The Green Man and Gaia

The Green Man has been a presence associated with male energy for hundreds of years.  The counterpart to the Green Man has often been linked to Gaia -- or the living and breathing earth.  This pair has been linked through science, art and myth.

James Lovelock, scientist and environmentalist (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lovelock)
has written volumes on the interdependence of our Earth and how we treat her. His treatises state that our Earth is a single, living organism. His theories are controversial, but there is little doubt that there is truth to his warnings of pollution, global warming and the damage to our Earth via CFC's (chlorofluorocarbons).  http://www.amazon.com/Gaia-James-Lovelock/dp/0195216741/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405602283&sr=8-1&keywords=lovelock+gaia+theory&dpPl=1

Another essay on science and our Earth that discusses Lovelock's Gaia hypothesis is written by Andrew Rothery for the "Science of the Green Man" publication (http://www.ecopsychology.org/journal/ezine/green_man.html).  I liked Rothery's thoughts of the Green Man being: "As the mouth is the source of our ability to communicate verbally through sound and language this suggests that the Green Man has a role as a communicator who translates Nature‚s message to us, perhaps through the "language" of plants. Or, perhaps the Green Man's "language" (sound vibration) is all pervasive throughout the whole the biosphere providing some kind of nourishing background song which supports and inspires life. Thus, the Green Man may not only be seen as a communicator of Nature's message to every species in our global biosphere , he could also be seen as the very embodiment of what makes this ecosystem tick - its functionality as an organic communications network of such complexity that it is frankly unimaginable to us at a conscious level."

Rothery's essay continues to discuss the connection between the Green Man and Gaia and how they interact with each other and how we interact with both.  It is a thoughtful and thought generating essay.

In searching for an artistic example of the Green Man and Gaia, I stumbled upon the incredible artist: Renate Hennessy.  She has some amazing paintings depicting both the Green Man and Gaia: http://www.renatehennessy.com/galleries.htm

Her website not only offers examples of her beautiful art, but also a very interesting essay on sacred places and sacred presences.


http://www.renatehennessy.com/Gaia%20Gallery.htm

Science, Art, Humanity embrace the yin / yang aspect of the Green Man and Gaia.  The wise words and paintings provide us with meditative thoughts and ponderings on the interconnectedness of all mankind and worlds beyond. 

The Green Man and the Trees

When discussing the Green Man, conversations often branch out into conversations of the Green Man and trees.  Some thoughts turn to the infamous "Ents" in Tolkien lore, tree people and the worshiping of trees.  An article on Ents can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ent 

This is fabulous renditon from:  http://lawrencegarcia.org/tolkiens-mythology-the-recovery-of-wonder-for-creation/ents1/

Tree people are a world-wide archetype. Much of ancient Celtic and Druid lore is devoted to tree worship.  Here's a link to the "wisdom of trees:" http://merganser.math.gvsu.edu/myth/trees.html

Here's an excellent article on Myths, Legends and Trees: http://www.nativetreesociety.org/myths/index_myths.htm
                                        

My Green Man

One of my interpretations of the Green Man.  He's available at:
www.cafepress.com/outinthegarden   "Old Sage" is coming soon.

Many Names...

The Green Man is a universal archetype.  Throughout history he has had different guises and many names.  Buddha is considered to be a Green Man as he was born in a tree.  Osiris, Adonis, Dionysis, Al Khidr are also Green Men.  More contemporary Green Men are Robin Hood, the May King and even the Jolly Green Giant.  Some say even Yoda is a Green Man with his wisdom and teaching of Luke Skywalker.  There are many more names for this egnima.  The Green Man continues to pique our interest.
The Green Giant (greengiant.com)
  Al Khidr (www.khidr.org)


Buddha - http://www.patheos.com/blogs/monkeymind/2009/04/marking-the-buddhas-birth.html
Interesting article on Buddha and trees: http://sacredsites.com/asia/india/bodh_gaya.html



Robin Hood

One of my favorite authors, Terri Windling (author of The Wood Wife [my long time favorite book of hers] and many other fine books) edited a series of short stories with different aspects of the Green Man several years ago (see: http://www.amazon.com/Green-Man-Anthology-Mythic-Forest/dp/B003F76FMM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340191170&sr=8-1&keywords=green+man+windling).  She also has an outstanding treatise of art and philosophy on her Endicott Studio site on the Green Man and the Green Woman: http://www.endicott-studio.com/gal/galgreen.html which includes fantastic art by Brian Froud of  Faerie fame.  The image below is copyrighted to Brian Froud and there is a link to his other Green Men on the Endicott Studio site listed above.

With all of his many faces, I have found the Green Man as a guide -- a loving, fatherly type figure.  I suppose this is why/how he is portrayed in the Green Man series to Sylvia.  Years ago, I knew a storyteller from Gambia.  He told me of his cultures views on God and Christ.  He said that God is a laughing God who chuckles over his children and all of their antics on Earth.  I have always enjoyed this positive, warm image of an omnipotent being.  Madeleine L'Engle speaks of "The Laughing Christ" -- a statue that portrays an important piece in her book A House Like a Lotus.  Another portrayal. 

The Muslim faith has Khidr, or the green one.  Al Khidr was a guide to Moses.  Where he sat in the desert, everything turned green.  http://www.spiritandflesh.com/Paganism_Islam_Green_Man_Al_Khidr.htm

More mystery...