The Green Man is Reborn out of Myth and Lore
With a face sculpted of leaves, herbs, and Earth elements, the Green Man sits silently overlooking gardens and kitchens, ushering in the rebirth of spring. Although many regard the figure as little more than an ornament — perhaps like a Buddha statue in a lanai — there has been a resurgence in Wicca and other Pagan traditions, honoring the spirit of the Green Man, a powerful symbol to those in touch with the ebb and flow of nature. Even those without any religious or esoteric proclivities are now embracing the Green Man by displaying his likeness in sacred spaces of their homes.
The Green Man can be found in many cultures around the world, throughout history, usually related to deities related to vegetation and the growth of food. Because the earliest peoples came to revere the process of birth, life, and death, the Green Man emerged as a mythological symbol of the renewal of the life cycle that begins in springtime.
Green Man Facts: Across Time and Place
It seems that, similar to a great many other mythic representations, the Green Man evolved throughout the world’s cultures independently. In her work, An Annotated & Illustrated Collection of Worldwide Links to Mythologies, Fairy Tales & Folklore, Sacred Arts & Sacred Traditions, Kathleen Jenks suggests, “The Green Man is that spirit, energy, presence, inherent in every cell of the vegetative realm, and transmitted to the animal/human realms through the foods we eat, the flowers we smell, the trees we hug.”
Although now well-known as the Green Man, researchers claim that this moniker only dates back to 1939, when it was used by Lady Raglan (wife of the Welch scholar and soldier Major Fitzroy Somerset, 4th Baron Raglan) in her article, “The Green Man in Church Architecture,” published in the “Folklore” journal of March 1939. Lady Raglan became infatuated with the mystery and symbology of the Green Man when visiting it’s images in St. Jerome’s Church in the village of Llangwn in Monmouthshire, Wales.
Lady Raglan wrote, “This figure I am convinced, is neither a figment of the imagination nor a symbol, but is taken from real life, and the question is whether there was any figure in real life from which it could have been taken. The answer, I think, is that there is but one of sufficient importance, the figure variously known as the Green Man, Jack-in-the-Green, Robin Hood, the King of May and the Garland King, who is the central figure in the May Day celebrations throughout Northern and Central Europe.”
But more down-to-earth researchers, focused purely on historical facts, found the Lady Raglan’s description a bit hard to swallow, especially because she had conflated several unrelated icons with the Green Man. Nevertheless, her writing was instrumental in inviting the Green Man to become seriously regarded as a valid object of historical and anthropological study. It also established the name “Green Man” as the preferred label.
Wicca, Greek Myth, and The Green Man
The Green Man is no simple symbol or supernatural icon of myth or legend. Its meaning is diverse and inspires introspection. Because it evolved out of many cultures, it means many things to different cultures around the world. To some, including those steeped in the tradition of Wicca, the Green Man is viewed as a pagan nature spirit. As such, some researchers connect it to older nature deities, such as the Celtic Cernunnos and the Greek Pan and Dionysus. Pan is the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks; and represents the untamed wilderness and is characterized by rustic music.
Riley Winters, a researcher in classical and medieval studies, explained, “The Green Man is most highly believed to have begun as a pre-Christian entity, a spirit of nature personified as a man. His earliest images have been dated long before the coming of the Christian religion, depictions dating back before the days of the Roman Empire.”
“However, it is with the coming of the empire that his images are noted as spanning religions, as he has been found both within the empire and at its borders, and then similar versions in other far reaching cultures such as India. Despite the range in locations of artifacts of the Green Man, he is most often associated with the society of the Celts, sequestered particularly in today’s Britain and France, because of the high number of images found in these regions and the stylized way in which he has been portrayed.”
