Returning to the Well

Water is the foundation & source of life, in a time of artificial intelligence, this is the vital moment to remember the consciousness of water & reclaim embodied wisdom.

Have you ever noticed how water draws you in? Like a magnetic force that our electrical pulses are compelled to move towards. There is a reason that you don’t want to be standing in body of water in a lightning storm, right?

Water transmits and moves energy, just as the consciousness within water is also carried around our bodies, or how the vibration of light or sound interacts with water. It is always a welcoming and soothing feeling when we approach a sacred well or body of water, just as when we return to our own inner well & connection to source.

Even in modern times, many people take walks, hikes or plan their trips away to be by a body of water. Some even make sure that they live nearby, especially by a lake or the sea so that they can make regular trips to bring a sense of calm and renewal in daily life.

Have you noticed the different influence that water has on how you feel? When you take a walk on the beach the sea is calm and peaceful, even inviting. How does that affect your being? When the river is flowing full and fast, almost breaking the banks, how does that stir your instincts? Water is life, it stirs life within us, as the blood and lymph flows around our bodies, it carries our consciousness as well as the consciousness of water.

Many ancient cultures across the world speak to and honour the consciousness of water as the foundation for life, it is vital for our future and our childrens future to wake up to this remembering. We are very unique on this planet Earth for the waters and minerals that it carries, which with the rise of AI and continuation of industrial waste entering into our water sources threatens our very existence.

Science is just beginning to understand the nature of water, even in the current forms that we are aware of, liquid, ice, steam and plasma, we still know so very little. Yet it makes up the majority of the body of the earth and our own bodies, with 99% liquid crystalline structure, the influence of water is far beyond what our mind can perceive, as the consciousness of water that we drink, consume and bathe in becomes part of our bodies of water.

Water & Light

Water carries & transmits light, hydrogen carries & emits energy which also makes up the glow of the cosmos… Oxygen transmits light, is is created from the supernova of the stars, which is the same light that we when the light of the moon or the sun shines through the waters. The oxygen is what brings light or consciousness into matter, think of the first or last breath, the life force carried in oxygen brings life into the body with our first breath, and leaves with our last breath…

There is a lot that can be understood through quantum physics of how water behaves as an element through the chemical compounds of H20. That said, there are far more questions than answers when we explore the four states that we know so far of liquid, ice, steam and plasma. As plasma makes up more than 50% of our bodies, this is very significant as it carries light & consciousness through our bodies.

I will leave the science of the elements to those that are more familiar with this language, which is always fascinating as another lens to view from:

Ancient Mysteries

Water is the primary element that connects all lands and cultures together, as we share the same waters that our ancestors did. There are some cultures in particular that are widely known for their connection to water, from Egypt and the River Nile, India and the River Ganges, Peru and the Amazon River, Ireland and the River Shannon.

There is a lot to be learned from Hawaii and the Kānaka Maoli culture, to Aotearoa (New Zealand) and the Māori Culture. Hawaii has a major clue in the name as “Ha” means breath or life force and “Wai” means water. In Māori, “Wai” is also the name for water which brings one of the many links for the origins of these cultures.

“In Māori culture, many tribes directly or indirectly consider water as the source or foundation of all life. This is reflected in traditions which speak of te taha wairua, often translated as ‘the spiritual plane (of existence)’.

The term te taha wairua is widely used to refer to the ‘real world’, which lies both behind and within the world of normal experience. Much of life, according to the traditional world view, is concerned with coming to see, experience and understand the interplay of this ‘real world’ with our more limited everyday life. Te taha wairua can literally be translated as ‘the dimension of two waters’, a conception that likens spirituality to water.

However, it might be argued that te taha wairua does not mean ‘the spiritual plane’ at all. Instead, references to te taha wairua might be saying that there is a fundamental dimension to all life and it takes the form of water.”

Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal

Irish Waters

In Ireland, the Tuatha Dé Danann (the people of the Goddess Danu) are a supernatural race of people who have inhabited the island since before the Milesans and the Celts invaded. However, it could be said that there is a link that the Goddess Danu had a far wider European influence as the River Danube is the largest river in Europe and flows from the Black Forest in Germany, through the mouth of the Romanian Delta into the Black Sea. It is something to contemplate with the Celtic Connections across Europe if the Tuatha Dé Danann also resided in the forests along the River Danube…

In Irish Uisce means water and is believed to have derived from the old Irish term for water Uisce beatha which translates as waters of life. Similar to Māori culture, this referred to water as spirit, another dimension of existence or essence that we all derive from. It is very natural that islands such as Ireland, Hawaii and New Zealand would have a much closer relationship and cultural significance with water due to being surrounded by the sea, but also the influence on landscape and the spirit of the land.

