Book Review by Jane Schmidt

The Hidden Messages in Water by Masaru Emoto

Crystalized Thinking: Water Reflects More Than Images

It is common knowledge that water is essential to life and that every snowflake is a unique. The Hidden Messages in Water explores why this is so and how this knowledge, deeply understood, can have transformative power.

Masaru Emoto from Japan, developed an interest in photographing water crystals, never before achieved. The successful results sparked an epiphany about the properties of water on a spiritual level.

Emoto’s first basic experiments with water crystals compared different types of water: tap water vs. natural, river water from upstream vs. downstream and more. The purer the water, the more lovely and complete was the crystal formation. Tap water, with added chlorine, did not form crystals at all. Next crystals from water exposed to music were photographed. Beethoven, Bach and jazz produced stunning complex crystals. The Hidden Messages in Water includes extensive photographs of the crystals which resemble icier versions of the familiar snowflake. They have an undeniable visual impact. The four crystals from water that “heard” Vivaldi’s Four Seasons seem to match each season. Heavy metal rock with angry lyrics produced damaged and distorted crystals.

From music, the experiments led to words. In Japan, there is a well-known test involving rice. One bowl is said the words “thank you” on a frequent basis and the other bowl is told the words, “you fool”. The rice given kind words ferments sweetly and the rice subjected to disparaging words rots. Water subjected to similar treatment formed whole and intricate crystals on the one hand and incomplete jagged crystals on the other. Unlike rice, though, the results were immediate and not dependant on a growing cycle. Emoto found it was enough to write positive or negative words on the container of water to produce the dichotomy of crystals. Words in any language had the same effect.

According to Emoto, “Announcing your intentions is an important step…The simple act of saying something is a way to gather energy towards you…Words have their individual and unique vibrational frequencies…Words have energy that influences the universe.” The expression, “Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me.” should be amended to “but words can be both more harmful and more beneficial”. If positive words, which have their own vibrations, are chosen, as evidenced in crystal formation, changes for the better can occur in individuals and the state of the world. After all, both humans and the earth are comprised of 70% water, a rather powerful connection. And water reacts: it reflects back not only images but the vibrations in sounds and the energy and intent of words as shown at the microscopic level of crystals. Or so is the theory.

Emoto contends that the most beautiful crystal, depicted in the book, is the result of the words “love and gratitude”. He goes further to explain this in relationship to the composition of water. H₂O: one part love (oxygen) as the giving energy and two parts gratitude (H₂) as the receiving energy. In other words, we should be twice as grateful. Is there a leap of logic here? Likely. And is there grain of truth. Also likely. But this has formed the basis of his philosophy.

Sudbury is proud to define itself as a city of lakes. It is desirable to live on or near water, an instinct found world-wide but not as accessible as in Sudbury. Although the lakes are beautiful to see, many are not healthy. The recognition of this, that beyond the gorgeous scenery there is an imbalance, much investigation has started including the admirable Living with Lakes building, the centre for fresh water research at Laurentian University. Perhaps, as Emoto suggests, the community in conjunction with science or as an alternative, can harness the power of words to effect positive change. In The Hidden Messages in Water, Emoto describes a Shinto priest giving an incantation at Fujiwara dam in Japan. Before the incantation or prayer, the water was cloudy but soon after, the water visibly cleared. The crystals of the water before the event were garbled and incoherent and after the incantation they were intact and intricate. Blue-green algae is an increasing problem in Lake Ramsey. Research, although necessary, is costly and time-consuming. Could we not cast a net of positive words of collective consciousness and see the effect?

Since publishing the photos of water crystals and The Hidden Messages in Water in 2001, Emoto has published several more books expanding on his theories. He has travelled the world many times to give talks and seminars to wildly enthusiastic audiences. Emoto himself has become the bearer of messages that resonate in a world where an antidote to the sorry state of affairs is badly, or to be positive, gladly needed. Water should be treated with respect and consciousness as it reflects and resonates with the earth and every unique inhabitant.

The Hidden Messages in Water is available at Chapters and as a talking book from with a PDF of water crystal images at the Greater Sudbury Public Library.