Cllr Robert MacNaughton has been continuing his work to raise awareness of river pollution with another blessing held in Salisbury.
by Cllr Robert MacNaughton
We held a River Blessing at Samhain, the period around 1st November, which is a time of year when we remember those who have died before us. The Ancestors are a normal part of our lives. We have just commemorated the fallen on Remembrance Day. A fact of life is that we are all on our way to the Crem; some sooner, some later.
This time we held our River Blessing again on the Salisbury Avon in the south of the county.
It wasn’t cold, it didn’t rain. It was a perfect day. I counted 22 of us which is the usual size of our group drawn from Stroud, Warminster, Weston super Mare, Wells, Glastonbury, Bradford on Avon, Salisbury, the Home Counties and Calne.
Our ceremonies are held to give thanks to our Rivers for all they have given us. Water is the true Source of Life. Without water we won’t live for long.
Unfortunately our culture has considered it acceptable to pour poo and chemical poisons into our Rivers; so poisoning the very Source of our Lives. I find it bonkers; totally bonkers.
Fortunately many of us feel the same way. The people in power can’t carry on ignoring us, or can they? It is not only our Rivers which are in danger; our trees, hedge rows, winged insects, pollinators and butterflies are all under attack. What are we doing?
I believe Rivers to be not only Living Beings but are also that we can interact with them, in a similar way we interact with our house plants, and pets. We can give them appreciation and our love as they struggle with the pollution which is draining their life force away.
I believe Rivers in particular react well to our laughter and silliness. Our River Blessings are joyful celebrations; very different from anything we were taught at school about religion.
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