A Sacred Water Ceremony was held at the Two Oceans Aquarium on Friday 22 September 2006 in collaboration with ZERI-SA. The Ceremony was led by pioneer Japanese scientist, Dr Masaru Emoto, author of the highly acclaimed books ‘’Messages from Water’’ and ‘’The Hidden Messages in Water’’ and recognised more recently for his contribution in the film “What the Bleep?”

The Ceremony, which was held in front of the I&J Predator Exhibit, was attended by invited guests as well as 360 school children from under-resourced schools around the Cape Peninsula, courtesy of Zekunjalo Investments. Prior to the Ceremony the children participated in water activity workshops presented by the Two Oceans Aquarium’s Environmental Education Centre. Each school and guest brought a sample of water from a local wetland, pond, river or stream which was then collected in a large bowl and blessed by Dr Emoto. He took a sample of this water back to Japan where he will expose it to the unique process for which he has gained international recognition.

Essentially, Dr. Emoto captures water’s ‘expressions.’ Using a powerful microscope in a very cold room along with high-speed photography, he photographs newly formed crystals of frozen water samples. Through this process Dr. Emoto has discovered that crystals formed in frozen water reveal changes when specific, concentrated thoughts are directed toward them. He found that water from clear springs and water that has been exposed to loving words shows brilliant, complex, and colourful snowflake patterns. In contrast, polluted water, or water exposed to negative thoughts, forms incomplete, asymmetrical patterns with dull colours.

Dr Emoto’s groundbreaking discoveries about water have led to a new consciousness of Earth’s most precious resource. “Considering that our planet is 70% water and that our human bodies also comprise 70% water, it is fitting (and long overdue) that we realise that, whatever we do to the water bodies on our planet, we do to ourselves,“ said Helen Lockhart, Communications Manager of the Two Oceans Aquarium. “Every person on the planet, wherever they may be situated, impacts on natural water systems, including the oceans. For this reason we acknowledge the value of Dr Emoto’s work in changing the way in which people think about water and indeed about themselves.”