Sacred water sites, the supernatural tap-in.

The belief in certain water sources such as wells, springs, lakes, streams and rivers as sacred is as old as the hills. The "spirits" said to "live" in these waters were recognised across cultural boundaries.

Water divinities of various kinds appear in the mythologies of many cultures. And not surprisingly, the world abounds in sacred springs, rivers, and lakes.

The identification of the sources of rivers, streams, springs, and wells as sacred is very ancient. Springs and wells were perceived as the dwelling place of supernatural beings, and stories and legends grew up around them. Often it was claimed that the waters healed the injured or cured the sick with the result that well or stream came to be regarded as a sacred shrine.

In Water, Stone & Legend - Rock Art of the Klein Karoo, archaeologist Renée Rust and photographer Jan van der Poll trace the relationship of San rock art to shamanistic rituals and to stories and legends that still circulate in the Little Karoo today.

The rock art images located in the Karoo, offer a glimpse of an artistic and spiritual world defined by rain and water sources. Today, stories of strange beings, told as the so-called watermeid legend, provide a link to the rock art of the past.

The mountain ravines and hills of the Klein Karoo are endowed with permanent, deep water holes in what is otherwise a semi-arid region. Rock art sites are mostly found close to these water reservoirs, where, so the elders tell us, mythical creatures - watermeide - live.

The stories told of these creatures are an expression of an ancient knowledge, probably as old as the images on the rock faces.

The /Xam, a now-extinct southern San group, told of 'strings that vibrate' that filled their landscape. These were 'thinking strings', a term used by /Xam informants to describe being part of the landscape or physical environment. The /Xam told of the ringing of these strings in the sky, enabling the shaman, the ritual specialist to communicate.

The significance of water and the choice of rock art imagery depicting these elements suggest a spiritual link to the landscape and the locations of particular rock art sites. This link to landscape is an essential feature of myth and ritual. The endurance of the watermeid legend suggests that the thinking strings are still 'alive' and conveys the significance of the places where the water maidens are 'seen' today.

Stories and myths have life beyond generations, and can take us to a distant time when San artists painted on the rock faces. In southern Africa the reading of rock art is based on a connection between the art and the beliefs and practices that focus on myth, ritual and perceptions of the spirit world.

Rock art imagery shows 'ways of doing' in San religious expression, capturing the ritual practices associated with San spiritual beliefs as well as the physical sensations (for example, feelings of flying or swimming) that accompany these rituals.

www.namibiana.de...

To be cont..

Wells and springs inhabited by spirits with the gift of prophecy were places of pilgrimage. The Celts venerated natural springs of water for their sacred and medicinal value and many examples of holy wells are known, many of them were later Christianized through rededication to a saint. This practice of venerating sacred wells continued into the Christian era in the West, though they were now referred to as wishing wells.

Wells and springs were often associated with a god or goddess and the sacred water dispensed there could ensure life, health, and abundance. The Babylonian moon goddess, Ishtar, was associated with sacred springs, and her temples were often situated in natural grottoes from which springs emanated.

Goddesses and nymphs were connected with certain rivers, springs, and wells by the Celts and Romans. Often the river was named after the goddess, such as the Shannon River, after Sinann,and the Boyne, after Boann, in Ireland, and the Seine, after Sequana, in Gaul (France).

witcombe.sbc.edu...

A ancient knowledge preserved lest we forget?




From primitive cave paintings, right through history, in mythology there seems to be a recurring theme up to the veneration of sacred holy wells and springs during the early Christianisation of more ancient sites, the true meaning of baptism emerges as originating from one of these sacred sites...

Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Water may have been used as a symbol for something that cannot be seen. as the physical manifestation of the non-physical, perhaps creating a doorway between the earth and the spirit world?



To touch the sacred waters, is to touch the sky....

a reply to: Wifibrains

our last encounter on the subject opened much sight for me on the subject. That water that is special only looks like it is from this realm but it is not. It comes from other realms and seeps out into the ground. That is where different properties can be found in the water. Depending on times gathered and such it can hold properties like desire healing calm... and so on


Such places you mention are now viewed as doors by me. You just need the keys

Interesting post in my opinion, although I do not subscribe to certain ideas that were presented. The connection with modern-day paranormal research comes with the belief that water increases paranormal activity. For instance, underground water sources, nearby rivers, etc., have been noted in some of the most paranormally active locations across the globe. I think that IF this is true, which very well could be the case, this connection spurred ancient cultures to create certain myths and legends around that fact. In my personal opinion, if water does somehow increase paranormal activity, there is likely to be a physical, or scientific, explanation. I mentioned in a thread yesterday how it is virtually impossible for science to address paranormal issues such as ghosts, simply because there is no way to gather usable and reproducible data, nor is there any way to apply or even follow scientifically accepted procedures. But this has no bearing on whether the events are truly occurring.

