The Green Man Commences His Journey

With little or no fanfare the green man commences his journey through the blogosphere. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the green man he is a mythic creature that appears across most of Western Europe and similar iconic figures have been found in many other cultures. The origins of the Green Man are lost in the depths of antiquity, he predates Christianity and is thought to be symbolic of the triumph of life over death by personifying the triumph of summer over autumn and winter. As with many pagan beliefs, he was incorporated by early Christians in their pantheon. His image stares down from the roofs, pillars and doorways of great cathedrals and churches throughout England, Scotland, Wales, France, Germany, Italy and Holland. He appears in second century Roman columns in Turkey and in temples in Rajasthan.

The Green Man is typically depicted as a face formed from leaves of the ancient woodland trees, with either leaves, roots or fruit emerging from his mouth. Although the full meaning of the Green Man is lost, he is a window into an extremely ancient part of ourselves. He is at once both strangely compelling and slightly disturbing and gives the sense that he represents something old and strong and tremendously important.

The Green Man's is thought to be the origin of many myths that we know today. He appears as Robin Hood, the Lord of the Merry Greenwood. This Robin Hood had nothing to do with the bows and arrows and Sheriff of Nottingham stories. He was an older and more powerful figure and the Robin of Loxley figure was added much later. Robin Hood was a lord of Misrule as well as the King of the Wood. As well as the Morris dances of Old England, he is believed to be the origin of Jack in the Green who precedes Maypole dancers, Old Man of the Woods and the Green Knight whose tale is told in one of the earliest English epic poems "Gawain and the Green Knight".

In the modern context the Green Man serves as a symbol of our unavoidable involvement with nature. Whether we like it or not we are all part of nature and tied to the cycles of nature. By ignoring the ancient part of ourselves that the Green Man represents we reduce our completeness as people.