The Greenman.
The Greenman is the second piece in the series, and I’ve begun to draw in more inspirations from various other sources. The central image is one I find closer to my own history and my ancestral past.
Mythos:
The Greenman is a symbol of renewal and sometimes even a reminder of the natural cycle of life and death. The Greenman can be seen as a protector of the forest and a counterpart to Mother Nature. It is debated whether the Greenman is a ancient Pagan or Christian symbol, but the origin is unclear.
Solomon’s Knot (Celtic Knot):
This knot symbolizes a few things.
The Eternity of the universe or of Immortality of the soul. As the bands connect and never end but weave and flow together.
The merging of the natural and the divine. Both Pagan and Christian societies believe in these principles deeply.
Other symbolism:
This symbol of a face emerging through the foliage has been used in many different ancient cultures. From ancient Rome to Ancient Islamic cultures the Greenman can be seen in many societies. However its visage exploded through the creation of stone hewn castles and infrastructure in the medieval period.
Some may see the symbol as a fertility image while for others it tells the story of the mortality of life, and the coming seasons of change.
Black and white Trees:
Trees and nature are the most obvious motif associated with the Greenman.
I used this idea to represent a modern fascination with the symbol and the practice of magic.
The phrase “as above so below“ is commonly used when discussing witchcraft and has even been seen in modern movies.
The phrase comes from Hermetic philosophy and represents again the connection between the Mystical and Real world.