The Water Element

We've arrived at the last element: Water.

Do you know the signs of this element? They are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.

The Water Element represents the realm of deep emotion, of feeling reactions, ranging from passions and fears to acceptance and love that encompasses all of creation.

Water is the element that surrounds us—approximately three-quarters of planet Earth is composed of water; 90% of our body is made of water; and when we are conceived, we are "tucked away" for nine months inside the sac, supported by amniotic fluid full of nutrients, warmth, and care. Therefore, Water is connected to life, and historically, according to the theory of evolution, life originated in water.

Water tells us something about ancestry, about the past, about history. It is this element in which we are all immersed... when we think about what belongs to the realm of the unconscious. It is the connection that exists among all of us, in the sense that "we are all one."

People with a stronger presence of this element in their birth charts will have a greater perception of this "broth" in which we all exist... The perception of nuances, atmospheres, glances, and subtleties that others don't even notice, things that are not easily explained—it's simply a perception, a sensation, that has no logical reason.

It's something like that situation when you approach someone and ask, "Hey, how are you?" And the person replies, "I'm fine!" Their face might even suggest that "everything's fine," but Water senses that it isn't, that there's something more that isn't being said. That’s more or less the energy of this element.

It is an energy that speaks of feeling, emotion, intuition, imagination, of retreating into that world of one's own, which is the inner, immaterial world. This is why creativity is so often discussed here, making this element strongly connected to artistic energy.

Dealing with an Excess of Water

When we speak of an excess of Water, we may be talking about a challenge in dealing with so much sensitivity. In my courses, I often use a phrase I really like:

“I overflow, I don't deny it. I'll return when I fit."

That is, it overflowed, the tears came to the eyes, it couldn't be held back. This is because water always finds its way—we can observe this in nature, in the course of rivers that always lead to the sea. Intuition also works this way; through it, we find the way things are, where we need to arrive.

So, how do you deal with an excess of this element?

Therapy can be a safe place to handle all this "turbulence," because often, everything may seem fine externally, but internally, a "tidal wave" might be occurring. Therapy is the alchemical vessel that allows these emotions to be accessed safely.

Another way to channel all this sensitivity is through art. Art makes it possible to express feelings and emotions, to externalize what is only in the inner world.

And, to create a kind of "containment," the most appropriate alternative is to establish some form of discipline, whether it's contact with the Earth, like gardening or working with clay, combining art with contact with the Earth. The important thing is to introduce contact with forms, contours, and the material world.

Dealing with a Scarcity of Water

For those with a scarcity of Water in their chart, what I'm saying might not make much sense, precisely because these are people who have a greater challenge getting in touch with their emotions.

For these individuals, therapy will be necessary as a tool for them to create a safe and trustworthy space to express their feelings and emotions, allowing that "dive" to happen.

Art also appears here through Art Therapy, which can be an interesting tool, as talking about emotions can often be more challenging for people with a scarcity of Water in their chart. Art therapy can be that path to access the unconscious, emotions, and feelings—it can be the way to let that water flow.

Spirituality is also a way to connect with Water, because spiritual practices generally lead us to this contact with our inner selves. Meditation, for example, can be a way to connect with and access this inner world, helping us access our inner waters more.

And, of course, we cannot fail to mention physical contact with this element. Contact with running water, a swim in the sea, at a waterfall, or a river bath are ways to bring this element into our lives.

To illustrate a bit, I wanted to share a little about my experience with my mother, a wonderful Pisces, who made me realize this need for contact with water.

Since I was little, I noticed her need for contact with water, and she always took me on these adventures. She was a surfer for some years, so when I was a child, she bought me a bodyboard, took me to the sea, taught me about the sets of waves, took me beyond the break... she took me to waterfalls and rivers, to every kind of water! And even when it was very cold, she would tell me: "You have to at least wet your feet!"

And this is very symbolic, because the sign of Pisces rules the feet.

If you don't have direct contact with running water, an alternative is a shower or bath. You must know people who sometimes come home and say, "I need a shower!" This bath is not always about feeling dirty; often, it's just a way to cleanse, to wash away energies and sensations that don't belong to that person, but because they absorb things from the outside, they need to drain it, to let it all go.

To conclude this text, I would like to leave you with this quote that I really like...

"Water humbly yields to obstacles, but no power can prevent it from following its destined path toward the sea."

Do you identify with the energy of the Water element?

How do you deal with your emotions?

Tell me in the comments—I'd love to know and share our experiences.

With love,

Kim Bins