Water has long been revered as a source of healing - cleansing both body and soul. Many civilisations associate "dirt" with "sin" and try to wash them both away. There are numerous metaphors to this effect.
Oddly, the Romans seem to have been rather bad-tempered when their clothes were stolen in the Baths and wrote "curse" tablets to revenge themselves on the thieves. Apparently some of the curses were very bloodthirsty and totally disproportionate to the crime. The waters of "Aquae Sulis" didn't seem to calm and soothe their spirits as one might hope...
This is a curse tablet found at Bath
Britain has a long history of sacred springs going back to the Celtic worship of the goddess Sulis. Later, as early as the 17th century the Brits discovered the virtues of fashionable sea-bathing:
In the English coastal town of Scarborough in 1626, a Mrs. Elizabeth Farrow discovered a stream of
acidic water running from one of the cliffs to the south of the town. This was
deemed to have beneficial health properties and gave birth to Scarborough Spa. Dr Wittie's book about the spa waters
published in 1660 attracted a flood of visitors to the town. Sea bathing was
added to the cure, and Scarborough became Britain's first seaside resort. The
first rolling bathing machines for bathers are recorded on the sands in 1735
Cupped hands scoop seawater and
Cradling gently the precious elixir
The children walk carefully up the beach
The water has trickled a little
Their precious grandmother envelops
Them with her smile as they approach
And pat her face and hair
With the cool kiss of the
sea
as she sits against the sea wall
Watching their activities
She has always had her sea ritual –
A walk to the water’s edge
To splash her face in the sea water
And now her grandchildren
Understand the importance
The Tao te Ching associates water with goodness:
Tao Te
Ching 8
The highest good
is like water
The highest good is like water
nourishing life effortlessly
flowing without prejudice
to the lowliest places.
It springs from all
who nourish their community
with a benevolent heart
as deep as an abyss,
Who are incapable
of lies and injustices,
Who are rooted in the earth,
and whose natural rhythms of
action
play midwife to the highest good
in each joyful moment.
The
Highest Good
Sonia
When self is lost
The highest good becomes
Part of life’s flow
Imparting time and care
As a natural spring
The shallow water holds
All that has come to rest
The debris caught
In the weeds of time
At last freed
It will flow to the sea
A last word :
Remember, cleanliness is next to godliness and keep a good watch on your toga when you take a dip.
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