The Shapes of Love in Water

The Shape of Love: Discovering Who We Are, Where We Came From, and Where We're Going
by Masaru Emoto, M.D.

This cutting-edge new work, by the author of the New York Times bestseller The Hidden Messages in Water, presents a revolutionary understanding of life and consciousness and provides answers to the most profound questions of existence.

Introduced in the bestselling The Hidden Messages in Water and the hit cult film What the Bleep Do We Know?, the groundbreaking work of Japanese scientist Masaru Emoto captured the popular imagination and launched a worldwide movement. Using high-speed photography, Dr. Emoto discovered that crystals formed in frozen water are affected by our thoughts, words, and feelings. Since humans and the earth are composed mostly of water, his findings have far-reaching ramifications for individuals, for human society, and for the global environment.

In The Shape of Love, Dr. Emoto shares new images from his research and for the first time draws out the significant lessons of his work. In a clear, conversational style, he interprets the messages hidden in his extraordinary photographs and explains how his discoveries can help us find answers to these eternal questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where will we go after we die? Providing a new way of looking at such important issues as how we treat others and the earth itself, Dr. Emoto's findings encourage the positive actions that spell a better future for all.

A magnificent follow-up to The Hidden Messages in Water, The Shape of Love is a fascinating investigation into the intersection of science and spirituality and its impact on our lives and our world.

Chapter 1

Hope

There is an expression, "The heart is filled up with hope."

The water crystal depicted in Figure 1 might bring to mind an image of a child's chest filled with hope; his or her dreams are growing and growing. Note how the tips of the crystal seem to be growing farther out and the beautiful hexagon at its core. To have hope, people need a solid base, such as the one seen in this photograph. The source of the base is paternal and maternal love and education. In looking back at my life, I realize my mother's love enabled me to continue to hope to become a man who could contribute to world peace. I am grateful for her plentiful love.

I was the youngest of four children, and I received my mother's full attention. My brothers did very well at school. Because I was the youngest child, not too much was expected of me. So I was brought up without many restrictions. After I married, my wife became the the bulwark of my life, just as my mother had been. Both my mother and my wife are like a big ocean that surrounds me in a relaxing way and lets me swim freely. I am grateful to these two women for enabling me to think that I can help build a unified world.

I hope that women who become mothers develop great love within themselves. Perhaps those who fully received maternal love in childhood find it easier to warmly love their children when they become mothers.

More and more women these days seem to feel uncomfortable in relationships of mutual dependence. If you are one of them, I hope you find someone you feel comfortable with. If you wish deeply in your heart, I am sure your wish will be granted.

Others may not like the person you choose to depend on. However, you and that person may be on the same wavelength, and that will make you feel at ease. Such a person may be near you, and may be of the same gender.

Dependence requires getting closer to someone, and this requires courage. I am positive that you can find someone you feel natural and comfortable with to build such a relationship. Once you become comfortable with depending on someone else, you will be able to let others depend on you. With such great love, which allows others to depend on you, you can expect to become a source for giving hope to people around you.

By looking at the photograph of the water crystal of "hope," you may remember the mother ocean. The memory of the expansive, vast sea may remind you of a state of being surrounded by great love.

When I first saw the picture, I was reminded of my mother's love and of my wife's love, and I felt my love toward them redouble. I felt very much encouraged.

Purpose and Despair

If someone were to ask you, "What do you live for?" how would you respond? Even now I am unable to give an immediate answer. Why? Because the purpose of life changes over time. Try to remember: What did you live for when you were twenty, thirty, or forty? You are very likely to find that it has changed. The life purpose we choose is not necessarily always beautiful and noble.

The water crystal in Figure 2 shows a beautiful hexagon. It indicates the positive nature of what makes us feel that life is worth living. What is noticeable in this crystal is that the outer, feather-like parts have sparkling spots. They are unique to this crystal. Perhaps the purpose of life is something that shines on us.

Please take a moment to remember when you found the purpose of your life. When something takes your breath away, when amazement gives you goose bumps, and when an excitement makes you restless, your heart is thrilled. The purpose of life may be found through encountering thrilling experiences; such an encounter is what shines for you.

The purpose of life may further fortify your strengths, or it may complement your weaknesses. If you can develop your strengths more, you will be radiant and feel a greater purpose in life.

As for weaknesses, you might find yourself naturally drawn to something that helps resolve them. As we humans have a sense of balance, we tend to be attracted to what we feel is lacking in ourselves. When you encounter what you were looking for, you will probably find brilliance in it. Thus it will become your life purpose.

An encounter with a person, an encounter with a meaningful job, a dream that you want to chase for the rest of your life - all of these are leading you toward your purpose in life.

On the other hand, when we give up all hope, our immune system weakens, and our natural healing power diminishes.

Initially, I didn't think that water would make a crystal after being shown the word "despair." However, the crystal in Figure 3 looks like the making of a hexagon. It may be saying that any despair has hope within it. I didn't want to show you the pictures that were too distorted, so I picked a relatively good-looking one.

The water crystal in Figure 3 seems to have shrunk. We, too, shrink when we despair. We stoop down and turn in upon ourselves. However, when we say we despair, feeling despair amounts to perhaps, 80 percent, while the remaining 20 percent is our dormant hope.

Though small, a sign of hope does come through in this crystal. In the world of water, I don't believe there is such a thing as total despair because water circulates. Water can pass from one form to another and finally come back to its beauty. So, too, can we humans.

Even when we feel we are at the bottom of despair, we have latent faculties that bounce us back to life and allow us to find the purpose to live again.

Copyright © 2007 by Masaru Emoto.

About the Author

Dr. Masaru Emoto is a graduate of the Yokohama Municipal University and the Open International University as a doctor of alternative medicine. His previous book, The Hidden Messages in Water, has sold more than 600,000 copies world-wide. He lives in Tokyo and frequently travels to the United States to speak about his work.