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The Well Being of Water: Surrender to Self is thirteen short passages, each closing with a teaching and two questions. Easy to read between gatherings, easy to lead, and gentle enough for grief circles.

Download the free guide Ask about group copies

Made to be talked about

Short, and easy to start

193 pages in thirteen passages of spare verse. Read three or four passages between gatherings.

The questions are written

Every passage ends with a Water Teaches teaching and two reflection questions, with page numbers. No one has to prepare.

See all thirteen

Her voice to begin

Open with Amal Lana reading the teaching aloud beside the river. Each reading is under a minute.

Hear the readings

Room for every faith

Water is the common ground. Bring your own faith, or none.

A simple rhythm for your group

  1. Gathering One

    Passages 1–3

    Fear, the current, and what was never ours

    The Fear That Opened the Way, Pulled by the Current, What Was Never Mine

  2. Gathering Two

    Passages 4–6

    The sacred, the living water, and being held

    Performing Wudu, Conversations with the Wasband, Floating to Safety

  3. Gathering Three

    Passages 7–10

    Leaping, becoming, receiving, and rest

    Diving In, Becoming Water, Sacred Sips, Floating Still

  4. Gathering Four

    Passages 11–13

    Building, presence, and the turning tide

    What the Water Made Me, The Edge of Silence, The Turning Tide

From the free Reader’s and Discussion Guide.

How to lead a gathering

  1. Before

    Read the passages for this gathering. Bring the book, or print the free guide.

  2. Open

    Play Amal Lana reading one teaching, or read it aloud. Hear the readings.

  3. Share

    Let each person choose one question to answer, or to pass. Passing is a full answer.

  4. Close

    Send everyone the card from that passage, so its words stay with them through the week. Choose a card.

Go gently. Some passages touch on grief, loss and trauma. Share only what feels right. Silence is a full answer.

Free things for your group

Reader’s and discussion guide

All thirteen teachings and questions with page numbers, room to write, and the four-gathering plan. PDF, 10 pages.

Download the guide

All 13 teaching cards

Every Water Teaches card in one download, to print or show your group.

Download the cards

The first passage

Send it to your group ahead of time so everyone can meet the book. PDF, 2 pages.

Get the first passage

The Water Year Journal

A large-print page for each of the thirteen waters, with room to answer its questions. PDF.

Download the journal

Getting the book for your group

Paperback and Kindle are on Amazon. Ordering for the whole group? Ask about group copies, and Amal Lana will reply personally. Libraries and bookstores can order it through Ingram with ISBN 9798234283962.

Ask about group copies See the book

Questions from group leaders

How long is the book?
193 pages, in thirteen short passages of verse. Each passage closes with a Water Teaches teaching and two reflection questions.
How many gatherings does it take?
The free Reader’s and Discussion Guide suggests four gatherings of three or four passages each. For a slower circle, take one passage each time.
Is it a religious book?
It’s a memoir with room for every faith. It includes Amal Lana’s family’s own practices, like her father’s daily Wudu, and it is written for readers of any faith or none.
Does it touch on difficult subjects?
Yes. Some passages touch on grief, loss and trauma. The guide suggests going gently: share only what feels right, and treat silence as a full answer.
Can our group get copies at a group price?
Yes. Ask about group copies and Amal Lana will reply with options. Libraries and bookstores can also order it through Ingram with ISBN 9798234283962.
Is it a good fit for a grief circle?
Yes. Water and Grief has a passage on presence and a simple guide for holding a grief circle.