Though always representing nature — often with features that are nearly imperceptible from the tree or foliage, from which it magically appears — the Green Man has many faces the world over. In early Christian churches, he often appeared over doorways and near representations of Jesus. In fact, wrote researcher Luke Mastin, “Pre-Christian pagan traditions and superstitions, particularly those related to nature and trees, were still a significant influence in early medieval times, as exemplified by the planting of yew trees (a prominent pagan symbol) in churchyards, and the maintenance of ancient ‘sacred groves’ of trees…The human-like attributes of trees (trunk-body, branches-arms, twigs-fingers, sap-blood), as well as their strength, beauty and longevity, make them an obvious subject for ancient worship.”
The green man is often associated with nature, rebirth or fertility.
The Green Man: Warning or Reminder?
As we ponder the Green Man from a 21st-century perspective, those who are more sensitive to changes and human impact on the Earth are longing for a return to nature. But the image of the Green Man reminds us that concern for the environment is actually ages-old, leading us to Plato’s ecologically cautionary words.
“Nearly 2,500 years ago,” wrote Maria Haralampopoulos, “Plato lamented over the land degradation that stripped the once lush hills of Greece…In Critias, according to Plato, ’In the primitive state of the country, its mountains were high hills covered with soil, and the plains, were full of rich earth, and there was an abundance of wood in the mountains. Of this last the traces still remain, for although some of the mountains now only afford sustenance to bees.’”
Researcher Phyllis Araneo wrote, “Whilst the figure of the Green Man has appeared, disappeared and reappeared throughout the centuries, there is evidence to show that his appearance is often linked to times of upheaval, change or environmental crisis. His emergence, however, often goes unnoticed by the population and is all too often taken for granted or simply overlooked.”
Given the tremendous crisis facing the planet and all of its inhabitants, it seems clear that the resurrection of the Green Man symbol coincides with what is perhaps humanity’s ultimate struggle. The Green Man has returned as an eerie and poignant reminder that the essence of life springs forth from the green, hallowed land that sustains it. And, unlike this cross-cultural image of earth’s lush vegetation, it beckons us to contemplate whether humankind can any longer afford to sit silently idle as the environment returns to dust.
What is Gnosticism?
Whether or not you know it, you’ve probably been influenced by the beliefs of the Gnostics and their powerful grasp over aspects of Western spirituality. Many schools of metaphysics, the occult, mystical teachings, and even fraternal organizations and secret societies have borrowed heavily from Gnostic teaching. It’s impossible to do justice to Gnosticism in a single article, but I’ll do my best to introduce you to some of the basic concepts, leaving further research to those spurred on by the mysteries inherent in the Gnostic world. Any personal work done, if seriously approached, must serve to improve the understanding and knowledge of the student.
A History of Gnosticism
The history of Gnosticism is well documented and was enriched by the discovery of the Nag Hammadi Texts, sometimes known as The Gnostic Gospels, in Egypt in 1945. These Christian documents, from the 3rd Century BCE, include apocryphal books of the Bible and alternative views of early Christian doctrine, some of them seemingly blasphemous and heretical to modern followers of monotheistic religions.
The Goddess in the Creation of the World
There are several unique aspects to the Gnostic system, many of them carried through into modern metaphysical doctrines, specifically many of the occult concepts dealing with The Goddess in the creation of the world, some of these being implicitly presented to the public in the guise of ritual, magical practices, and even Tarot cards. Aleister Crowley, the controversial but brilliant occultist, embraced certain aspects of Gnosticism and incorporated them liberally into his Thoth Tarot deck, even creating The Gnostic Mass, his spin on religious-magical ritual.
Alchemy
The Gnostic tradition has also been a powerful influence in the traditions of Alchemy. Although there were hundreds of different alchemical schools, almost all of them had ideas that were influenced by Gnosticism. Through alchemical allegory, the search to purify the human soul was exemplified in clever emblems, designed to cause the observer to question the very nature of existence itself and to strive for a deeper understanding, searching for the “gold” that is the essence of everything that exists. This is a delightfully complex subject all in itself.