What I am getting at is that despite the fact that such occurrences are bound to have a scientific explanation, such explanations are unlikely to be forthcoming. Another correlation that has been noted by paranormal researchers is the increase in activity in areas with a specific geological configuration. I understand that this was not the point of your thread, and I am getting a bit off-track, and I only wished to address this particular aspect of water sources where the paranormal is concerned. One other thing I just thought of is the idea that the behavior of the water could be significant, meaning that moving or running water is more conducive to paranormal activity, or even causes it somehow, while stagnant water does not produce the same occurrences. I am not positive as to what the general consensus is among paranormal researchers, as I am not involved in such research, nor do I keep myself informed on the matter.

a reply to: Wifibrains

The belief in certain water sources such as wells, springs, lakes, streams and rivers as sacred is as old as the hills. The "spirits" said to "live" in these waters were recognized across cultural boundaries.

Drinkable water is precious. We take it for granted because we have wells in every building called "faucets".
On the other hand, wells back then were precious resources and we may attribute something else besides just clean water to them if we like.

Clean, drinkable water is sacred, it doesn't exist anywhere else for light years in every direction. Literally, the water of life.

Pretty rare enough here for millennia in the ages before water treatment plants, too. I would imagine that some people even spread rumors about water wells being guarded by powwwerful spirits to keep others from trespassing or stealing more that what was allotted.

Sneaky devils.

Does these sacred water sites lie along the Ley lines or are they connected via some other form of sacred geometry?

dex

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: Wifibrains

The belief in certain water sources such as wells, springs, lakes, streams and rivers as sacred is as old as the hills. The "spirits" said to "live" in these waters were recognized across cultural boundaries.

Drinkable water is precious. We take it for granted because we have wells in every building called "faucets".
On the other hand, wells back then were precious resources and we may attribute something else besides just clean water to them if we like.

Clean, drinkable water is sacred, it doesn't exist anywhere else for light years in every direction. Literally, the water of life.

Pretty rare enough here for millennia in the ages before water treatment plants, too. I would imagine that some people even spread rumors about water wells being guarded by powwwerful spirits to keep others from trespassing or stealing more that what was allotted.

Sneaky devils.

Well a rare chance to agree with Intrptrr

Water was critical to man and anything he valued he tended to associate with gods and demons.

a reply to: Hanslune

Well a rare chance to agree with Intrptrr

Water was critical to man and anything he valued he tended to associate with gods and demons.

That intrptr, with one "r".

Men thought they were God too. Well at least thats what they said. One day they will dig this up and wellll…

a reply to: intrptr

They are called Living God

originally posted by: deadeyedick
a reply to: intrptr

They are called Living God

Only Human.

a reply to: intrptr

yes mostly but i hear they don't die until they get ready to go and they take everyone with them because of the link that everyone shares. Not a big deal cause it all gets pushed out the ole cosmic printer until the links get the big picture and serve them correctly. The knowledge they possess is directly around everyone but for some reason only they see it is there. The water is the source for change and renewal.

a reply to: deadeyedick

The water is the source for change and renewal.

Do you mean like Blessing with water, like Holy Water?

It is holy, life can't exist without liquid water.

Water is a blessing in and of itself. Not sure if you are wanting to imply religious overtones.

a reply to: intrptr


by religious do you mean church? lol
I can't find a church willing to give me the good stuff.
very curious things happen when you lose track of time and begin to watch things unfold.
Perhaps you missed my ungrounded rain thread
Too bad you would have lost a few iq points by reading it.
I do find it very curious that humans contain around the same % of water that the planet is said to have.

a reply to: deadeyedick

Perhaps you missed my ungrounded rain thread
Too bad you would have lost a few iq points by reading it.

No, I didn't… several posts beginning here…

www.abovetopsecret.com...

a reply to: intrptr

i guess i had the whole iq point equation backwards for that thread

I wonder if i drink enough magic water if i will ever get them points back

Those places in wifi's op sure are beautiful

i wonder if there are water gaurdians near bye

a reply to: deadeyedick

i wonder if there are water guardians near bye

Lions gather at watering holes and wait for prey, why not?

a reply to: deadeyedick

Perhaps you missed my ungrounded rain thread

That was an interesting and thought-provoking thread. I'm beginning to wonder if I should have missed it, though.


Now whenever I feel a few raindrops, I have to stop and perform a subjective analysis of the raindrop including its polarity and electrical potential. Then I walk around for hours mumbling "ungrounded rain" with a contorted look of confusion on my face. That's more than a few IQ points lost. That's more like a whole colony of brain cells being branded with a hot iron that says "ungrounded rain." Forever lost to this realm...



dex

a reply to: Wifibrains

GREAT thread~! Thank you! Here's a few other things I find interesting that have peaked my interests along these lines...

John5:4~For an angel went down at certain times into the pool, and stirred up the water. Whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was made whole of whatever disease he had. World English Bible

also...to which I thought was absolutely a great movie.. powerful to the society we live in today.

Water of course is one of the most prominent ancient psychological archetypes - mandatory to survival, beautiful, and adapts to any shape. Water was sacred - armies travelled alongside rivers for a reason!

Fresh water may have been curative. If you were drinking contaminated water for life surely you'd feel better.

Spring spirits are common in Japan, of course deriving from Shinto, which attributes a spirit to all non-living things... animism is global.

This may be the origination point of Mimsbrunnr.