Welsh singer Charlotte Church has revealed how witnessing widespread suffering has profoundly shaped her perspective on life and driven her to create spaces for healing and connection. In a candid conversation with Sara Keenan, the multi-talented artist opened up about her personal wellbeing journey and the transformative power of nature-based experiences.
A Response to Contemporary Pressures
Church, who rose to fame with her debut album Voice Of An Angel at just twelve years old, founded The Dreaming in 2023. This retreat space, nestled in rural Wales, focuses on nature, community, and sound as antidotes to modern life's strains. "There's never been any eureka moment necessarily," Church explains regarding her approach to wellbeing. "I have just seen a lot of suffering."
Born in Cardiff and now 39, Church comes from a working-class background and maintains connections across social strata. "I think I'm very sensitive to people suffering," she shares. "I've experienced it very acutely within my own family. My mum has had a really complicated mental health situation for the last 20 years, [as have] lots of other members of my family."
The Dreaming: A Sanctuary in Difficult Times
Church passionately describes The Dreaming as a response to societal excesses rooted in capitalist values. "I believe more than ever, the world and the people of the world are in dire need of being held through some very difficult times," she asserts. "There are some very difficult transitional times for us as human beings on this earth."
She criticizes how contemporary society often prioritizes materialism over care, community, and belonging. "We are crying out for these things, every single one of us," adds Church, who has three children. "No matter your gender, creed or age, I see it everywhere."
Since its opening, The Dreaming has welcomed over 2,000 visitors. While Church acknowledges it "can't fix everything," she calls it "a magical place" that offers respite. "It's not a magic pill, but it is a magical place," she emphasizes.
Personal Wellness Evolution
Reflecting on her own path, Church notes a shift from focusing on wellness tasks to embracing deeper compassion. "A couple of years ago, it was much more wellness and health stuff that I wanted to do, but it just went on to the already enormous 'to-do list' of things I had to do," she recalls.
"Now, my wellness journey or spiritual path has become about ultimate compassion for self and others. We are nature, and we are massively linked to the ecosystem and to each other."
Addressing Cultural Fatigue and Addiction
Church suggests that the popularity of retreats reflects broader cultural exhaustion. "For most of us in the West, our coping mechanisms have been different types of addictions," she observes. "That could be from substance misuse, smoking, alcohol, shopping, scrolling and a million other things to distract ourselves from our own suffering."
This insight fuels her commitment to providing alternatives through nature-based experiences that foster genuine connection rather than escapism.
Educational Advocacy Through the Awen Project
Church's dedication to nature-based solutions extends beyond The Dreaming. In 2019, she established the Awen Project, a charity she describes as "a free-to-attend democratic school in the woods."
"Young people are leaving the mainstream education system in their droves," Church explains. "Parents are desperate and don't know what to do or where to turn to – that's another area that I feel really passionate about, being able to provide a free alternative, not a paid-for alternative, but a free alternative for people who want a more nature-based, more humane, more natural [education]."
She advocates for "a more naturalistic way of young people learning in their village and amongst their families, in their own environment, to follow their own passions and interests."
Looking Forward with Hope
Despite anticipating harder times ahead, Church remains optimistic about collective resilience. "I'm also anticipating that there is going to be a huge upswell in collectivism and deep community," she predicts. "I do think that these support networks are really going to accelerate now. That gives me hope and I think that is where the future is headed."
Her goal is to encourage awareness and unity. "I really want to be an advocate for people to be aware, to switch on and to open their eyes to what's happening. I want people to come together as much as possible, although that can be particularly difficult when we're in this age of polarity."
A Modest Legacy
For her personal role, Church maintains humble aspirations. "It's quite simple really. I'm not trying to have this big legacy or an idea that I'm going to change the world," she states. "I'm just doing my small part. My tiny, infinitesimally small part in trying to be an advocate for a more balanced, beautiful, loving place for us all to be and live."
She hopes The Dreaming will be seen as a "sanctuary," and that her ongoing musical work will provide "solace and belonging and a bit more ease" for listeners.
In related news, Charlotte Church has announced a new land-led eight-part online course titled The Dreaming of The Earth, available for purchase via The Dreaming website, further expanding her mission to integrate nature into wellbeing practices.
