Snowflakes (Snow Crystals) Using the paper provided, create one to two snowflakes (snow crystals) and hang them around the classroom http://snowflakes.lookandfeel.com/ (interactive snowflake website) http://highhopes.com/snowflakes.html (creating snowflakes instructions) http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/photos/photos.htm (snow-crystal photos) http://www.papersnowflakes.com/ (paper snowflakes for children)

The Hidden Messages in Water The Power of Being Positive

Overview As we go about our daily tasks (school, work, etc.), it is inevitable for us to encounter situations that may be overwhelming or frustrating. Usually, these types of situations may elicit negative responses. Although a negative response may be typical, it is important for us to understand that something as simple as maintaining a positive attitude can help us through tough times. In the book, The Hidden Messages in Water, this idea is discussed in detail, while highlighting the power of words.

Our Connection With Water “The average human body is 70 percent water” (Page xv). “We start out life being 99 percent water, as fetuses. When we are born, we are 90 percent water, and by the time we reach adulthood we are down to 70 percent. If we die of old age, we will probably be about 50 percent water. In other words, throughout our lives we exist mostly as water” (Page xv).

The Experiment Dr. Emoto and his associates exposed water to positive and negative words, expressions, and music. Subsequently, they froze the water and photographed the crystals that formed. This experiment provided concrete visual evidence of how water reacted to both positive and negative energy. “Water exposed to ‘Thank You’ formed beautiful hexagonal crystals, but water exposed to the word ‘Fool’ produced crystals similar to the water exposed to the heavy metal music, malformed and fragmented” (Page xxv).

Crystals Formed after exposure to Positive Words (Energy) Tibet Sutra Love and Appreciation Thank You Mother Teresa Beethoven’s Pastorale

Crystals Formed After Exposure to Negative Words (Energy) You Make Me Sick… Heavy Metal Music Adolph Hitler

Before and After Lake water before positive words Lake water after positive words

What does it all Mean? “Modern researchers have shown that the condition of the mind has a direct impact on the condition of the body” (Page xvi). Since we are made primarily of water, and since water can be influenced by positive and negative energy, maintaining a positive attitude (and exuding positive energy) can directly impact our whole being

A Family’s Experiment “A family that subscribed to our magazine conducted an experiment. They put rice in two glass jars, and every day for a month they said ‘Thank you’ to one jar and ‘You fool’ to the other, and then they tracked how the rice changed over the period. Even the children, when they got home from school, would speak these words to the jars of rice. After a month, the rice that was told ‘Thank you’ started to ferment, with a mellow smell like that of malt, while the rice that was exposed to ‘You fool’ rotted and turned black” (Page 65).

Additional Photographs In the experiment, Dr. Emoto also compared crystallized water from clean and polluted sources Fountain in Lourdes, France Antarctic Ice Spring Water of Saijo, Japan Spring Water of Sanbuichi Yusui, Japan

Specific Criticisms of the Claims A little change in Emoto’s experimental design would do great things for the credibility of his claims. The following are recommended to ground his work in sound scientific principles: Eliminate the possibility of the scientist’s bias affecting the experiment’s results by implementing double blind procedures. Publish the entire collection of photos for all water sample tests that he has performed, not just the ones that support his claim. Minimize the sources of possible error in his procedures, such as variation in temperature and humidity between sample. Pay more attention to the time-tested methods of the scientific community rather than disregarding them. Emoto’s research could go much farther if he could interest scientists around the world in testing his hypothesis.

Does the Criticism Discount the Experiment’s Validity? Although Dr. Emoto’s experiment is heavily criticized, there seems to be a significant amount of research reinforcing that people can benefit overall from a positive mind, or exposure to sources of positive energy.

Conclusion – My Takeaways Being positive means focusing on the good things that happen in our lives, rather than on the things that make us mad or upset, or don’t go the way we like Thinking positively has a major impact on how we feel, the things we do, and what we say to others Even though we all have not-so-good days, remaining positive helps us through When we focus on the negatives all the time, we may feel exhausted, unmotivated and “blah” – the opposite can be achieved by focusing on the positives Positive words, positive actions, and positive thoughts all result in positive energy (vibrations). “The vibration of good words has a positive effect on our world, whereas the vibration from negative words has the power to destroy” (Page xxv).

Reflection Take some time to think about a recent experience of your own that was negative or one in which you responded in a negative way. How could you have changed your way of thinking to make it positive? “The life you live and the world you live in are up to you” (Page 52).

Citations Visuals taken from: Emoto, Masaru (2004). The hidden messages in water. Hillsboro, OR: Beyond Words Publishing, Inc.. Visuals taken from: Sharp, S. (2007). Miraculous messages from water. Retrieved February 10, 2008, from Wellness Goods Web site: http://www.wellnessgoods.com/messages.asp