How To Survive Without Water

Survival Lesson 101

In the wake of the New Orleans tragedy, which eerily unfolded before the world, I realized that most Americans have no clue about how they would survive, for a period of time, without water. In my humble opinion, most American people have considered themselves exempt from this sort of disaster as they’ve only witnessed the devastation of these catastrophes in the media. I also believe that the majority of Americans have had this unspoken sense of security that our “mighty” country will protect us from such a tragedy. Has there NOW been a clear message, shown to us recently, that we all need to wake up and educate ourselves so we can become involved in the process of finding solutions to the multitude of issues facing the U.S. currently, as well as ones we are sure to face in the years to come?

Is it time to bring the issues back to the people?

As a nation, we’ve been warned for years about earth changes.  From geophysicists and geologists to seismologists and ancient cultures, many have publicly voiced their concerns over and over, yet, the masses seemed to have ignored all the warnings, maybe the out of sight, and out of mind mentality is still a very strong behavior with most.

Recently, several questions have crossed my mind. ”Did anyone in authority introduce survival skills to those they came across in New Orleans? Not once did I hear or read about anything closely related to this question. Maybe it was held close?  If the media could get into New Orleans early on, why weren’t they informing those they encountered?  Was it because they were not informed?  Why didn’t they think to seek out experts to assist in this effort?  How about our military serviceman, who may depend on survival skills if they are called to duty?  Not to mention the local police and/or local and national government officials? Was it that all the official groups couldn’t get past the shock of devastation and were overwhelmed?  . There were thousands gathered at the Super Dome, waiting helplessly. Could one or more important survival skills have helped those in waiting?  Again, maybe it was introduced, but held close.

 I’m also sensitive to the fact we can all go on and on about the should’ves and could’ves.  To point our fingers at others, at this point, doesn’t solve anything, nor change the shocking reality of ONE of the most seemingly horrific U.S. events in the last hundred years. Out of tragedy, there are magnificent opportunities for critical change waiting. It’s no secret that enormous support and community building will be needed and necessary in the next 7 years, as more monumental earth changes will continue to unfold. 

I read a book several years ago which influenced my spiritual path.  I’ve recommended “Mutant Message Down Under”, by Marlow Morgan to family and friends, through the years. Mutant Message Down Under, highlighted a few survival skills the Aboriginees taught Marlows character on a walkabout, in Australia. A few months into the walkabout, there were days without water. The Aboriginees were accustomed to this situation, but Marlo, the mutant (they called her which is any human other than an Aboriginee), was not. At one point, Marlow thought she might die, as the hot and dry desert didn’t let up. She was severely parched and sunburned, her bare feet blistered and raw. As the story unfolds, the group continued walking but nothing was said as their main communication throughout the entire journey was by telepathic means.  Lack of water was only a part of this survival lesson.  At one critical point, Marlow could finally read an elder’s thoughts, “Put a rock in your mouth”.  Something so simple and available, probably for many of Katrina’s citizens, who waited days for water to arrive may have benefited from this effortless teaching.  How many in our nation know about the rock/pebble concept? I’ve heard this pebble concept a few other times.  One day, I thought to go out and ask others. One spiritual friend knew of this teaching but no other person, I approached, had a clue of this lifesaver. All drew a blank, but were curious very interested in knowing more. The rock/pebble actually stimulates the saliva to regenerate. It is also known that the earth’s rocks carry nutrients and minerals.

ANCIENT SURVIVAL TECHNIQUE

If you are ever unfortunate enough to find yourself in a crisis where potable water is no longer available, you can allay some of the maddening symptoms of thirst. Simply find “a quartz type pebble” (**click here to read vital information) and put it in your parched mouth, start sucking on it, breathing through your nose only, keeping your mouth closed.

 Sucking on “a quartz type pebble” will stimulate your salivary glands and alleviate the constant reminder of your thirst. Breathing only through your nose will help in alleviating the 'dry mouth' sensation and will lengthen the time that the pebbles will be effective.

This is a critical survival technique when water is unavailable. It is NOT a replacement or substitute for water, it will keep you sane and lengthen your ability to seek water. The fact remains that a person can only survive a finite amount of time without water before succumbing to total dehydration! A person can go considerably longer without food than without water, but a pebble, which holds minerals may help for a short time.

