Water

Embracing Fluidity and Adaptability

This letter, Water, is the second of five art letters inspired by the timeless wisdom of the Japanese samurai Miyamoto Musashi. Following The Earth, which taught us the importance of grounding and stability, we now turn to water—a symbol of fluidity, adaptability, and the ability to flow around obstacles with grace and purpose.

In life, as in art, we often face circumstances that challenge us to adapt. The modern world celebrates rigidity—sticking to plans, following rules, and resisting change. Yet, Miyamoto Musashi reminds us that, like water, we are strongest when we embrace flexibility and move with life’s changing currents rather than resist them.

For Miyamoto Musashi, water represents the ability to move with purpose and adaptability. He teaches us that mastery requires not just strength but also fluidity. In the heat of battle, a samurai cannot rely on one fixed technique or mindset. Instead, they must adjust to the rhythm of each moment, moving freely and intuitively.

In life, this means navigating challenges by adapting without losing sight of who we are and what we stand for.

To be like water is to embrace the unpredictable

Water does not resist the rock that stands in its way; it flows around it, steadily shaping the stone over time. This is not weakness but strength—an unyielding persistence that allows water to adapt and endure while remaining true to its essence. Musashi’s wisdom teaches us that we, too, can adopt this mindset, finding paths through difficulty rather than being held back by it.

For an artist, embracing fluidity means letting go of rigid expectations for how a piece should unfold. It’s about allowing inspiration to flow naturally and adapting to unexpected shifts in direction. In life, it means recognising change as an opportunity for growth rather than seeing it as threat.

We often cling to certainty—to the structures we’ve built or the plans we’ve made—believing they will keep us safe. But just as a river bends to the land it flows through, we must learn to bend without breaking. Musashi shows us that adaptability is not a compromise of strength but an evolution of it—a way to maintain balance even when the terrain beneath us shifts.

Musashi’s teachings in The Book of Water go beyond physical movement. True mastery is achieved when we flow with life rather than against it. It is about recognising when to act, when to wait, and when to let go entirely. To live like water is to trust in the natural rhythms of life, understanding that progress often comes through patience and persistence rather than force.

When we flow like water, we learn to accept what we cannot control and focus on what we can. We let go of perfectionism, embrace uncertainty, and move with intention. This is the essence of adaptability—not abandoning our purpose but finding new ways to pursue it.

Let us be like water

Let us learn to adapt with grace, to bend without breaking, and to trust in the natural flow of life. Let us approach challenges not as barriers but as opportunities to find new paths, just as water carves its way through stone.

In fluidity, we find resilience; in adaptability, we find strength.

Water is available on a limited, signed edition fine art print.

For more information visit our art gallery.