Honouring the Sacred Waters: Herefordshire Council's Historic Tribute to the River Wye

Herefordshire Council made history earlier this month by participating in a ceremonial action at its headquarters to honour the River Wye.

The action, which took place on Friday 9 February, was initiated by activists from the Save the Wye campaign. They included Kim Kaos, artist, puppeteer and environmental stewardship advocate who spoke at Sacred Earth Activism's Online Summit at the end of January. He took the role of the River Goddess - a towering puppet embodying the spirit and vitality of the River Wye.

The groundbreaking event was also supported by councillors, who shared poems in dedication to the River, and Sol, a member of Sacred Earth Activism's core group, who supported the ceremony. It acted as a reminder of both the interconnectedness of humanity and the natural world, and the urgent need to protect and preserve our precious waterways.

"It was a privilege to support this historic occasion and sacred action, which included ceremonial procession, inspiring speeches and songs, and most importantly the 'more than human' presence of the River Wye,” Sol said. “She was represented in so many forms and in a way that was unifying and deeply moving, enabling us to see beyond the all too common narrative of a story of othering, separation and disconnection.”

During the action, the waters of the Wye were ceremonially brought into the council chambers, carried in a vessel specially created for the occasion by Roberta Mason. The presence of the River Goddess acted as a poignant reminder of the sacredness of our waterways. 

Paul Powesland, founder of Lawyers for Nature, also spoke about the importance of ceremony in sacred actions. “Just this ceremony today will change the way councillors think about the river, and that will ripple out,” he said.

The significance of Herefordshire Council's gesture cannot be overstated. By officially acknowledging the importance of the River Wye through this ceremonial action, it has taken a bold step towards recognising the intrinsic value of our waterways. It has also acknowledged the vital role they play in sustaining life. 

In doing so, the Council has set a powerful example for other governing bodies, demonstrating the importance of honouring and acknowledging our relationship to the land and waters in the face of mounting ecological challenges.

But the work is far from over. The River Wye, like so many others, continues to face threats from pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change. As a result,  we hope other governing bodies will follow Hereford’s example and that it will lead to concrete action for the protection of the rivers.

To hear Kim Kaos' talk during Sacred Earth Activism’s recent Online Summit, please click on  this link: https://www.sacredearthactivism.org/summit-2024-videos/v/kim-kaos