Meditating on water, whether it’s the ocean, a lake, a stream, or the element, is one of the most common images for inner vision and spiritual seeking.  It is certainly related to the basic relation between the human body, composed of so much water, and the rest of nature.  Connecting to water is connecting to the “is-ness” of everything, and in a very physical, literal way.  But there are also other connections, and these are the ones that put it into the realm of pure poetry.

In the more mainstream realms of meditation, as well as the esoteric, water plays a significant role.   When someone is disturbed and needs fast relief, they can imagine themselves in their “happy place,” and this is often somewhere close to, or in, a body of water.  In deeper states of formal meditation, the mind is likened to the surface of a pond, free of ripples and smooth like glass.

Some will go further into the realm of metaphor, and may spend some time meditation on the current of the ocean.  This connects the wave, as well as the meditating subject, to the particular energies of the moon.  It also comes from root words that can mean a movement, or a moment in the present, and both of these are profoundly transformational in spiritual practices.  Likewise, contemplating a break in the currents can bring one to understand that the nature of internal revelation is similar to natural ruptures, and there is nothing unusual or particularly notable about them, except for the fact that they do happen all the time, and things are changing all the time.  Water is essential to nature as it is essential to an inner spiritual life.

It’s not surprising, then, that there are so many fountains found in meditation centers.  These can range from the small, novelty kind, to the full-scale fountains that may stand in the center of things.  Individuals often add fountains as special touches in their own homes, but it doesn’t need to be cost-prohibitive.  Meditation, like a clear mind, is something that does not depend on wages, and isn’t made better by money spent.  Very small, portable fountains can be bought for a small price, or even made at home using simple materials.  For some, even a glass of water is enough to bring water into the meditation experience, and it has the power to transform as well as any other body of water.