Natural resources are resources that exist without actions of humankind. Sunlight, coal, gravel, air . . .
WATER
Water is said to be the natural resource that is entirely responsible for the existence of Eureka Springs, AR. Water certainly exists without the actions of humankind but it IS humankind that shapes how water exists.
The Native Americans considered the waters here to be sacred. They worshiped the water. They treated the water with kindness, respect and love. They were grateful for it and it showed because they took care of it. Even neighboring tribes could visit and partake of the cold, clear waters without resistance and ancient ceremonies of health and healing were often held in the natural waters here.
People were drawn from miles around to Eureka Springs because of the alleged health and healing properties in the water here. The water - beautiful and abundant.
The water. The water. The people spoke such beautiful words about the water and the many stories traveled far and wide bringing thousands upon thousands to Eureka Springs to experience this beautiful place and these natural waters.
"BALM OF LIFE." Such beautiful words.
The people would come and experience the water and then speak about the water. They told of what they experienced and observed. Their words were complimentary. Appreciative. Loving. Respectful. Grateful. Words were painted on the sides of buildings, signs, buggies, store windows - all touting the wonderful water.
These beautiful words brought more abundant water from the hills and more people to this place. More compelling stories with more beautiful words were created. The water heard these words. Felt these intentions and energy as these humans spoke these words. The water flourished.
Eureka!! A natural cycle had formed. The water and the words danced together in harmony for years and years. The words shaped the properties of the water and the water brought forth more people.
Eureka Springs was born.
Today, 2019, Eureka's springs are still here. People still visit the springs and the water still flows. But, as time goes on, it is sadly no longer the water that truly draws people to this visit. The water remains, yes, it's forever woven into the story of Eureka and it's the very root of the story but today, people don't visit for the water, they visit for the words.
Consider this . . .
Masaru Emoto (江本 勝 Emoto Masaru, July 22, 1943 – October 17, 2014) was a Japanese author and pseudo-scientist who said that human consciousness has an effect on the molecular structure of water.
Emoto said that water was a "blueprint for our reality" and that emotional "energies" and "vibrations" could change the physical structure of water.
Emoto's water crystal experiments have consisted of exposing water in glasses to different words, languages, pictures, or music and then freezing and examining the aesthetic properties of the resulting crystals with microscopic photography.
The result is utterly amazing.
Emoto claimed that water exposed to positive speech and thoughts would result in some of the most visually "pleasing" crystals that would naturally form when that water was frozen.
Subsequently, the negative intentions provided to water would yield "ugly" frozen crystal formations. <as shown below>
So, given this experiment by Emoto, and his proof that water does have it's own consciousness and it will react depending upon how it is treated, what changed the water surrounding Eureka Springs?
The words have changed and therefore the water has changed.
It is no longer recommended to drink the natural flowing spring water? We don't tell healing stories about it's properties like the people before us. We don't worship the water, or respect it or take care of it. We rarely speak of the water itself and we simply encourage tourists to "visit the many historic springs around town." We don't connect with our spring water the way the people connected to it initially. We take it for granted. It's there. It's always been there. It will always be there.
WORDS
If you have ever watched the movie “What the Bleep Do We Know” you are familiar with Dr. Emoto’s work and his research into the mysteries of water.
What fascinated him was that when water was held in love or was thanked and talked to like we talk to and encourage plants to grow, the frozen water crystals were beautifully shaped but when they were told they were evil they formed very misshapen crystals that you can see here.
In Eureka Springs, the spring water is not potable. It is discouraged by the local authorities to drink, use, cook, etc. with the spring water.
When did our spring water change?
When did our words about it change?
In the movie, there is a scene where the main character (played by Marlee Matlin) comes upon an exhibition of Dr. Masaru Emoto’s work about water crystals and how our words and intentions influence how the water can form into something beautiful or distorted.
The scene goes on to comment on how 60% of our bodies are made up mostly of water, and if these thoughts and intentions can influence water, how do our thoughts and intentions about ourselves affect the water inside our bodies. How does it, it turn, affect our soul?
Eureka Springs has over 60 springs surrounding town and if we change our approach, our stories, our intentions and our treatment of our water, our water may flourish beautifully as it once did back in the very beginning.
Words and water have existed together in Eureka Springs for decades. Our stories about our springs, and our historic city are what draw people here today - not our springs themselves.
It is our stories, our past, our history, the preservation, our museums, our art, theater, the narratives, ghost tours, opera, music, tram tours, walking tours, trolley tours - people flock to Eureka Springs today to hear all of the beautiful words spoken, sung, and recited in the retelling of the stories of yesteryear, imagining what it must have been like back in the day. In the past.
A visit to the springs is usually a part of that storied experience they came here to enjoy and learn about.
Today, it is Eureka's springs that speak to the people. They now tell the stories.
NEW WORDS = NEW WATER
Live in the moment. Love our spring water. Respect and cherish it. Tell it so. If learning of Eureka's past is appealing to you, bring forward the past practice of speaking kind words about our spring water. Speak to our spring water. Tell it how much you love it. Enjoy it and don't take it for granted.
What we do to water, we do to ourselves and to all of life. It is the most simple and essential element of our existence. It is easy to forget its importance. We must give ourselves the opportunity to fully connect with it, appreciate it, feel it within us and around us.
Have a conversation with water today, you won't regret it.