Masaru Emoto Water Experiment: How Thoughts and Emotions Affect Water

Have you every stopped and wondered if water could actually understand and react to what you're thinking or feeling? Sounds a bit out there, maybe, but it's the core idea behind the work of Dr. Masaru Emoto, a Japanese researcher.

He put forward the claim that water isn't just H2O – that it actually responds to human emotions, words, and intentions. His experiments were quite unique: he'd get samples of water and expose them to different things, such as saying words like "love" or "hate," sticking labels with different messages on the bottles, playing classical tunes or blasting heavy metal and even directing prayers or positive vibes towards the water.

Then, he'd freeze these samples and examine them under a microscope. What he reported was pretty striking. Water that got the "love and gratitude" treatment apparently formed beautiful, incredible and symmetrical ice crystals. But the water exposed to angry words or hateful thoughts? That supposedly ended up looking all distorted, messy and chaotic.

These images hint that maybe our feelings do more than just affect our own mood – perhaps they could actually influence the very structure of water and our surroundings. And given how much water is in everything (including us!), it opens up some big questions about how we interact with the world.

The basic setup involved using distilled water, which then got a different "treatment." As mentioned, this could be:

• Words spoken out loud (like "thank you" or "you fool")

• Written messages taped to the container

• Music from Beethoven to heavy metal

• Thoughts or prayers directed to the water

After this, into the freezer they went. Once frozen, he'd examine the crystals. The results he shared consistently showed that the water exposed to positive things – nice words, calming music – tended to form really lovely, balanced crystals. On the flip side, water that got the negative treatment – angry vibes, harsh noises – apparently formed ugly, broken-looking patterns.

Now, it's fair to say that Dr. Emoto's research faced a fair bit of criticism from the scientific community. A lot of scientists pointed out that his methods weren't really up to standard, with peer-reviewed scientific processes. But, despite that, a lot of people in the holistic health and alternative wellness worlds really embraced his findings. The idea that water, which makes up over 60% of our bodies – might be sensitive to energy really resonated.

It feeds into that broader idea that our thoughts, feelings and the general vibe of our environment might have a real, tangible impact on our wellbeing.

Dr. Emoto didn't just stop at words and feelings; he looked at music too. His experiments suggested that water exposed to classical music, like Mozart or Beethoven, formed elegant, structured crystals. But water that got a dose of aggressive heavy metal? That apparently produced messy, jagged shapes.

It suggests that maybe it's not just our intentions, but also the actual sounds around us that could be influencing water's structure, energetically speaking. If water really does respond to vibrations like this, maybe the music and sounds we fill our days with have a subtle effect on how we feel, physically and emotionally.

It's certainly encouraged plenty of people to be more mindful about the sounds in their space – playing calming music during meditation or yoga, or even just while they're getting their drinking water ready, trying to improve the energy of their surroundings and the water itself.

Emoto's work definitely gets you thinking about the water you drink in a new light. It highlights that maybe it's not just about filtering out the dirt and chemicals, but also about the 'energy' of the water. If you're keen to improve the water you drink, here are a couple of things you may consider doing:

This is the practical, essential step. Getting rid of common contaminants is vital for good health. A decent water filter can remove things like chlorine, heavy metals, lead, nasty chemicals like PFAS and even microplastics. Good options include:

• Benchtop Water Filters: Great if you're renting or want something easy and portable.

• Undersink Filters: Plumbed straight in, so you get filtered water right from the tap.

• Reverse Osmosis Water Filters: Considered one of the most thorough water filtration methods available, these systems can remove even the tiniest contaminants.

Filtering your water is a key first step in improving its quality, but based on the insights from the Masaru Emoto water experiment, it's just as important to consider the energetic and structural quality of your water.

Structured water is water that is believed to be in its most natural and energetically balanced form. Inspired by nature, this type of water mimics the flow and form of water found in mountain springs, streams and waterfalls. The Masaru Emoto water experiment suggests that water exposed to natural, harmonious energy becomes more structured—taking on a hexagonal molecular arrangement that supports hydration and detoxification.

You can restructure your water at home using devices like the Grander Revitalising Board, vortexing tools or even simply by speaking positive words to your water. Some believe that this helps restore the natural crystalline integrity of water, which improves its taste, energy and hydrating properties.

Other practices include:

• Sun-charging your water in a glass jar

• Playing healing frequencies or solfeggio tones near your water

• Using crystals like rose quartz or amethyst in your water container (ensure they're safe for direct contact with drinking water)

These practices echo the principles of the Masaru Emoto water experiment and offer a holistic approach to hydrating more consciously.

While the Masaru Emoto water experiment may not be universally accepted in mainstream science, its underlying message is one of mindfulness and intentional living. 

While filtering gets the practical job done, Emoto's ideas invite us to go a step further, to think about water with a bit more... wonder. What if it really is receptive? What if our words, the music we love, the vibes we put out somehow affect the water around us, and in us? It paints this amazing picture of a constant, subtle dance between us and our world, happening right down at the molecular level.

Maybe it's a gentle reminder to treat everything – our own bodies, the planet we're on and the people we share it with – with a bit more kindness and respect. Even if you're sceptical, there's no harm in adopting an attitude of mindfulness. And who knows, maybe leaning into that feeling of connection actually does help us feel a bit more whole and a bit more grounded.

Whatever your final take is on Dr. Emoto's experiments, you can't deny they sparked something incredible. Suddenly, people all over the globe were looking at a simple glass of water and thinking about consciousness, connection and their own health in a completely new way. Whether you think he was onto something or think it's all a bit too good to be true, his work definitely stirred the pot and invited us all to consider the power of our own intentions.

So, next time you grab a glass of water, just pause for a second. Maybe your intentions, your thoughts and your words have a bit more power than you realise. Drink consciously and speak kindly – maybe the water you drink can reflect the best energy you've got.