(First in a series of thoughts leading to thoughts.)
Water. We are from it. We are of it. Life began in the sea.
It’s no wonder we humans are inspired by water. I’ve often said I have a water muse living in my shower. All my best stories come to me there. Bits and pieces work themselves out. Raising four children, I attributed it, at least in part, to being the only time I was truly alone with my thoughts. As it turns out, there is science behind it. (Thank you, Christofer!) Negative ions.
Among other things, negative ions…
- enhance mood
- stimulate senses
- improve appetite and sexual drive
- stimulate the reticuloendothelial system (a group of defense cells that enhance our disease resistance.)
- promote alpha brain waves and increased brain wave amplitude, resulting in a higher awareness level.
- enable the body to better absorb oxygen into the blood cells
- oxidize serotonin
- filter airborne contaminants, thus providing relief for things like allergies
Cool, huh? There’s more. Ion counts in fresh (ie, the country) air is 2,000-4,000 negative ions per cubic centimeter (pcc.) “City air” can have less than 100 negative ions pcc. I guess getting out to the country isn’t just about avoiding traffic. Now consider that at a large water fall you can find 100,000 or more negative ions pcc. The water muse is born!
I’m not alone in feeling more creative in or around water. In fact, this blog post was sparked by a friend who said much the same thing. Most people feel more mentally and physically refreshed by being near the ocean, a waterfall, or even, like me, taking a shower. It’s not a coincidence. All of these areas have a higher concentration of negative ions to positive ions. It is the force (aka, energy) of the falling or splashing water that causes neutral particles of air to split, freeing electrons that attach to other air molecules causing a negative charge. All this “good energy” flying about makes us feel all around better, more creative, more positive.
Have I lost you? Cool as it is, it does get rather technical. I am a creature of more whimsy than science, myself. We are indeed creatures of the water, made of so much water bound into bodies with only so much time as such. When I’m sitting by the sea, overwhelmed by words, characters, stories, emotions making my fingers itch, I’m more in the mind that there are freewater spirits splashing out of the ocean, speaking to those bound within me. “We’re here! Waiting! Boundless and wild! Come hear our stories. Take them back with you. Go ahead, it’s fine. We have lots more.”
All the water that will ever exist in the world always has in some form or another. It always will. Like energy, it can’t just vanish. It only changes form. Maybe the water inside me now was once part of a great, primordial ocean on a distant planet. Or raindrops that filled it. Or the ice on a comet. Amazing, right? Fantastical! So, then is it really such a stretch to imagine these negative ions as water spirits instead? What the hell, right? Science and whimsy enhance one another. It’s mutual respect that makes it all work.
I have more thoughts that lead to other thoughts on this. I guess you can figure out where they will lead. But that’s another blog post, for another time.
Modesty Is For Suckers 
Great write up!
I appreciate your rants and am so sorry for your loss. It’s our loss too. It’s hard to believe that the little Chris I remember running around left in such a painful way.
Sincerely,
Georgia
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Thank you, Georgia. ❤
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So you’re a nereid–that explains so much 😉
As for me, I’m an oread. I find peace hiking in mountain forests. And when I’m at peace, whatever clumpy sticky stuff that blocks my imagination melts away.
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We’re going to have a talk about this in VAB. Very interesting. (I had to look those words up!)
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Lovely as always.
I wrote my first book in the bathtub.
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Did you really? That’s fabulous.
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Benjamin Franklin wrote while in the tub. More recently, Liliana Hart swears by it. I sometimes get ideas in the shower, but I find I get the most breakthroughs right before I fall asleep. Then, of course, I can’t fall asleep until I right down a bunch of notes. LOL!
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Now that is a dilemma, Maura!
I love the sound of water. Falling. Crashing. Trickling. For a while, I had a few “nature sounds” sites tagged to play while I write. I wondered why they got annoying after a while. While I do love the sound, I also believe it’s the sound AND the whole negative ion thing that really gets me. There’s no better feeling, for me, than sitting near water, listening.
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Water truly makes me feel at peace. Whether the ocean, a lake, or even a stream running through the woods, my body relaxes. And from there, I could see why just being near it can lend itself to creativity. Because I’m most creative when I’m feeling relaxed and not all caught up in my head. Very though-provoking post, Terri!
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And now you know the science of why that’s so! Yay, me! 🙂
I love reading on the beach. I’ve never read a book on the beach that I didn’t love. I’m wondering now how much was the book, and how much was the sea.
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You’ve just inspired me to take a shower, Terri. 😉
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Good! I was wondering what that smell was. Heheee! ❤
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Love the rain. Live on a lake. Water is soothing, inspiring, and of course cleansing. Thanks, Terri, for sharing not just your thoughts but a bit of your soul.
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Thank YOU, Renee. ❤
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