Speaking of spirit, Uisce beatha was later adopted as the Irish and later, the Scot’s Gaelic name of Uisge Beatha for Whiskey which also lends itself to the significance of Whiskey for medicinal and spiritual purposes, as well as the fresh waters that it would have contained.

Perhaps the original origins of the distillation of whiskey was a way of preserving, then transporting the life & healing properties of the water… It was indeed the monks that perfected the distillation process and Saint Colmcille who spread the way of Whiskey distillation across to the island of Iona, which then spread further across Alba (Scotland) & the Scottish Isles.

Ireland’s Holy Wells

Many cultures share a connection to wells, and it is likely that just as was the case in Ireland, it originally belonged to the indigenous culture of the region, before the religious influence came in. It has unfortunately been the reality of many that they were often banned from continuing their sacred practices of prayers and offerings to the waters, in many cases, they would be killed for doing so. There may be a link here in our ancestral memory to the disconnect and indeed pollution of the sacred waters we have inherited today.

However, there are over 3,000 wells in Ireland that have been preserved as they were named Tobar Beannaithe or Holy Wells after being blessed by a Saint. Some examples such as St Brigid’s Well in Kildare and St Patrick’s Well in Beleek are just two of the many wells across Ireland that share the same name.

“Fostered by our daily physical need for water, hydrolatry is panhuman. Sacred wells and springs can be found around the globe: Zamzam at Mecca is the holiest well in Islam, visited by millions annually on the Hajj; India has its hallowed wells, pools and tirthas; and Mexico has its holy water aguajes and Mayan cenotes. Water bodies, particularly wells, fountains, springs and streams, are liminal places cross-culturally and may be considered portals to other worlds.”

Celeste Ray

In Ireland today, one of the few remnants of remembering water as sacred, is that people today still visit Holy Wells for prayer, solace and ritual. On certain Holy days, many will take pilgrimage to a particular well as has been the way for many generations before. Water carries the memory of the land, the ancestors as well as many healing properties or cures that we can receive.

“Gaze into a holy well, and you are staring into the soul of Ireland.”

Manchán Magan

Women & Water

Traditionally in Pre Celtic Culture, it was women that most visited and tended to the wells, for bathing, drinking and rituals. They knew that by tending to the wells, they were tending to the life of the whole community as well as the connection to source.

Perhaps it is the link between Women who carry portals within the water of their wombs and the portals of the wells that brought this symbiotic relationship. Both carry within them the liminal space between life and death. Women also carry a much deeper cyclical nature with the connection to the moon & tides due to the menstrual cycle.

It is likely that the health of the women was impacted much sooner & more greatly than others in the community if the health of the water was affected. Perhaps the women would have been so attuned that they knew this and would have been able to alert the community to any imbalances affecting the waters that needed to be addressed, working together to take appropriate action for the benefit of all.

This is something to consider today in particular, as more studies are beginning to reveal the systemic nature of Women’s Health conditions such as Endometriosis. In addition, with such limited research and such a lack in diagnostics, it is highly likely to be more prolific than 1 in 10 women…

The stagnation or pollution of the waters & blood in a woman’s body can directly impact her menstrual cycle and reproductive health. In over 2000 years, Chinese Medicine has identified that the health of the liver and spleen have a significant impact on the health of a woman’s menstrual cycle. In 200 years of allopathic medicine, women’s health is largely a mystery, with a very under researched and limited view on only the female reproductive system.

This is just one example of an ancient holistic medicine that treats the whole body, rather than just one system or organ. It is very likely that in Ireland and many other traditional practices that herbs, water and remedies would have been used to keep the community in health, rather than to only treat illness. Further to this, the business of fertility, birthing and taking care of the sick would have largely been in the hands of women.

