Spring waters, especially those with healing properties, rich in minerals, beneficial microorganisms and good energy, help us to overcome health problems and stress.

With its 7,500 freshwater springs, 26,000-km network of rivers and streams, 200 artificial and natural lakes, and 7,700 occasionally active torrential streams, Slovenia ranks among the most water-abundant European countries. Every year, 34 billion cubic metres of water, or about 0.4% of the world freshwater reserves, flow through its waterways, which is four times the European average.

The Count’s Water – An elixir of health and rejuvenation
Slovenia is not only among the countries most abundant in water, with a rich supply of drinking water amounting to 10,000 m3 per capita per year, but is also rich in water with healing properties, such as the so-called Count's Water, which originates in the ravine of the Sopotnica steam above the village of Gabrje near Tolmin. According to radiesthesists' measurements, this water, with its two million Bovis units of bio energy, is supposedly the most energetically powerful, or at least among those with the highest ever measured energy values, in the world. In terms of its healing properties, it is superior even to the miraculous water of Lourdes in France or Fatima in Portugal.

Ancient legend has it that the Count's Water may prevent the gravest of diseases and be a true elixir of health and youthfulness. Supposedly, it was drunk, among others, by Count Coronini of Tolmin, who lived in the castle on the hill above Tolmin called Kozlov Rob, to which it was carried in round wooden containers known as lampe. The Count was driven out by Tolmin rebels, but knowledge of the healing spring where sacred pagan rituals were carried out has been preserved to the present day. Marked hiking trails lead to this source of clean, fresh and mineral-rich water that never dries up.

As regards drinking spring water, Slovenia has a longstanding tradition
Worshippers of healing springs believe that by drinking good healing spring water our bodies are provided with positive energy, which strengthens the internal organs and the immune system. This is one reason why the frequenting of healing springs among Slovenians has a long tradition. It originates back in the times of pagan beliefs, when on New Year’s Eve cake, bread and apples were thrown to the waters and wells and springs were worshipped and adorned. "Blessed" springs with soothing and healing properties were often protected with a fence, and a small chapel was often built at the site as a sign of gratitude, showing Slovenians’ respectful attitude to water, especially to waters to which healing properties have been attributed.

Some springs were gradually restored and equipped with filling facilities, for example those in Radenci or Rogaška Slatina, while elsewhere they were turned into baths and spas with hotel complexes, especially in the north-eastern part of Slovenia.

The miraculous spring of Baba – A reliable harbinger of rain
Some healing springs have to the present day maintained their primeval character and remained almost untouched and hidden in their natural environment. Such is the Baba spring in the Dolenjska region, where water literally gushes out every time before it starts raining. Just beforehand, the whole hill shakes vigorously. The infallible forecast lasts five minutes, and then the miraculous spring calms down completely.

Fish help to cure skin conditions
As in the past, still today water from most natural springs is suitable for drinking, bottling, bathing in or even, where conditions allow, for swimming. This last is particularly valued by all those who are not so keen on chlorinated water! Sometimes it is sufficient that only the affected part of the body is soaked in the healing water. One such place is Stare toplice (literally “old spa”) in the Dolenjska region, a natural thermal spring with fish that help to cure skin conditions.

Sometimes it is enough to just take a short rest near the spring to fill ourselves with good energy and invite health and joy into our lives. Many springs overlap or are connected with natural sites of healing energy, which people have always frequented because of their soothing energy; true pilgrimage trails that lead to these places bring in innumerable visitors.

Slovenian "men’s water" gives sexual power
It may also happen that a totally unknown spring becomes incredibly popular overnight and begins to attract teeming masses of people, as was the case of Kisli studenec in Rečica in the 1970s. The euphoria was triggered by a newspaper article on the miraculous orange-coloured "Slovenian men’s water”, purported to give men unusual sexual power as well as help treat kidney disease. To this day, most of the visitors are male, visiting the spring at nightfall ...

Live water
The Healing Grove in Tunjice near Kamnik, with its spring of "live water" with powerful healing properties, is also very well attended at all times. It ranks among the five waters in the world which have the same composition as the water in living organisms. It helps a person where the help is most necessary. Due to its high content of resistant elements, it increases the level of energy in the body, neutralises free radicals, cleanses the body of toxins, strengthens the immune system, relieves several physical and psychological problems, and promotes the self-healing potential of the human organism.

On the other hand, the springs in Nuskova in the Goričko Landscape Park, which in folk tradition help against anaemia, have never attracted hosts of visitors although, according to the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology of the University of Ljubljana, this is actually the best mineral water in Slovenia.

Scientifically proven healing properties
The power of water lies not only in its purity. Good water often has a unique smell, taste and colour, which our ancestors understood to signify special healing properties. They knew which water was beneficial and which was not. Gradually this knowledge has been largely forgotten, owing to today’s reliable water supply and to our modern lifestyle. However, with ever growing awareness, increasing "green-oriented" attitudes, concern for sustainable development and interest in a return to nature, this knowledge has undergone a revival. Thus the number of devotees and visitors of healing springs is rapidly increasing. Also there are more and more people, like Jože Munih, a well-known radiesthesist, one of the top connoisseurs of Slovenian water and the author of the books Zdravilni vodni izviri and Geometrija v trikotniku, who claim that chlorinated tap water is valueless in terms of energy, as chlorine kills the micro-organisms that give water added value, and that water from PVC bottles is incomparable with spring water. Science has it that the secret of water lies in its structure, which carries the energy information of the rock and earth layers through which it worked its way to the surface. Water has an immense capacity for memory! According to the BionEvapo® method, each water is believed to have its own water signature.

In short, the energetic and healing potential of Slovenian waters is outstanding. The number of springs with greater or lesser healing potential is countless. So if you intend to go for a walk in the country to fetch spring water, it is good to keep in mind that it should be collected right at source, where it is cleanest, and at the time when its energies are strongest: at full moon before sunrise.

Alenka Ivančič, SINFO