Singing to Source - Cherwell

Singing to Source is an act of love for our rivers imagined by Oxford Community Goddess Temple and Thames Headwaters Bioregion.

We invite you to come out on the land, on the eve of Beltane, and honour the source of three of our major rivers - Thames, Cherwell and Evenlode - that flow into Oxford, and the Boundary Brook within Oxford. Humans everywhere revere water. Without water there is no life. And yet our rivers are beleaguered. This is a chance for our community to come together in sacred space to give thanks and remember our dependence on clean water.

Singing to Source at the source of the CHERWELL will be held by Jackie Singer. Please contact her with any queries: js@jackiesinger.co.uk / 07984 154203.

Simultaneous ceremonies will be held at the source of the Thames in Kemble and Evenlode in Moreton-in-March and Boundary Brook in Headington. More may be added! So keep an eye out here for details: Singing to Source Collection.

We invite you to wear blue in celebration of water and bring biodegradable offerings e.g. petals or herbs to bring your love to the river.

11am Meet at The Fox and Hounds Pub, Banbury Rd, Charwelton, Daventry NN11 3YY

11.15am Walk on public footpaths to the source of the Cherwell

12pm Ceremony at the source of the Cherwell with singing (see below for a video of the song by Jackie Singer that we will sing)

1pm Picnic. Bring a rug and a picnic if you like and the weather is friendly. The Fox and Hounds also offer a roast dinner - booking recommended.

2pm Walk back to Fox and Hounds or continue your walk as you wish.

Further Information:

Transport: Unfortunately the bus doesn't run on a Sunday. If you need a lift, try asking in the Facebook event page.

Parking: There is parking in the layby in front of the pub and in the pub carpark. (They are taking bookings for pub lunches).

Clothing:

• Wear blue in celebration of water!
• The ground is likely to be boggy so please wear boots / wellies.

Things to bring:

• gloves for possible litterpicking.
• Bring biodegradable offerings e.g. petals or herbs to bring your love to the river.
• Picnic
• Something to sit on
• Cash for a donation if you didn't make one at the time of booking (optional)

Children and dogs welcome but please keep your dog on a lead as there are livestock in the fields.

This event is free to attend but donations are invited for the emerging Oxford Community Goddess Temple - honouring the sacred feminine in the land and in all of us. Thank you for your support.

You are also warmly invited to join this event on the same day :-

6pm Celebration at the Confluence of the Thames and Cherwell at Aston's Eyot , Oxford, OX4 1SR. A chance to gather around a fire and share food and song with others.

Further Links

If you care about protecting our water, you may also want to take action. Here are some links to organisations you can join. (More to come)

• Drinkable Rivers - an inspiring Dutch initiative combining river walks with citizen science and activism. In 2023 they led a Thames walk from source to sea.