Rediscover the ancestral song of water and its ways—enter into a journey of rejuvenation and wild, untamed wisdom by exploring your relationship with water, nature, and the athletic outdoors.
This is the third of a series on our month's theme of The Athletics of Action.
In the cadence of the river and the stillness of the lake, lies an ancient pathway to rejuvenation—a route carved not just through landscapes, but through the very soul of our ancestry. This post explores the transformative power of water in reconnecting us with our primal selves and the wild wisdom of our forebears. In our previous posts, we explored eustress and the reclaiming the right to movement, as well as nature's rejuvenative effect on neurochemistry. Now, lets frame both of these in a very accessible, yet powerful modality -- exploring your athletic relationship with water.
Water, in all its forms—from the gentle trickle of a stream to the vast expanse of the ocean—has long been revered as a source of life and a pathway to enlightenment. For those of us caught in the relentless pursuit of professional success, water invites a return to simplicity and synchronicity with nature's rhythms. Engaging with bodies of water can revive our spirits, enhance our vitality, and reforge the links to our ancestral roots, guiding us along the 'Road of Wildness'—a journey towards reclaiming our innate power and wildness.
In this view into The Athletics of Action, I invite you to take a dip into the depths and unknowns of water as a connector to wildness, and as an expression of Wyrd -- an Old Norse concept that emphasizes the dynamic and evolving nature of one's life path, shaped by and shaping the world around it.
Water As Embodiment of Fluidity
Water is not merely a physical substance but a symbol of fluidity and transformation in many cultures. Its presence in our lives can help dissolve the rigid barriers we construct—both within and without. By allowing ourselves to interact with water through activities like swimming, kayaking, or even meditative walks along a beach, we engage in a dialogue with an element that is both ancient and renewing. This dialogue can help restore balance to our overtaxed minds and bring clarity to our thoughts, akin to the way rivers carve canyons through the hardest rock.
Physiologically, water's influence on our neurochemistry is profound. The negative ions produced by moving water can improve our serotonin levels, enhancing mood and reducing stress—a boon for those of us striving to maintain a balance between demanding careers and personal well-being. The sound of water, whether it's the crashing of waves or the gentle babble of a brook, also plays a crucial role in reducing the physiological markers of stress, inviting us to deeper states of relaxation and contemplation.
Water, Wyrd and the Road of Wildness
The concept of 'Wyrd', or fate as interconnected with the cosmos, ties closely with water's mutable yet persistent nature. Just as water flows around obstacles and finds new paths, embracing the Wyrd in our lives encourages us to view challenges as opportunities for growth and transformation. Water teaches resilience and adaptability—essential qualities for any professional woman navigating the complexities of modern life and seeking to wield her power effectively. This concept highlights the profound connection between personal actions and the larger tapestry of existence, suggesting that every choice ripples through the web of time, influencing outcomes far beyond the immediate.
Water is also, very powerfully, a connector to the 'Road of Wildness'. Water remains a wild and untamed frontier, its nature unchanged despite the advances of civilization. It flows through our urban landscapes with a sovereignty and vitality that engineered structures like sidewalks, roads, and even well-trodden paths cannot match. Rivers slice through cities with the same relentless force they carve through secluded wilderness, and lakes rest within bustling metropolises as serene reminders of the world’s natural rhythms. These bodies of water offer a direct link to the raw, unbridled essence of nature. They invite us to step away from the manicured and predictable, to engage with the fluid, ever-changing and unpredictable courses that challenge and invigorate the spirit. Engaging with these waterways allows us to tap into a deeper, more primal connection with the world, one that stirs the wildness within us, awakening a sense of freedom and a return to our most fundamental selves.
Of all our natural surroundings, water acts as a mirror reflecting our deepest selves. It challenges us to confront and embrace our hidden depths, our untamed natures that society often urges us to suppress. This confrontation is not just cathartic; it's a necessary step in crafting a narrative of personal and professional power that is authentic and impactful.
Reclaim Your Water Practice For Intuition and Power
If you don't have a "water practice", I encourage you to explore one. I'm a kayaker myself. Among other things, it's one of the few activities that demands and rewards a strong upper shoulder girdle and arm strength. When I was a triathlete, I was also an avid open-water swimmer, finding solace in the long swims and the endurance efforts with deep water flow. Water athletics refresh and awaken the wisdom of the body in ways no other activities do.
Connect with water in everyday life by developing a water practice of your own. Harness water's natural properties to restore and revitalize our mental health, illustrating how our ancestral connection to water continues to influence us in profound and essential ways.
