– Composed by Douglas Webber, and edited by Ekan Nangaku Leisching

Before language, before thought, water was the first breath of life. It is the primordial element, the ancient memory, the silent witness to all that has ever been and all that will ever be. Water moves, carves, erodes, reshapes and restores. It is the unshackled traveler, crossing lands and lifetimes, dissolving what was and making space for what is yet to come.

In every sacred tradition, water has been the great life giver and healer, the irresistible way-shower over thresholds between states of being. Across cultures and spiritual paths, water flows through rituals of cleansing and renewal, weaving a timeless thread that connects humanity to something far greater than itself.

In Japan, the graceful movements of Misogi invite the spirit to be cleansed beneath cascading waters, while in Islam, the mindful practice of Wudu prepares the body and soul for prayer through purifying touch. The sacred immersions in the Ganges River call millions to its banks, the waters believed to carry away burdens beyond the physical. In Bali, the Malukat ceremony unfolds like a prayer in motion, each drop of water a blessing, washing over body and spirit alike. And within Christianity, baptism becomes a passageway, where the water cradles the seeker between old and new, cleansing not just the skin but the very essence of being.

These sacred acts do not stand apart—they are ripples in the same vast ocean, reflections of an ancient knowing: that water is more than substance; it is memory, medium, and the tender hand that invites us to live anew. Indigenous traditions have viewed water as the lifeblood of the Earth, with ceremonies dedicated to honouring its presence and seeking balance, such as the various forms of Water Blessing Ceremonies practiced by so many indigenous cultures, where communities gather to offer prayers, gratitude, and songs to rivers, lakes, and oceans, recognising water as a living being and vital source of life. Water flows through these practices as a gateway between worlds, a medium through which the old is washed away and space is made for the new. A baptism, a river crossing, an offering at the feet of the divine—it is the gateway. Yet beyond eternal washing, beyond the physical, water is the carrier of energy in motion -emotion, sensing deep inner knowing.

To be intimate with water is to connect with ourselves, for we, too, are mostly water—rivers running through the soil of our flesh and over the stones of our bones.

As the new moon rises on March 27 2025, Born as the Earth Zen Academy, under the guidance of Ekan Nangaku and his Apprentice Mentors, opens the Water Gateway for seekers ready to attune to the subtle currents of water, emotion, and deep conscious awareness.

This is an invitation to walk the Middle Way – the Way of Balance, to cultivate compassion, resonance, and harmony—learning to navigate the complexities of human and non-human relationships through the wisdom of water’s way. Collectively, we will be holding space for transformation, immersing participants in two months of guided meditations, elemental rituals, and deep self-inquiry. Born as the Earth Zen Academy’s training invites you to step into a living stream of wisdom—an immersion into Water’s essential intelligence of fluidity, healing, and emotional depth. This experience can be gentle and subtle, like the tender touch of the early morning dew kissing your face at day break, or it can be energizingly rapid, as though you are swept into its surging currents alive with restorative power. Always still, always in motion, Water’s natural medicine resolves all dilemmas for a fresh day to reveal itself. How you journey is yours to choose—whether to lightly tread the surface, cautiously wading the shallow, or dive headlong into its depths, it’s wisdom unfolds immediately and in its own time. In this way, the journey will reshape the way we sense, feel, and dissolve into the world around us.

During this Prelude to the Water Module, we will release a new article each week, offering an unfolding stream of stories and insights that invite reflection and preparation for the journey ahead. These writings will explore the significance of water through the ages—its spiritual connection, its resilient determination, and its role as a mirror and medium of communication —guiding readers to sense the deeper currents that flow beneath the surface of everyday life. Like stepping stones placed across a river, each exploration leads intuitively to the next, revealing the passageways across the eternal flow of time with spaces in between to pause, reflect, and feel the Water Way speaking to you. This training is not merely a transmission of information; it is an invitation to align and sense the currents of your journey toward the ocean of peace and harmony.

When we stand at the edge of the ocean, why do we feel the weight of our thoughts begin to dissolve? Why does the sound of a running stream bring a sense of clarity? Water holds the imprints of emotion, etching its ancient story into the land, as riverbeds remember every flood and drought. Science tells us that it carries memory, that its structure shifts in response to energy, emotion, and sound. Ancient traditions knew this long before science—every drop is the whole ocean and a medium of revelation, carrying the whispered vibrations over the land and sky.

To truly work with this element, we intimately listen. We allow ourselves to be fluid, carried and held and moved by its eternal force toward stillness and flow. It teaches surrender—not as passivity, but as intelligent adaptation. It teaches that resistance creates suffering, that a river does not break against a rock, instead its flexibility moves around obstacles, its constant resilience softening edges without the constriction of time.

Beyond these immersive sessions, apprentices will learn to tune into the rhythms of water, refining their ability to sense, relate, and respond with emotional intelligence and deep presence. Water teaches the art of harmonisation—flowing between interactions, sensing the unspoken, and embracing the unseen. Through this fluid connection, apprentices will develop a heightened awareness of balance, sensitivity, and relational depth, discovering how to embody compassion and resonance in both the tangible and intangible aspects of life.

Each session will bring apprentices into a deeply intimate relationship with water, not just as an element, but as a living guide to balance, presence, and relational flow. Emotions are the oscillations of Water, reflecting the ebb and flow of our inner world. Tears become the body’s release, like fresh rain cleansing parched earth. Our clear, still waters hold the weight of what is unspeakable, quietly resolving distorted into calm. It teaches us to cleanse, recharge, and realign our inner states, revealing the body itself as a flowing system—a harmonic hologram of the great waters of the world. By learning to listen deeply, apprentices will cultivate a profound sensitivity, allowing them to respond to themselves and others with openness, clarity, and compassion.

Through meditation, elemental rituals, and reflections on ancient wisdom, apprentices will learn to resolve dilemmas, engage in shadow work, and strengthen their emotional intelligence—deepening their understanding of how water nourishes and connects all life.