Spiritual Perspectives
The Sacredness of Water

By Elizabeth Windisch
Special to The Independent

We live in a desert. We are in a drought but many don't know what that is all about.

Sorry about my sorry rhyme, but it is difficult for me to understand how so many in our country are oblivious to the warnings: the headlines about loss of aquifers, and pollution of our rivers, lakes, and oceans. I am one that supports teachers, and I don't easily criticize the educational efforts of our schools. Somewhere, however, the masses were not taught about aquifers and how they are declining or how long it takes to replenish an aquifer or a reservoir. Parents and municipalities don't do their fair share of education, warning, or modeling conservation either. I don't know how many times I have said to students when I substitute, and adults, too, "Please turn off the lights, save water, and use your dollars wisely."

We are a consumer driven society, but if we don't wake up, we will wake up one day and not have water for our coffee! Not a good omen for Folger's stock.

It is with the intent of raising awareness about our serious water situation that the Friends of the Celts and the First United Methodist Church will host the 9th Annual Celtic Festival of the Arts and Spirituality with this year's theme, "Sacred Water: Lady of the Lake to White Shell Woman." The festival will be held Friday evening, March 9, and all day Saturday, March 10.

Water the most abundant and necessary of all natural elements for the existence of life was recognized for its life-giving and regenerative power by our ancestors. Yet somehow we have lost that reverence, that understanding of the beauty, the power, the magnanimous life giving force it is. We must also stay vigilant as individuals and companies claim the water we drink for unhealthy commercial purposes.

The weekend of March 9-10 is devoted to looking at how the Celts and Din look at water as story, poem, song, drama, and dance.

Come Friday evening for a more reflective experience. Through four monologues we will take you back in history to the dawn of these peoples and their early stories and understanding of the ritual significance and power of water.

The Friday evening program begins at 7 p.m. and will focus on the early Celts and the early Navajo, as two peoples (among others) that held water in high esteem. Sacred springs and holy wells are venerated in both the Celtic world and the world of the Din. It is common also to find that these peoples believe that immersing oneself in water brought about a special cleansing, stamina, and transformation to the individual.

Join us Saturday for a more festive atmosphere. In the morning a variety of workshops will be offered for all ages and interests: Celtic Spirituality, Irish Step Dancing, Making & Baking Scones, and Making Rainsticks. Two workshops will be offered by the City's water conservation coordinator, one for older children and youth, and another for adults on "The Journey of a Water Drop." Though many of the day's events will be of a fun nature, the intent is to celebrate water and come away with a deeper respect for this essence that we take too casually. There will be didactic literature, films, and other displays on the importance of water and how to conserve this most precious element.

For more information and/or a schedule of events for the 9th Annual Celtic Festival of the Arts and Spirituality, stop by the First United Methodist Church, 1800 Red Rock Drive, call the church at (505) 863-4512, or contact the author at (505) 722-9257.

Elizabeth Windisch is the Christian education director at First United Methodist Church- Gallup. She is a member of the New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light Group, the Stewards of Creation, and the Gallup Interfaith Stewards of Creation. She also co-chairs the McKinley Citizens' Recycling Council.

This column is the result of a desire by community members, representing different faith communities, to share their ideas about bringing a spiritual perspective into our daily lives and community issues.

For information about contributing a guest column, contact Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola at the Independent: (505) 863-8611, ext. 218 or lizreligion01@yahoo.com.