Explore these as ideas:
Consider the exhilarating rush of kayaking, where each paddle stroke through rippling waters not only elevates your heart rate but also boosts your mood through the surge of endorphins. Nothing else combines a good, steady upper-torso effort with ever-changing flows of adventure and sights to see.
Similarly, open water swimming (such as triathletes do) serves as a full-body engagement that not only exercises the muscles but also calms the mind, akin to a meditative state induced by the rhythmic patterns of your strokes. Pool swimming also gives your body that release of whole-body immersion, but if you can get into real, live, natural water in open-water swim (with wise equipment, such as a swim buoy, and of course, good goggles, etc.) it's an amazing experience.
For a different interaction, lakeshore walking offers a sensory feast—the soothing sight and sound of waves lapping against the shore can significantly lower stress levels, reconnecting you with the earth’s natural rhythms. From the mighty and muscular waves of the sea or the wild spray of the Great Lakes, to the quieter ripples and depths of inland lakes, the horizons, views, and depths of water open the spirit to deeper wisdom.
Meanwhile, river walking along the bank or across local bridges allows you to observe the ever-changing flows and the rich ecosystems along riverbanks, which can enhance your awareness and appreciation of seasons and dynamic beauty.
When you can't get away, find a good, long waves meditation video (natural sounds only please, i.e., no music) and listen to it on headphones, to let the healing rhythms of water fill your ears and soothe your soul.
Metaphors for Exploring Water & Wyrd In Life and Work
Metaphors are a fun and powerful way to play with these ideas and surface unexpected insights. They allow you to interact with your inmost thoughts in an insightful, yet indirect way. Here are a number of metaphors you can play with as you explore this important life area. Get out your favorite journaling method, and work with the following questions. Let any answers come up.
"If Water Were an Oracle, What Would It Tell Your?"
Imagine if each interaction with water were a conversation with an ancient oracle, its surface reflecting the unknowns of your deepest fears and greatest strengths. Each ripple tells a story of your ancestral past, whispering secrets of resilience and transformation. What does it tell you?
"If Water Were A Path Leading You To A Life, What Would That Life Be Like?"
Visualize water as your wild and wise ancestral spirit, teaching you to flow with strength and persistence, shaping obstacles into stepping stones toward success. If water were a path leading you toward a different and more deeply fulfilling life, what would that life be like? every choice ripples through the web of time, influencing outcomes far beyond the immediate.
Future-Focused Questions for Exploring Water & Wyrd
You can also use these future-focused questions to realize where you might be "sleepwalking", i.e. allowing your good-enough-but-not-great workplace role to coast on and on, even when your Inner Self knows you want and need to take action.
"If You Swam In New Waters Starting Today, Where Would You Be This Time Next Month?"
If you stepped away from the shore of the familiar and waded into the waters of the unknown, what new strengths might you discover about yourself in the reflection of the water's surface?
"If You Began To Follow The Road of Wildness, What Would Be Different About That Road Than The Life You're Living Now?"
Embracing the fluidity and resilience of water can transform your perceptions of power and leadership, moving away from rigid structures to a more adaptable, responsive approach. As you learn to navigate the unpredictable currents and embrace the natural flow of the Road of Wildness, how might you find your professional interactions becoming more intuitive and creatively inspired? This shift could lead to a leadership style that values flexibility, fosters innovation, and thrives on the dynamic interchange of ideas, much like water shapes and is shaped by the landscapes it traverses.
Key Learning Points
Water connects us to our ancestral wisdom, offering both physical and spiritual rejuvenation.
Engaging with water can transform our approach to personal and professional challenges, promoting resilience and adaptability.
The sounds, presence, and athletic interaction with water enhance neurochemical balance, aiding in stress reduction and mental clarity.
Action Steps
Incorporate visits to natural water bodies into your regular routine to reconnect with nature’s restorative properties.
Reflect on the qualities of water—its persistence, adaptability, and tranquility—and how you can embody these in your daily life.
Use meditation or mindfulness exercises near water to deepen your connection to this essential element and uncover insights about your path and purpose.
On the 'Road of Wildness', let water be your guide—its wisdom ancient, its voice soft yet powerful. As you journey alongside rivers, lakes, and oceans, remember that each step brings you closer to the essence of your wild, untamed spirit. Embrace the journey, for it is as deep and fathomless as the waters themselves, and just as filled with potential.
How will you explore water and the flow of Wyrd in your life as you #reclaimyourwildness and #healworklife?
See you in the next post.
Be well,
Katherine