There’s another survival skill most people would feel uncomfortable with and would not bow down to--- urine therapy. Several years ago, I read extensively on the benefits of urine therapy and practiced this modality. Urine therapy has been used for centuries and very common in India and Europe for curing many ailments. It’s also a survival method to help one without water, stay alive. Urine contains excessive nutrients the body does not use. One needs to research the brief procedures, which are quite simple.  A friend, from India, who has practiced this method and mentioned this ancient survival technique as we watched the Katrina crisis unfold, was certain that most people would be too fearful to attempt this life saving method, unfortunately.

Key questions to ask ourselves.

We all need to open up to some basic survival skills. It’s also our duty to teach our nations children who depend upon us for guidance and survival.  And, is it fair to state, we cannot depend upon or expect our government to handle the endless issues that face and will continue to face us in the coming years.  To me, the needs will be too great. We must bring the issues back to the people and work together with our government agencies partnering with us.

How many more crises does it take for the masses to pay closer attention to our changing times?

What will it take for Americans to truly unify? As we look further into our hearts, the separation between race, culture and status must cease. None of this matters in a crisis situation and perhaps a clue to begin a new set of perspectives and values more in tune with our changing times.  For too long, our society has placed a focus on false values in directions that will not work any longer.  Can we now open our hearts to what's truly important?

A quote from Marlow Morgan's book says it all.  Many ancient cultures have expressed similar concerns but most people have ignored the wisdom. 

"Hello Divine Oneness. We stand here before you with a Mutant. We have walked with her and know that she contains yet a spark of your perfection. We have touched her and changed her, but transforming a Mutant is a very difficult task. Mutants have something in their life called gravy. They know truth, but it is buried under thickening and spices of convenience, materialism, insecurity and fear. They also have something in their lives called frosting. It seems to represent how they spend almost all the seconds of their existence in doing superficial, artificial, temporary, pleasant tasting, nice-appearing projects and spend very few actual seconds of their lives developing their eternal beingness.

We have chosen this Mutant, and we release her as a bird from the edge of the nest, to fly away, far and high, and to screech like the kookaburra, telling listeners that we are leaving the earth.

We do not judge the Mutants. We pray for them and release them as we pray and release ourselves. We pray they will look closely at their actions, at their values, and learn before it is too late that all life is one. We pray they will stop the destruction of the earth and of each other. We pray there are enough Mutants on the brink of becoming real to change things.

We pray the Mutant world will hear and accept our message/ messenger.”

www.asacredmemory.com

Survival in Different Environments.

* In the mountains: As How to Stay Alive in the Woods (Simon & Schuster, 1998) points out, just remember that water flows downhill. Look for where running water has carved grooves in the earth and follow them downhill; you’ll eventually hit water. Do not look for water on a mountaintop.

* In the desert: Look for a dry riverbed or a low point in a canyon, and start digging wherever you see darker, moist soil or a depression in the ground. If you’re lucky, water will seep into the hole, and all you'll have to do is sit back and wait. If this doesn't work and you happen to have a large sheet of clear plastic, follow the directions in The Backpacker’s Field Manual (Three Rivers Press, 1998) for building a solar still: Dig a hole, place a bucket in its center, and cover the hole with the plastic, weighting its edges with rocks to make a tight seal. Place a small rock on top of the plastic, directly over the bucket, forcing the plastic to sag slightly. Over the course of the day, sunlight will cause water in the soil to evaporate; it’ll condense on the plastic, run to its center, and drip down into the bucket.

* On the beach: Not the place you’d expect to find fresh water, huh? Don’t worry—there’s still hope. Head to just below the high-tide line and dig a hole in the sand. When water starts to seep in, stop digging and let the bottom of the hole fill up. Since fresh water is lighter than salt water, it lies above it, and you can drink from your little basin.

* At sea: As the Ancient Mariner told us in high school, the ocean is the great thirst paradox: “Water, water, everywhere / Nor any drop to drink.” Try drinking the salt water and you will become violently ill. Instead, try to catch a fish. A huge percentage of a fish’s body is fresh water—just cut into bite-size pieces and chew ’em like gum, then use the chewed-up bits to attract seabirds. Drinking the blood of one of these, though unspeakably gross, can keep you alive until the rescue boat comes.

Useful Information:

Solar Still Emergency Survival Tool -- click here

Survival Lesson 101

THREE DAYS OF DARKNESS COMING?

The best type of rocks/pebbles are those with the Mohs scale of 7.5 as they don't absorb pollution. Quartz are hard rocks and difficult to hold pollution. In many cases, one probably won't have much of a choice in crisis situations. Then, one must choose. We advise to research and gain knowledge about survival skills. Avoid all blue and green rocks as they hold arsenic.