Special Nature of Water - (SCI-15)

Introduction

Do you know that we have a use for water in all of its three forms. We drink water in liquid form, we put ice or water as a solid into our drinks, and we inhale gaseous water as part of the air we breathe.

There are very few substances on the surface of the Earth that can be found naturally in these three states or forms, that is as liquid, solid and gas. Water is one of these remarkable substances. This is one of water’s most unique properties.

Another very unique property of water is that, when it is a solid it floats on its liquid. This is a very rare thing, usually the solid of any substance when placed in a container of the same substance in the liquid state will sink to the bottom of the container. This is because the solid of nearly all substances is denser than the liquid, but so for water.

Obviously water has something special going on its chemical nature and this is what this and the next few posts are about.

Ice Floats on Water

The following excerpt has been taken from the book “The Water Planet”, published by the National Geographic Education Division, D.C.

“Effects of Bonding The polarity of water molecules makes water great for dissolving other substances, such as sea salts and substances that travel through your body. Polarity also means that ice will float on liquid water. As water freezes, the weak bonds between the molecules form an open arrangement of molecules, as seen in Figure 7.

The molecules, therefore, are farther apart when they are frozen than they were as liquid. This causes ice to have a lower density than liquid water, letting it float on water. In large bodies of water, floating ice prevents the water below from freezing. If lakes froze from the bottom up, they would freeze solid every winter, killing all living things inside.”

Conclusion

The reason why ice or solid water floats on liquid water is due to the way water molecules bond when they are a solid. They bond in such a way that the molecules spread out making the solid (ice) less denser. Notice that when you freeze water it expands, if it were to contract it would certainly not float on liquid water.

The diagram shows this quite clearly.

This marvellous polarity property of water allows life to continue in winter. If the water molecules did not have this property then lakes and rivers would freeze all solid.

The more we look at water, we really come to realise that it is just perfect to support and maintain life the way we have it right now. If we were to change water we would change life the way we now it now.

End (15).

Undines – the Spirits of Water - (ESO-14)

Introduction

I found this passage in the book “The Secret Teachings of All Ages” by Manly P. Hall. I think that it is very descriptive and beautiful at the same time.

It describes the ‘mer’ folk or the creatures of the water element very well.

Excerpt

“As the gnomes were limited in their function to the elements of the earth, so the undines (a name given to the family of water elementals) function in the invisible, spiritual essence called humid (or liquid) ether. In its vibratory rate this is close to the element water, and so the undines are able to control, to a great degree, the course and function of this fluid in Nature. Beauty seems to be the keynote of the water spirits. Wherever we find them pictured in art or sculpture, they abound in symmetry and grace. Controlling the water element--which has always been a feminine symbol--it is natural that the water spirits should most often be symbolized as female.

There are many groups of undines. Some inhabit waterfalls, where they can be seen in the spray; others are indigenous to swiftly moving rivers; some have their habitat in dripping, oozing fens or marshes; while other groups dwell in clear mountain lakes. According to the philosophers of antiquity, every fountain had its nymph; every ocean wave its oceanid. The water spirits were known under such names as oreades, nereides, limoniades, naiades, water sprites, sea maids, mermaids, and potamides. Often the water nymphs derived their names from the streams, lakes, or seas in which they dwelt.

In describing them, the ancients agreed on certain salient features. In general, nearly all the undines closely resembled human beings in appearance and size, though the ones inhabiting small streams and fountains were of correspondingly lesser proportions. It was believed that these water spirits were occasionally capable of assuming the appearance of normal human beings and actually associating with men and women. There are many legends about these spirits and their adoption by the families of fishermen, but in nearly every case the undines heard the call of the waters and returned to the realm of Neptune, the King of the Sea.

Practically nothing is known concerning the male undines. The water spirits did not establish homes in the same way that the gnomes did, but lived in coral caves under the ocean or among the reeds growing on the banks of rivers or the shores of lakes. Among the Celts there is a legend to the effect that Ireland was peopled, before the coming of its present inhabitants, by a strange race of semi-divine creatures; with the coming of the modem Celts they retired into the marshes and fens, where they remain even to this day. Diminutive undines lived under lily pads and in little houses of moss sprayed by waterfalls. The undines worked with the vital essences and liquids in plants, animals, and human beings, and were present in everything containing water. When seen, the undines generally resembled the goddesses of Greek statuary. They rose from the water draped in mist and could not exist very long apart from it.

There are many families of undines, each with its peculiar limitations, it is impossible to consider them here in detail. Their ruler, Necksa, they love and honor, and serve untiringly. Their temperament is said to be vital, and to them has been given as their throne the western corner of creation. They are rather emotional beings, friendly to human life and fond of serving mankind. They are sometimes pictured riding on dolphins or other great fish and seem to have a special love of flowers and plants, which they serve almost as devotedly and intelligently as the gnomes. Ancient poets have said that the songs of the undines were heard in the West Wind and that their lives were consecrated to the beautifying of the material earth.”

End (14).

A Poem About Love and Water - (HUM-13)

Introduction

Recently a friend of mine sent me this poem along with a number of very beautiful images related to water.

After reading the poem, I found it very worthwhile to make a post out of it. For the reason being that it describes so well how the nature of love is close to the nature of water.

We really still have much to learn from water and this is deep down why I think I have created this blog, because through these posts I hope to learn more about water and therefore also about love and many other principles in water waiting yet to be learnt.

To learn from water we need to do as in the following picture; meditate on water.

The following poem is by James Allen from the “Way of Peace”, Chapter “On the Realization of Selfless Love”.

Way of Peace, Poem by James Allan

“I stood upon the shore, and saw the rocks

Resist the onslaught of the mighty sea,

And when I thought how all the countless shocks

They had withstood through an eternity,

I said, “To wear away this solid main

The ceaseless efforts of the waves are vain.”

But when I thought how they the rocks had rent,

And saw the sand and shingles at my feet

(Poor passive remnants of resistance spent)

Tumbled and tossed where they the waters meet,

Then saw I ancient landmarks 'neath the waves,

And knew the waters held the stones their slaves.

I saw the mighty work the waters wrought

By patient softness and unceasing flow;

How they the proudest promontory brought

Unto their feet, and massy hills laid low;

How the soft drops the adamantine wall

Conquered at last, and brought it to its fall.

And then I knew that hard, resisting sin

Should yield at last to Love's soft ceaseless roll

Coming and going, ever flowing in

Upon the proud rocks of the human soul;

That all resistance should be spent and past,

And every heart yield unto it at last.”

End (13).