Throughout history, people have flocked to certain bodies of water for their healing properties and miraculous cures. From holy grottos to natural springs, magical rivers and mystical lakes, many have said to visit these places to be rid of chronic ailments almost instantaneously. Though what gives many of them there mystical properties remains a mystery, even to science, today.
Bath at Lourdes Grotto courtesy of Charlotte Kiesel and Nation Catholic Register
Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto courtesy of Shrine Of Divine Mercy.org
Statue of Bernadatte at Lourdes Grotto courtesy of Shrine Of Divine Mercy.org
The Blue Lagoon in Iceland Courtesy of Blue Lagoon Tours
The Blue Lagoon in Iceland Courtesy of Blue Lagoon Tours
Firewater Mineral Healing Spring in Jamaica courtesy of Traverse Jamaica.com
Firewater Mineral Healing Spring in Jamaica courtesy of Nature’s Sweet Escapes
Episode Source Material
ACADEMIC PAPERS
- Federation of European Microbiological Studies (volume 70.) Analysis of the unique geothermal microbial ecosystem of the Blue Lagoon by Solveig K. Petursdottir, Snaedis H. Bjornsdottir, Gudmundur O. Hreggvidsson, Sigridur Hjorleifsdottir & Jakob K. Kristjansson.
- Experimental Dermatology (2008). Bioactive molecules from the Blue Lagoon: in vitro and in vivo assessment of silica mud and microalgae extracts for their effects on skin barrier function and prevention of skin ageing by Susanne Grether-Beck, Kathrin Muhlberg, Heidi Brenden, Ingo Felsner, Asa Brynjolfsdottir, Sigurbjorn Einarsson, and Jean Krutmann.
WEB/SOCIAL MEDIA/MESSAGE BOARDS
- Supernatural springs: uncovering healing waters and mystical legends in hot spring destinations. (blog post)
- The 70th miracle: Lourdes healing officially declared supernatural. (online article).
- The baths at the sanctuary of our Lady of Lourdes. (website).
- Drinking the water and washing in it. (website).
- Direct from Lourdes Catholic gift shop. (website).
- My miracle at Lourdes. (online article).
- [Wilbur] The magic of healing springs + silence. (online blog post).
- Iceland’s Blue Lagoon – your complete guide. (website.)
- Exploring the mystical firewater mineral healing spring in St. Anne, Jamaica. (online blog post).
- Arkansas’s magical water. (online blog post).
- Meet Sister Bernadette, the most recently-cured person at Lourdes. (online article).
- Finding the healing power of travel in Eureka Springs. (online article).
- Learn some Eureka Springs history. (online blog post).
- What is a vortex? (online article).
- Geothermal energy. (website).
- Psoriasis. (website).
- Academic papers. (website).
- Atlantis (online article).
- Top 6 theories about Atlantis. (online article).
- Springs and the water cycle. (website).
- Luminous lagoon & firewater spring with optional healing massage. (website).
- Lost city of Atlantis rises again to fuel a dangerous myth. (online article).
- The science behind the fiction: is there any truth to the myth of Atlantis? (online article).
- What is a grotto and why are so many Catholic shrines built in them? (online article).
- St. Bernadette of Lourdes. (online encyclopedia article).
- A guide to the Sedona Vortexes. (website).
- Sedona Vortex & vortex experiences. (website).
- Human power plant. (website).
- Skin permeability. (website).
- Eureka Springs: founded upon the waters that healed. (online blog post).
- The prehistoric ages: how humans lived before written records. (online article).
- The human hazard. (website).
- Soothing the body and soul through water (website.)
- Dead Sea minerals: the best natural spa in the world. (website).
- Some say a North Port spring has healing properties. Why are longtime visitors worried? (online article).
- Fort Myers, FL to North Port, FL (Google maps directions).
- Healing springs. (website)
- What does the USGS (United States Geological Survey) do? (website).
- Escaping to a writer’s colony in Eureka Springs. (blog post).
- Firewater hot spring – St. Ann, Jamaica. (YouTube video).
- Firewater – Windsor mineral spring, St. Ann, Jamaica. (YouTube video).
- Sedona’s crystalline foundation. (blog post).
- Alvah F. Jackson (1806 – 1880). (genealogy listing).
- Eureka Springs’ Natural Springs Trail. (website).
- Springs of love! (website).
- 11 interesting facts about Lourdes. (website).
- Cauda Equina syndrome. (website).
- The miracles of Lourdes. (website).
- The water of Lourdes. (website).
- 1st, 2nd, and 25th March, 1858: 3 secrets, a message, and the lady reveals her name. (blog post).
- Life of Bernadette Soubrious, Saint Bernadette. (website).
- Grotte de Massabielle. (website).
- Bresles, 60510, France to Lourdes, 65100, France. (Google maps direction)