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Hello, Subscriber First Name, In his beautiful writings, anthropologist and natural science writer Loren Eiseley shares his wonder for the mysteries of the natural world, our humble place in it, and the power of connection. It was he who said: If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water. Water easily garners the distinction as one of the most mystical compounds on Earth. Her many unique properties include an usually high surface tension, the ability to dissolve more substances than any other common liquid—earning her title as the “Universal Solvent", and a solid state (ice) that floats on liquid (water). She is the only compound on Earth with a Triple Point (the temperature and pressure at which a compound co-exists in three phases (solid, liquid and gas) at thermodynamic equilibrium) occurring at our ambient temperatures and pressures. These properties are what allow life to exist on Earth. And, while the science of water points to mystery, more poignant are the mystical experiences she delivers. This sense of the mystical has been captured throughout history and across civilizations. We see personification of hydrological agents as river gods, water nymphs, and swamp-monsters in ancient Greek art; water goddesses portrayed in the myths and artwork of the Aztecs; and the honoring of the sacred nature of water in present day customs. Stone elephants and dragons guard water wells in Buddhist temples and shoo away evil spirits from Chinese water sources. The Hindus, for whom the River Ganges embodies the water of life, honor her with purifying bathing rituals. And, while we as a society seem to have lost much of this kind of reverence, I suspect we’ve all had our own brushes with magic. Where have you sensed the mystical in your relationship with water? Where has she brought you to a state of awe, revealed your place in the Universe, guided you home, or answered your queries? I’d love to hear your stories and welcome your shares. With water love, Wendy
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