Jungian Psychology
Modern culture has been influenced by Gnosticism. Carl Jung’s, “The Red Book,” has been studied and embraced by Gnostic students. It is a wealth of information regarding the search within the physical for spiritual freedom, and through that, the realization of the true essence of God. Carlos Santana’s album, Abraxas, was the name given to an image revered by certain Gnostic schools, a being with a rooster’s head, a human’s torso and serpents for legs. These symbols, although seemingly bizarre, or disturbing, actually hold great meaning for those who are willing to contemplate them and allow the inner voice to guide them on the pathway to knowledge. Think it over and you’ll see what I mean.
Let’s look at some Gnostic essentials. Please remember, this is by no means in depth and not everyone will agree with my views.
What Does Gnostic Mean?
The word Gnostic simply means one who knows. Compare it to the word agnostic, meaning one who doesn’t know, usually as applied to a belief, or understanding, to the nature of God. Whereas the agnostic is not an atheist, she/he usually has no concrete idea about the existence or non existence of God. The Gnostic knows certain things, although that knowledge may not necessarily bring answers nor clarity. This may seem contradictory, but I can assure you it isn’t.
There is no one school of Gnosticism. It may be more correct to call the whole subject, Gnosis. It is a general term for an entire field of religious searching and belief, one that allows for great latitude in personal understanding, and often doesn’t adhere to any one sacred book of light.
What Does Gnosticism Seek?
Oversimplifying the answer, Gnosis seeks to reveal the truth of the supreme essence of the divine, thus overthrowing false beliefs of God, society and life in general. It seeks, through a long and arduous journey of self evaluation and constant introspection, to remove the veil of darkness and reintroduce that divine spark of light to the individual, thereby allowing the reconnection to deity in the Pleroma.
The Pleroma
This word refers to what some might call heaven, but that concept falls short of what this truly represents. The main matrix of Gnosticism includes the idea of an absolutely pure concept of God. This way of looking at deity presents the idea of a singularity, The Monad. God is basically unaware of itself and is pure bliss. Anything united with that singularity is part of it, but there are aspects of it that can congeal and develop their own thoughts and agenda. The Pleroma is pure being and ultimately is beyond most thoughts of a creator god. Our version of a creator was a circumstance of Sophia.
Sophia
Sophia means wisdom. Originally a part of the Pleroma, Sophia, a feminine aspect of the divine, became curious about the nature of existence and if there was more to the universe, or so the story goes. Through her investigations, eventually there came into being, through her, the Demiurge. Some consider Sophia to be a great hero; others are not so kind.
The Demiurge
The Demiurge is probably one of the most controversial of all aspects of Gnosticism. The word Demiurge means common worker, and implies that he was not beyond making a mistake or two. (Some have said that Demiurge means half effort. I don’t agree.) In fact, when it comes to looking at the woes of our world, the Demiurge gets all the credit.
When Bad Things Happen to Good People
Have you ever asked yourself why good people suffer and villains thrive, survive and ruin things for the rest of us? Have you ever wondered how children become ill, why they die of terrible diseases or suffer at the hands of abuse? Why do tsunamis wipe out entire populations? Why is there savagery in nature, and more importantly, why does it exist in humanity? Why do we become ill? Why do we eventually die? Why can life be so incredibly difficult, yet so wonderful at the same time? The Demiurge, that’s why.
The Fool
Aleister Crowley portrayed the Demiurge as The Fool in his Tarot. Within his grasp are all the elements for the creation of anything and everything that exists, and yet he is empty of thought and without any true plan. His is a mishmash of creative fury. It’s almost as if he blunders his way through the creative process, leaving us to be stuck with the miserable consequences of his creations.
