It was a really interesting video, enjoyed it a lot. I'm a bit long in the tooth so have vague memories of Mike Harding's programme on the Green Man.
My suspicion is that wherever the image originated from, the visualisation resonated with the British population and was therefore incorporated into British folklore as a good visual representation of existing beliefs in the supernatural qualities of nature, nature spirits and deities. The human population back then being much more connected with and dependent on the cycles of nature. A bit like the Romans at Bath incorporating the local deity Sul to make a hybrid deity of Sulis Minerva to represent a "British" version of the Roman goddess Minerva.
And a quick anecdote: a friend of a friend is a loveably eccentric character and very much a believer in nature spirits and also believes that stone circles resonate natural power, a bit like ley lines. He travels the country visiting prehistoric and spiritual sites and takes photos with an old-school camera with film.
Many years ago he took a photo of a river surrounded by trees in full early summer foliage on a bright, sunny day - lots of shades of green and dark shadow. And the river was millpond calm. One of the photos was remarkable, with the calm surface of the water the trees were reflected in perfect symmetry. Looking at the picture as a whole it made a perfect image of the Green Man looking back at you. I'm a fascinated sceptic in the supernatural but this genuinely floored me.
What a fascinating read! I think one of my favourite manifestations of the green man is the Green Knight. He comes across as a fearsome and mysterious figure, yet also mischievous - the very essence of a creature from the wildwood!
Thank you. An interesting and well researched article. I would add if I may, in contrast to the idea of the Green Man as a symbol for various abstract concepts, an alternative perspective? Your commenter's anecdote put me in mind of some lines from Blake, also by all accounts a "loveably eccentric character":
"What to others a trifle appears
fills me full of smiles or tears
For double the vision my eyes do see
And a double vision is always with me.
With my inward eye 'tis an old Man grey
With my outward a thistle across the way."
Or, if I dare to paraphrase badly:
"With my inward eye 'tis an old Man green
With my outward a clutch of leaves are seen."
For Blake the Green Man would be considered a "way of seeing", but one occluded by the conceptual mind so favoured by the West in it's single-eyed subjugation of nature and the imagination both. And lastly I would suggest this way of seeing is the much sought after "connection" with nature that is supposed to save us, and which, ironically, cannot be found by seeking !
Hi Lune,
It was a really interesting video, enjoyed it a lot. I'm a bit long in the tooth so have vague memories of Mike Harding's programme on the Green Man.
My suspicion is that wherever the image originated from, the visualisation resonated with the British population and was therefore incorporated into British folklore as a good visual representation of existing beliefs in the supernatural qualities of nature, nature spirits and deities. The human population back then being much more connected with and dependent on the cycles of nature. A bit like the Romans at Bath incorporating the local deity Sul to make a hybrid deity of Sulis Minerva to represent a "British" version of the Roman goddess Minerva.
And a quick anecdote: a friend of a friend is a loveably eccentric character and very much a believer in nature spirits and also believes that stone circles resonate natural power, a bit like ley lines. He travels the country visiting prehistoric and spiritual sites and takes photos with an old-school camera with film.
Many years ago he took a photo of a river surrounded by trees in full early summer foliage on a bright, sunny day - lots of shades of green and dark shadow. And the river was millpond calm. One of the photos was remarkable, with the calm surface of the water the trees were reflected in perfect symmetry. Looking at the picture as a whole it made a perfect image of the Green Man looking back at you. I'm a fascinated sceptic in the supernatural but this genuinely floored me.
What a fascinating read! I think one of my favourite manifestations of the green man is the Green Knight. He comes across as a fearsome and mysterious figure, yet also mischievous - the very essence of a creature from the wildwood!
I truly appreciate the tracing of the Green Man through history. I've often wondered about his origins. Thank you!
So interesting and informative thank you.
Hello Lune,
Thank you. An interesting and well researched article. I would add if I may, in contrast to the idea of the Green Man as a symbol for various abstract concepts, an alternative perspective? Your commenter's anecdote put me in mind of some lines from Blake, also by all accounts a "loveably eccentric character":
"What to others a trifle appears
fills me full of smiles or tears
For double the vision my eyes do see
And a double vision is always with me.
With my inward eye 'tis an old Man grey
With my outward a thistle across the way."
Or, if I dare to paraphrase badly:
"With my inward eye 'tis an old Man green
With my outward a clutch of leaves are seen."
For Blake the Green Man would be considered a "way of seeing", but one occluded by the conceptual mind so favoured by the West in it's single-eyed subjugation of nature and the imagination both. And lastly I would suggest this way of seeing is the much sought after "connection" with nature that is supposed to save us, and which, ironically, cannot be found by seeking !
Really great. Thank you for your insights. Going looking for Green men today ;) Happy Beltane !
damn this was fascinating to read! Love the symbolism of the wild/horned man enduring through so many ages!
Thank you Sofie! :)