One of my intellectual and spiritual heroes is Robin Wall Kimmerer, indigenous wisdom keeper, botanist, author, and founder and director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment. In her approach towards protecting the environment – which is also our health – she talks about a braiding together of the depths of traditional knowledge systems with the best science has to offer.
That’s my hope for how we honor and protect our waters. It's also how I hope to approach our bodies and the practice of medicine: I hope to incorporate the best ideas guided by and rooted in wisdom practices.
It seems that the greater change we are traversing personally (and the higher the temperatures rise) the more we instinctively seek respite near water. Places where we can rest, restore, and feel into moments of peace. For me, spending time near water is a practice, not just solace or leisure (it’s that too). I love to enter into a state of gratitude and reflection for the gifts water brings us, mirroring back the qualities of broad clear horizons, clarity, and awe that is brings. The practice is my root and my restoration. More ways to protect water get added in from this place of respect.
I've created a brief guide around my water practices + my recommendations for making sure (y)our water is as clean, pure, and as safe as possible. See below for both individual and collective health.
From this water body to yours.
Action flows from appreciation: Practice
In the culture of modernity, often we become a bit detached from the importance and value of having clean water. We take it for granted as it flows from the faucets. So, one of my daily and weekly practices involves simply honoring and noticing how often I depend on clean water to carry out my everyday activities. Sometimes I say ‘thank you water’ to myself every time I'm receiving one of its myriad gifts: cleansing, purification, hydration, restoration, rest. Try it! Because to better protect something, we have to love it and understand it.
What’s in your water: access the ‘Tap Water Database’
Learn about the exact contaminants and issues facing the tap water by typing in your state and zipcode on the ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP WEBSITE. This is an amazing tool that will help you learn what kind of filtration you need.
Choose wisely: Filtering is no longer optional
The ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP has a specific guide to help you choose a water filter that works best for your water. Under-sink reverse osmosis and two-stage filters and typically the most reliable. You may also want to invest in a specific filter for your shower as we absorb contaminants and chlorine derivatives that interrupt with our hormone processing through the skin.
Avoid perfluorate ‘forever chemicals’: Buy Organic + Avoid Processed Food
Not only our water but also our food supply is contaminated with ‘forever compounds’ known as PFAS that have been shows to cause cancer. Many conventionally grown and processed foods are allowed to contain much higher levels of PFAS than we originally thought. Learn more here.
Travel Options: Clean Water Wherever You Go
Recently environmental experts have been updating their advice saying that filtration is really not so optional anymore. Depending on your travel habits, you may want to invest in an on-the-go self-filtering water bottle. Here's my pick to help keep you covered for travel, the gym, restaurants, etc.
It’s not enough to filter your own water: share your voice
Minnesota is home to one of the largest sources of freshwater in the world, and it continues to be under threat of contamination from various sources. Under scorching drought and fire conditions and severe water shortages downstream, multinational corporations have been allowed to drain and contaminate billions of gallons of northern water supplies near the headwaters of the Mississippi.
Meanwhile, the most consistent and adamant defenders of our local waters face court proceedings and they need our support. Sign up here to help add your voice to protection of our waters.
Clean water for all: Clean running water for Leola Onefeather
Having clean water affects us all, but being able to access it is highly influenced by privilege + proximity. Consider offering funds towards Elder Leola Onefeather on Wounded Knee Reservation. This human helps so many from a reservoir of deep wisdom, has been without running water for 30+ years, and the water where she lives has been contaminated. Funds will go towards installing running water and a working bathroom + kitchen.
The issues of water quality can be a hard topic to share about because it can quickly become very overwhelming for people. In between trying to do everything and getting overwhelmed and doing nothing at all is a healthy middle ground: do the little bits that you can.
I like the reminder that change takes place at the pace of the body . . . take your time to incorporate changes as you are able and do one thing at a time.