I have often wondered what it is that gives London its soul - something Peter Ackroyd describes so well as the heartbeat of a great and ancient city, teeming with life and echoing with many centuries of history. Then I remember where I sense the heartbeat of London the most, and it is of course when I am near the great river, the sacred Tamesis, the River Thames.
Each of our great rivers has its own unique character and spirit - I live near to the confluence of the Thames and the Kennet - the latter dark, sensual and feminine, the Thames majestic, free-flowing, like a national artery, arching through the glorious landscape. I recall other rivers I have loved - the Ribble, gifted by the Goddess Brigantia; the Ouse, ancient trade route; the Avon, gentler, fecund, picturesque; the Severn, tide racing wild woman of dark mystery. Rivers are the heart and soul of our great cities - founded on their communication routes, acting as protective moats. Shrewsbury, for example, is almost encircled by the Severn, and what would Newcastle be without the Tyne, or Liverpool without the Mersey.
And our rivers bring such life to the land - coursing freely, they irrigate and feed the land, carrying energy to each part of it, blessing with libations. I am put in mind of the lyrics of a favourite band, Dragonsfly, in their song The River, “the river that moves between the mountains, rushes strong and free, giving life to all it leaves in its wake”. The song was inspired by “the mountains and the water and beautiful, simple life”.
A blessing on the waters. A blessing on the Land.
