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The GreenMan Story
The GreenMan image, symbolism and archetype have meant different things to me at various stages of my life. As a child, I was abruptly introduced to my first experience of the Green Man at my cousin's house on Christmas in the early 1960's. She was showing me some of her new toys that she had gotten from Santa when she placed a green robot in the middle of the floor that seemed like it was almost as big as I was. It appeared harmless enough at first until she turned it on and it started marching across the floor shooting sparks out of its eyes. I was terrified! Then I proceeded to climb up my father's leg in an attempt to get away! I'd never seen anything like that in my short life! From that day until I was twelve years old I had a bedtime ritual that consisted of telling one or both of my parents, "Mom, Dad, don't let the GreenMan get me!" So I guess you could say that my introduction to the GreenMan left me feeling a little dark and fearful. For years at family gatherings the Green Man experience was a topic of discussion with my cousins, and remained nothing more than an impressionable memory from my early childhood. After reaching my early thirties, I began to stretch my spiritual horizons and explore religion and metaphysics. Soon, thereafter, I became acquainted with people who practiced earth-centered spirituality. They talked about the Festival of Beltane, which is a Celtic celebration of the first day of planting and a fertility rite. It is more affectionately known as Green Man Day. The father-earth figure associated with this festival is represented in Celtic folklore by the green leafy face of the Green Man (painting above by my daughter, Lorruh) as expressed in various art forms throughout Europe. According to the legends, if you put a likeness of the GreenMan in your garden at the time of planting, you will have a bountiful harvest! It turns out that the festival falls on May 1st which is also my birthday! May first is also known as May Day and Arbor Day, the day when many of us choose to plant a tree to help make the world a little greener. Upon finding out this interesting news about myself, I began to study a little and started noticing different images of the GreenMan particularly in garden shops and books. One of the books showed stone carvings done of the GreenMan on old churches in Europe. I was beginning to develop a kinship with a character that at one time had been a childhood nightmare. I guess you could say I was embracing my fears by coming to terms with an odd darkness inside of myself that I, still to this day, don't fully understand. All I know is he feels like a part of me. I see his character manifest in me in different ways; like when I go for hikes in the lush woods near my house. As a child, I remember loving the family reunion picnics that took place in different state parks in Pennsylvania. The forest held such mystery and adventure for me. I guess that's part of why I choose to live in the mountains of western North Carolina. Even my house is painted green and has a green roof, and when you look out the windows of the living room it's like being in a tree house! Of course, it is very natural for me to be concerned about the environment. I guess it would be pretty difficult to assume the name "GreenMan" without being an advocate for the environment. At this point, I have to ask myself, What does the Green Man archetype mean to me today? To me, he represents the lushness of nature and stability of the earth (and yes, I am an Earth sign.) While Mother Nature is the beautiful, bountiful, and sometimes delicate side of nature, the Green Man helps to support and protect Nature. In order to protect the environment I sometimes feel that he unleashes his darkness in a mischievous sort of way. He might bring on a fire here or there in the form of lightning if he feels the forest needs cleansing. He's in charge of the under-brush part of the forest, tending to the mushrooms, small plants and decaying leaves around the roots of trees. The Green Man is very busy these days supporting nature in it's pursuit of perfect balance. So I accept the name of GreenMan, which has been affectonately given to me by my friends, because I feel that he has been a part of me in one way or another for a very long time. I only hope I can live up to the legend that he is. Chuck Willhide - aka The GreenMan |
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