Both the human body and the surface of the earth are 70% water. Water, a life force that is within us and that sustains us, appears so basic and yet so complex all at once. Aside from natural disasters, such as the recent tsunami in Asia and flooding in Los Angeles, we seldom recognize the power and force of water – and rarely do we revere it. Northeast Ohio has the fortune to be situated along the twelfth largest lake in the word, Lake Erie. Providing drinking water, cooling for industry, power generation, shipping solutions, recreational pleasures, excep-tional scenery and more, Lake Erie should not only be distinguished as a natural wonder in our own very neighborhood, it should also be protected and adored. In this issue, we explore and venerate water and many of its sources and glorious uses.
   David Beach, author of our cover story “Our Great Lake,” explains, “Home to about one fifth of the entire world's surface fresh water, the Great Lakes are a natural resource of global significance.” He goes on to write that Lake Erie is both a vulnerable and troubled lake. By elucidating the facts around the Lake's distress, we can better understand how to protect and serve this amazing resource.
   In our other cover story, “Burned Into History: The Cuyahoga River Fires,” author Loretta Neal shares that the now infamous fire on the Cuyahoga River in 1969 was a catalyst for change both locally and nationally. She writes, “Essentially, Congress was in the hot seat to do something about the desperate and dilapidated conditions of America's water systems.” Although Cleveland has since been branded with this unfortunate event, her article explains that not only was it one of many fires on the Cuyahoga, it was also only one of many across the country. Thankfully, government actions like the Clean Water Act of 1972, as well as the ongoing efforts of local environmental groups, have greatly improved the condition of all of Northeast Ohio's waterways.
               The power of water can be felt beyond the effects of natural disasters and environ-mental pollution. In her article about the role and symbolism of water in the practice of feng shui, Johanna Pockar shares that water is linked to money. She provides some guidance and tips on how to control its flow through our homes. She writes, “An outside entry path that goes straight to the front door will bring water flowing quickly into the home, and that rapidity, as in the torrential white water of a river, is not conducive to integration and stability. A long, straight path to the front door, compounded by a long hallway terminating in a bank of windows, creates a situation where water chi and money are going to flow without control through the home and out the back windows.”
   In her account of the incredibly powerful studies conducted by Masuro Emoto, author Adele Eisner enlightens us with the results. She explains that Emoto, a Doctor of Alternative Medicine, developed a method to freeze and photographically capture the images of frozen crystals of water from various sources and under differing conditions. For example, he analyzed water samples with words such as “love” or “I hate you” taped to them. Amazingly, Emoto found incredible differences in their frozen, crystalline form. Words of love produced intricate, beautiful forms, while words of hate produced distorted, asymmetrical ones. Emoto concluded that water could in fact hold the vibrational energy of intention.
   After learning from these articles, 70% seems like such a magic number, doesn't it? Our precious resource, water – we can pollute it and ignore it, or we can preserve it and adore it. We hope you'll join us in celebrating the wonderful world of water.

With affection,
Balanced Living Magazine