The singer, activist, and founder of The Dreaming on nature, spirituality, and the healing power of sound.
Charlotte Church has long been celebrated for her extraordinary voice, but her journey extends far beyond music. In this personal reflection, she opens up about her connection to nature, her spiritual awakening, and her belief in the transformative power of sound. From her working-class upbringing in Wales to her creation of The Dreaming, a retreat dedicated to healing and self-discovery, Church shares how traumatic experiences, motherhood, and a search for meaning have shaped her path towards helping others reconnect – with themselves, with the Earth, and with each other.
I grew up in a really working-class household, which was very tele-focused, with microwave meals and convenience. As a kid, we never went on walks or camping. It was a big thing to go to the park, like a major outing, never mind the beach — even though it was only 20 minutes down the road.
Nature, in the way we think about it, didn’t play much of a role in my early life. Of course, everything is nature, and all humans are nature. But in terms of the vegetative and animal realms, it didn’t play much of a role for me.
When I started working and travelling, I got to see some pretty incredible nature, like the jungles of the Brazilian Amazon and Niagara Falls. Even though most of my work trips involved hotels and studios — very urban, very indoor things — I did get the opportunity to see some really incredible places. I think that was the beginning of something stirring and awakening within me.
I became a mother quite young, at 21, and something in my system just sort of went, "Oh, I think we should be outside." I moved out of Cardiff to the countryside when the kids were little, and I started to explore nature more through them and through their eyes — looking at little beasties in the ground; wanting to name things and wanting to educate them.
When they reached school age, we decided to homeschool. I was a terrible teacher and terrible at being indoors with them so I started a little forest school just for us three. It wasn't long before loads of other kids came to join — other homeschoolers and kids from mainstream schools during the holidays.
I feel part of my calling now is to help awaken that connection in other people
When I was about 27, I took magic mushrooms for the first time. That experience created a different sort of connection, a deeper understanding, far more intrinsic and connected to patterns. You can never unsee or unfeel that connection once it happens.
Ever since then, I’ve been diving deeper and deeper into my spiritual journey — the idea of the unseen world, the wonder, awe, and power of nature. Through my work with the Awen Project and The Dreaming, I feel part of my calling now is to help awaken that connection in other people.
I had such a four-walls, boxed-in life, and so did my ancestors before me for quite a long time. When you're from a working-class family, the majority of your energy is spent doing the survival dance rather than the sacred dance.
A lot of that means there’s no free time or leisure time. And, of course, there’s a much bigger story about capitalism and the commodification of attention — how these things are used to keep us disconnected from our birthright and from our connection with nature, which is so integral to human health.
I feel like there are clearly lots of people in this country and around the world who are massively into nature, whether through gardening, birdwatching, surfing, or other activities. They’re in it — they’re in their sensory bodies, tasting, feeling, being exalted.
But there’s also a huge number of people in cities, as well as those glued to their phones, who seem to experience a generational disconnection from nature. They’re being driven more and more by very powerful forces designed to keep them consuming.
The more I align with myself nature, the more I find it difficult to engage with mainstream culture.
I do have a platform, and some soft power through my celebrity, which I’m deeply grateful for. But the more I align with myself, nature, and the bigger story that’s unfolding, the more I find it difficult to engage with mainstream culture.
I’ve got huge trauma from being denigrated and shamed by the media at every stage of my life. Even though I come from a place of wanting to help people, sometimes I’m just not sure that being in the mainstream is my role within this whole tapestry.
I’ve always spoken truthfully. Fame came to me so young that the idea of being curated felt alien and stupid.
I’ve never felt like I had to filter myself — but how willing people are to listen depends on the environment.
Even within activism, spirituality and emotions are often left out, except when they’re being used manipulatively. It’s insane that we can talk about systems and functionality without including broader ideas about existence, philosophy, spirituality, and emotional health.
Through my activism and intuition, I try to follow my own roots, even when engaging politically felt more structured and traditional — whether it was speaking at rallies or going on Question Time. I’ve realised we need to broaden the conversation to include nature’s voice.
One of the best ways to do that is to hand over the mic to First Nations peoples. That’s been a big part of my work through The Awen Project and The Dreaming, as well as my personal curiosity and fascination with how Indigenous communities live more closely with nature.
Their ways of living, whether through pedagogical approaches, agroforestry, or health and community building, are life-giving and deeply inspiring. These threads are what I try to weave back into my work.
Technology is designed to train humanity towards distraction
Technology is a paradox. On one hand, it allows people to communicate about important issues. But on the other, it’s designed to train humanity towards distraction. The algorithms commodify attention and build addiction.
We’re just scratching the surface of understanding how damaging this is — physically, mentally, and emotionally— in terms of how we connect with others and ourselves.
Social media has impacted my teens in a big way. But I’ve always tried to educate them about what’s happening behind the scenes. They understand its costs, and sometimes they self-regulate beautifully —though it’s still a battle because it’s so addictive.
They think The Dreaming is awesome, and they’re proud of the work I’ve put into it. My daughter, now 17, might even volunteer there as she’s doing a year of apprenticeships. I hope to create more youth programmes like vision quests and initiation journeys they can be part of.
Looking forward, I’m excited about exploring sound as a healing tool. Science is only just beginning to understand the profound power that sound has — that literally everything in the universe is vibration.
I believe singing is humanity’s most powerful tool for healing and connection. It transcends language and culture and has the ability to unite and uplift. Through retreats and workshops, I’ve seen how reconnecting with your voice can transform lives.
Ultimately, my journey has been about finding deeper meaning through nature, spirituality, and sound. These elements have shaped not just my work but my entire being. My hope is to keep exploring, learning, and sharing this path with others.
As told to Charlotte Owen-Burge in December 2024. This conversation was edited & condensed for clarity.
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