A Spark of Divinity
The idea that we live in a world created by a flawed creator naturally brings to mind the thought that life is, or can be, miserable. In fact, this was one of the basic views of many of the Gnostic groups. In their eyes, life is misery and is the real hell. Everything is an illusion and nothing more than a trapping, designed to keep us from realizing the immense lie that we play a part of. This negative view of life, as a form of bondage of the soul, isn’t very uplifting, but to the right devotee, it can be a wonderful opportunity to bring home the idea of turning inward, making the most of this existence and finding that spark of divinity within us that allows us to transcend simple physical being and move into the realm of the spiritual.
For the Open Minded
The Demiurge is often linked to our concept of a creator God. In other words, the very deity worshiped all over the world every day and considered to be the supreme God in many religions, is viewed by the Gnostics to be the creator of all misery and the father of trouble. It’s easy to see why it takes a certain type of person to take on Gnosticism, one with an ability to be open minded and un-phased by dogma, culture or fear. Through the ability to investigate and accept, comes a certain freedom.
The Three Types of Individuals
In Gnosticism, there are three levels of personal existence.
Hylic
The first is the Hylic and is the most physically bound, being trapped in desire, a need for love, possessions, and physicality.
Psychic
The second of these is known as the Psychic, and relates to those who are mentally based, concerned with those realms that although not seen, can certainly be conceived of and felt, but are also partially spiritualized.
Pneumatic
The third type is the Pneumatic, the spiritual individual who connects to higher levels of consciousness, thereby giving the opportunity, through inner searching and meditation, the ability to again unite with the real God rather than the illusions held by most. This is the desired spiritual level of attainment for humans. Through understanding, through gnosis, they become essentially incorruptible and are immune to the perversions and misery of the world.
Although it is possible to move from one spiritual level to another, there is nothing easy about it. In part, this was the great aim of spiritual alchemy and the reason for the immense secrecy involved in its symbols and teachings.
Alchemy
Spiritual alchemy has been a fascination in the metaphysical and occult world for hundreds of years.
As Above, So Below
The basic axiom, “as above, so below,” lends itself to the idea that whatever happens at any level of the universe must also take place within the individual. This becomes the concept of the macrocosm and the microcosm. As certain sets of rules apply to everything that occurs, it follows that if we view nature and science, we should be able to get a good idea as to what is happening inside us.
Alchemical Gold
The search for alchemical gold, or the philosopher’s stone, is a common theme throughout occult lore. The idea of gold being the perfect metal, in that it never tarnishes, links it to the sun, the giver of life on this planet.
It was presumed that within each and every one of us there is a divine spark, that connection to the Monad, God, that once seen, is freed and allowed to transform us, essentially changing us completely and influencing the world.
It was also assumed that all metals started out as gold, but due to their surroundings, became corrupted and devolved into other minerals. For example, in an area that was filled with angry, violent energy, the gold might become iron. In another area, it might become lead, tin, or copper. Through the use of base corrosives and acids designed to break down the constituent parts of the minerals, and through a specific set of carefully defined processes, the lesser aspects of the minerals would eventually be shed and the gold within released. So it must be with us.
Inner Gold
If we spend time evaluating, meditating and working on ourselves in a constant effort to release the dross from our spirit, mind, and body, the inner gold of divinity will also be released. The aim was to improve ourselves and free us from pettiness, illness, misery, greed and even death.
Archons
Archon means ruler, and under the main Archon, the Demiurge, was a legion of lesser rulers. Some might consider them to be the gods of the ancient world. Some have linked them to angelic forces, however this is not necessarily a flattering light to be illuminated by. Like their fellow Archon, the Demiurge, they are well removed from the original energy of the divine and thus prone to flaws, causing misery.
In Deep Thought
Far from being a depressing philosophy, Gnosticism is a discipline of deep thought, realistic observation of the world, and ultimate hope. At least, that’s my point of view. Some might think Gnosis to be a cynic’s delight, others simply a frank depiction of life. I urge you to do your own research and make your own decisions. You certainly don’t have to embrace, nor believe in it, but you might find that parts of it resonate in a way that you don’t expect, and will certainly make you think.
Until next time, I wish you all peace and love.
