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Water and Spirituality

© Fiona Broome

There are many connections between water and spirituality. It's difficult to know the significance of these connections, but they seem to exist through all cultures and religions.

I don't have answers, but I offer these (perhaps random) thoughts for you to consider, and see if the connections make sense to you:

Sometimes, water seems to be an interesting part of spiritual beliefs and practices.

For many people, baptism is an important spiritual rite that involves water. It can be a means of cleansing away sin. A similar Pagan tradition exists, and uses a bath--sometimes an herbal or mineral bath--for spiritual and/or emotional purification.

Likewise, most countries have holy wells and sacred springs, and fairy tales tell us about wishing wells.

In other folklore, it's necessary to cross a river to enter the other world or the Underworld.

Water is also associated with great power. For example, King Arthur received his sword from the Lady of the Lake. Other tales describe faerie worlds beneath the sea or underneath lakes.

Near Limerick, Ireland, the fabled third Earl of Desmond, Gerald Iarla FitzGerald, lives in his castle beneath Lough Gur. Every seven years, he rises from the lough with his white horse, and circles the water's edge before returning to his underwater home.

This is one of many similar Celtic tales related to underwater castles.

Some of the most passionate and powerful gods of mythological history include Poseidon and others related to the sea.

In the Bible, we read about the Great Flood and Noah's Ark. Other water-related stories include the parting of the Red Sea.

Also in the Bible, Moses and his people wandered in the desert for 40 years, but there are few religious stories about being lost for years at sea. In fact, in the early chapters of the Book of Mormon, Deity provided a special compass--the Liahona--to guide people across the ocean.

In ghost research, we know that many hauntings occur close to the ocean, streams, or standing water. If someone reports a poltergeist, I ask first about nearby water, especially unexplained droplets or puddles.

Many churches and some homes use holy water for blessings and spiritual protection. In contrast, some religions believe that bodies of water are part of Satan's realm.

We know of the water makes up the majority of our bodies. We can survive far longer without food then without water. Many doctors feel that a majority of health conditions could be relieved if people drank more clean water daily.

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