Haven - aspects of water 5 - Cleansing & Healing June 1st

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

Scarborough

Sea Ritual

Sonia

Cupped hands scoop seawater and

Cradling gently the precious elixir

The children walk carefully up the beach

The water has trickled a little

Through their tiny hands

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

She has taught her child

And now her grandchildren

Understand the importance

Of this loving gesture

They will bathe her face

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.