Waterscape

‘I wish you water’

Dr Wallace J Nichols, Blue Mind

As a child, rainy days were a favourite.  Walking home from school under a sky heavy with clouds felt like stepping into another world.  I’d detour through the wetlands, avoiding the main road where a kind neighbour might offer me a ride.  Hidden within the natural levee, surrounded by the gentle murmur of flowing water, I felt free. Together, the creek and I braved the rain, kindred spirits reveling in solitude.  I’d splash and dance alongside my watery guide, its gentle burble urging me onward as I made my way home, where I’d arrive soaked through to the skin, and exhilarated. 

Reflecting on those moments, I see they were more than just play; they represented an intimate connection to nature, fostering renewal and wellbeing.  My experience resonates deeply with the concept of ‘Blue Mind’, a term coined by marine biologist Dr. Wallace J. Nichols.  Blue Mind refers to a mildly meditative state characterized by calm, peacefulness, unity, and a sense of general happiness and satisfaction with life in the moment.  This state is induced by our proximity to water, whether its oceans, rivers, lakes or even urban fountains, connecting us to what marine biologist Sylivia A. Earle phrased ‘the ’blue heart of the planet’. 

The longstanding science behind this phenomenon is fascinating.  When water molecules collide, as they do in rain and other moving water, the energy breaks apart oxygen and nitrogen molecules in the air, creating negative ions.  These negatively charged particles have been shown to increase the flow of oxygen to our brains, helping to reduce anxiety while enhancing our alertness, energy levels, and creative thinking.

For me, waterscapes have always been more than beautiful scenery or ecologically important resources.  They embody a profound spiritual significance, reflecting our intrinsic bond with nature – a bond that runs as deep as our very composition, given that we ourselves are mostly water.  In the gentle lapping of waves against a shore, we hear echoes of our ancestor’s prayers; in the mist rising from a mountain stream, we glimpse the veiled mysteries of creation.  Across cultures and centuries, water has been revered as sacred – a source of life, renewal, and divine connection.  

Living on an island surrounded by these blue spaces is a blessing, offering us constant access to nature’s profound influence.  Yet this privilege comes with responsibility.  Water, in its myriad forms, calls us not only to find our own happiness but to honour and protect it.  As the liquid arteries of our living planet, our future generations depend on it. 

The Laughing River – a folktale for peace

Apollo’s Fire – Wade in the Water from ‘RESILIENCE:  Music for Troubled Times