a revelation of water's innate spirituality and its capacity to literally give or take life..
"We consider ourselves intelligent beings, yet we are the only species that defiles its own water supply."
Despite being the source of all life, water often suffers relegation to a utilitarian role—merely a tool for tasks like dishwashing or car washing. An elder once pointed out this obvious truth to me: how we defecate in our water source yet believe we are so advanced. This stark realisation highlights our sometimes disconnected view of the importance of water and the urgent need for reevaluation.
A Call to Consciousness
In an era dominated by technological advancement, with accelerated momentum in recent years, it seems we are still collectively failing to understand the importance of protecting our water sources. Even the AI platform ChatGPT attests to water's indispensable role, acknowledging its significance for human sustenance, societal progress, and environmental well-being. When asked “How important is water for the human race?”
Indigenous communities worldwide echo this reverence for water, venerating it through ceremonies and prayer with the focus on clean drinking water for all our relations and for the future seven generations. These ancestral ceremonies serve as a poignant reminder of our interconnectedness with water and the imperative to safeguard its purity.
Talk to the Water
Japanese author Masaru Emoto's research sheds light on the profound interplay between consciousness and water. Through experiments exposing water to diverse stimuli, Emoto revealed how positive intentions and thoughts evoke harmonious water crystals, while negativity yields disarray. This clearly shows water's sensitivity to energy and the face that she is always listening
In Nahuatl (Aztec) culture, the glyph for "speaking" symbolises water, encapsulating the profound link between language and nature. This symbolic association underscores the belief in language's ability to nourish and sustain, mirroring water's role as the lifeblood of existence.
Embracing Responsibility
As caretakers of the Earth, we hold an active duty to protect and preserve water—the sacred thread that binds all life. We often overlook the life force coursing through our taps, neglecting the profound significance of each droplet. Now is the time to awaken our awareness—to understand the sacredness of water and our duty to respect and safeguard it.
What is your relationship to water?
Your relationship with water begins with your words—speak to it, speak to her, tell her how you love her, and how much she helps you and your relatives every day, envisioning health and abundance. We are all connected, and water serves as our most profound link a turquoise link that brings us all together in the circle. Here is to seven generations of clean water for all our relations.
💧 Mni Wiconi (Water is life). 💧