Hello, reader. How are you doing? Ming and I visited the artesian well in Olympia, Washington during our recent trip north to Portland and Seattle. I love Olympia’s well and sent a picture to my friend. They asked to hear more, so I write this post for my friend and for everyone.
I first visited Olympia’s well about eight years ago. Was it our trip to Canada, or a different trip? Whenever it was, we saw a social scene around Olympia’s well. Local unhoused people gathered there–maybe there was music and drumming. Definitely there was a community vibe, which I appreciate.
This time we went, two weeks ago, the big parking lot next to the well was fenced off. At first I was afraid that access to the well was lost. Maybe a violent event had alarmed people, and the well was taken away as punishment.
But no–there the well was, still available to all.
sacred
Many people arrive to fill their water bottles, some bringing big jugs, and there’s a joy to that. Like–yay, I am getting delicious clean, free water.
Water is sacred. A watering place is holy. Any place water springs clean from the earth is amazing.
A church can be used to control people and push oppressive agendas. Water is without words. Water is life, and we like it that way, coursing through us in our blood, being pulled on by the moon, subject to gravity, so massy.
I’m not sure where Olympia’s places of worship are, besides this one. Taking nourishment into my body is a sweet form of worship.
Olympia’s well
It’s got this tiled bench-like structure around it with predominant dark blue. There’s a plaque that’s been weathered by the elements. There’s a grate below it, and the water flows and flows.
The day we visited, a banana was there, I assume left as a snack for anyone. Also there was a battery–I think it was size C.
Can Olympia’s well be poisoned? A person drank from it with his lips, right before we went to refill our personal water bottles.
That squicked Ming, but the water has been flowing for a long time. The stream has been directly drunk from, certainly peed on, and countless activities have been done there, respectful and disrespectful. Community resources are like that. Angry people might take their anger out on the resource, when community has failed them.
Still the water flows. I find it trustworthy.
Would you like to drink this water, reader? Have you sipped there before? How do you like to worship, and what are you grateful for?
grateful
I’m grateful for Ming, for travel, for the love of the friend who asked me about Olympia’s well, for my own body’s ways and rhythms, and for the vegan gluten free cornbread I just baked for the house as everyone’s still sleeping.
Peace bread.
