The Green Man

For many years I have been fascinated by the figure of The Green Man: the anthropomorphic representation of the spirit of the trees and the wild wood in western minds. He represents the male aspect of the well-spring of new life, but he is not so much the consort of the goddess, as her impish companion.

He has other names, Pan, Puck, Jack in the Green, all more or less familiar on these western fringes of our continent. He turns up in folklore, medieval churches, mummers plays and Morris dances; he is there in myth and in stories; he is the spirit of regeneration, spring time, new growth.

He is both the essence of youth and very ancient.

And he is as dangerous as he is enchanting.