A Água Benta

Gilberto Gil's song 'A Água Benta' delves into the intricate interplay between spirituality, healing, and the mysteries of life. The lyrics tell a story that begins with a seemingly tragic event: a baby is baptized with holy water that turns out to be contaminated. Despite the efforts of modern medicine, the child’s condition worsens, leading to despair among the parents and the priest. This sets the stage for the introduction of a traditional healer from Ossãin, who uses a simple herbal bath to achieve what seemed impossible, restoring the child's health. This narrative highlights the limitations of conventional medicine and the power of traditional, spiritual healing practices.

As the song progresses, it shifts to a broader philosophical reflection on the nature of love and vital energy, referred to as 'ch'i' in Chinese culture and 'nagual' by Don Juan. Gil suggests that the holy water lost its power due to a disruption in the flow of this vital energy, which is essential for life and healing. This disruption is portrayed as a failure in the subtle connection between essence and representation, a theme that resonates with the idea that true healing and power come from a deeper, often mystical understanding of the world.

The final verses of the song explore the duality and neutrality of forces in the universe. Gil draws parallels between the contaminated holy water and the neutral force that can drive both a murderer’s knife and a surgeon’s scalpel. This duality is further illustrated through references to the Tao, the fractal nature of existence, and the mysteries symbolized by the peacock’s tail, the lion’s mane, and the narwhal’s tusk. These images evoke a sense of wonder and the profound, often hidden, connections that govern life and the universe. Through 'A Água Benta,' Gilberto Gil invites listeners to contemplate the mystical and interconnected nature of existence, where love, energy, and understanding transcend conventional boundaries.