Many cultures such as Japanese, Nordic or Lithuanian, the “Sweat” or “Smoke” House would have been a place of healing, often tended to by women and was particularly helpful for women’s menstrual and reproductive health due to the many benefits for the lymphatic system. This same practice of ‘Tigh N’Alluis” (Irish Sweathouse) was maintained throughout Ireland, and parts of Scotland right up to less than 100 years ago. It is believed that modern medicine coming to rural areas were a huge influence on this practice dying out and their full use for health and spiritual purposes remains a mystery…

The use of fresh water, particularly from springs, rivers or wells would have been used to bring healing properties into the steam. In addition, it is likely that the connection with the use of the Birch Tree for Sauna or Bathing practices spanned across cultures. Birch is known for carrying healing waters through its sweet sap and its leaves & bark have many medicinal uses that can aid cleansing through its diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties.

This of course can be an aid for fertility, birthing and women’s menstrual or menopausal health. Birch is traditionally associated in Ireland, along with many cultures for love, fertility, protection, renewal and new beginnings. These are all qualities that water can bring when we invite it through healthy relationship.

Returning to the Well

It may not always be possible for you to visit a local well, however, it is highly recommended to find a well or spring that you can visit and gather water from to begin to reclaim a healthy relationship with water. However, there are many other ways to “return to the well” in modern life, and as with many foundational practices, it begins with Gratitude.

Giving thanks to the water that you drink or wash in, especially to its source, even if it is unknown to you, can have a profound impact on bringing the water in your glass back to life. In modern times, we often forget the journey that the water has taken to come through our tap and into our glass and what a privilege it is to have access to clean drinking water.

The water that we bathe in can cleanse & strengthen us energetically as well as physically if we simply ask it and give thanks. This can have a profound impact on our consciousness and energetic or spiritual hygiene. Herbal teas or plant baths can also assist in this, and the water amplifies the properties that the plants, trees or fungi bring.

Ultimately, if you ask the water and begin to engage with the waters as sentient, its secrets and way of embracing it in your life will be revealed.

Who is Water?

Instead of trying to pour the ocean into a teacup, I am going to leave this as a question, so that life can bring the answer…

I do feel called at this time to gather together and explore so that we can begin to allow this question as well as our relationship water to deepen in our lives.

So on Wed 10th December at 7pm UTC, you are invited to join me, just like gathering at the well to explore the consciousness of water and how it influences our lives through our bodies & consciousness. Water is calling us to remember who we are as the question of who is water comes back to the essence of life itself.

You can JOIN HERE. I am asking for a contribution, either through a one-off payment or FREE for Paid Illuminating Wisdom Subscribers.

Sacred Wells Women’s Retreat

A 5 Day Pilgrimage Retreat for women to remember the way of the wells, awakening to the living consciousness of water and the wisdom that is carried in our bodies of water. You can find out more here.

Spring Equinox 2026

18th to 22nd March

Rainbow Cottage, County Louth, Ireland

You will be guided into tending to the inner well and walk together in pilgrimage to Sacred Wells in Ireland. We will spend time in a beautiful cottage nested in the Cooley Mountains and surrounded by the Irish sea, drinking well water and enjoying dips in the river.

There will be a “Tigh N’Alluis,” Irish Sweathouse Ritual to open and close the retreat, remembering the ancient ways of the ancestors & healing waters, warming the bones, purifying our bodies & minds whilst connecting to water in its forms of liquid, ice & steam. We will gather the waters from local wells, the rivers & the sea to pour over the granite stones and receive the deep healing of the waters, trees, plants & minerals in the steam.

Each day we will begin with tending to the inner well through guided meditation & gentle movement before taking pilgrimage to holy wells in the local area with trusted local guides & elders along the way. We will make space for sharing creativity together in the evenings with songs, poetry, storytelling, womb tending & deep rest.

In the Spirit of Reciprocity

As always, I really appreciate each subscribe, like, comment of share of these articles as it helps me to share my work more widely as well as a little spark of joy that I am not simply sharing into the void. In these times more than ever, it is going back to the ways of sharing through word of mouth, both online and offline that fosters connection and reciprocity.

I would love to grow this Substack as a community space and begin a podcast that will bring connection, clarity and focus on creating the world here & now that will influence a positive future.

Lastly, I hope that this article has stirred something in you, if even at least it is to begin to appreciate the relationship with water and the profound impact that the waters have on our lives. It is my prayer that each of us in our own way, can remember to love and protect our waters, for the benefit of all.

Le Grá,

Tara