Green Man: The Archetype of Our Oneness with the Earth [Paperback]

William Anderson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 7, 1990

The Green movement and the women's movement have picked up on the scientific Gaia hypothesis, which suggests that the planet Earth is a single living organism. The next stage of the ecological revolution begins with the reawakening of the male counterpart of the Goddess, the Green Man, and archetype found in folklore and religious art from the earliest times, and especially linked with Christian origins of modern science. Long suppressed, the archetype emerges now to challenge us to heal our relationship with nature.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Green Man is a vital archetype of our time." -- -- Robert Johnson, author of He, She, and We

"A fascinating and important book." - -- - Jennifer and Roger Woolger, authors of The Goddess Within

"A significant contribution to men's studies and healthy masculine spirituality." -- -- Matthew Fox, author of Original Blessing and Creation Spirituality

"Green Man is a vital archetype of our time." -- Robert Johnson, author of He, She, and We

"Green Man is essential reading for those men who seek the mythic roots for a revitalized masculinity equal to the challenge of planetary culture." -- Robert L. Moore, Jungian analyst and coauthor of King, Warrior, Magician, Lover

"A fascinating and important book." - -- - Jennifer and Roger Woolger, authors of The Goddess Within

"A significant contribution to men's studies and healthy masculine spirituality." -- Matthew Fox, author of Original Blessing and Creation Spirituality

"Not only completely convincing, but immensely enjoyable. For the first time the hidden power of the word 'Green'-now given to every activity, every person dedicated to stopping the devastation of the Earth and to a new 'greening' of the planet-is revealed in the Green Man as this image appears in the Western cultural tradition, especially in the folk tales, rituals, literature, and art and architecture of pasty centuries. The Green Movement will attain a new efficacy through this new understanding of itself, through the archetype of the Green Man that arises not simply out of our own Western traditions but from the unconscious depths of the human psyche. For this is the role of every archetype-to guide, inspire, and energize all our human activities." -- Thomas Berry, author of The Dream of Nature

"The complete story of the Green Man from the deep past to the present. The record of his survival in Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance art is truly fascinating. We learn how this vital symbol of the rebirth of planet life lived on, together with the symbol of Mother Earth, sometimes degraded and sometimes partially accepted by the Christian Church. Now this symbol, through this excellent book, comes back as the poet's archetype ('His words are leaves,' says the author). The revival of Green Man is a vital resource in renewing our lost unity with the world of Nature." -- Marija Gimbutas, author of The Language of the Goddess

"This rediscovery of the Green Man is a very timely, and has an important part to play in our search for a new relationship of living nature." -- Rupert Sheldrake, author of A New Science of Life

About the Author

William Anderson is a poet and author of books on may subjects including Dante the Maker (1980), which won the International PEN Club Award "The Silver Pen." His other works include a book of poems, The Waking Dream (1983), and a life of the visionary artist Ceil Collins (1988). He writes for Parabola and lectures widely.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco; First English Edition edition (December 7, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062500759
• ISBN-13: 978-0062500755
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #717,356 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take this book to Europe....., July 4, 2002

By 

Dianne Foster "Di" (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Green Man: The Archetype of Our Oneness with the Earth (Paperback)

I particularly enjoyed GREEN MAN because the author William Anderson brings together and explores many subjects of interest to me -- the natural world, mythology and archtypes, Gothic church architecture, Wordsworth, and the concept of Gaia. GREEN MAN has been described by it's critics as a book about Mythology and Ecology, but I think Anderson has also written a very fine art history.

Anderson suggests most art historians and critics have overlooked the Green Man as an archetypal element and artifact. And, although I've taken several art history classes on the topic of Western church architecture, I can't recall a single instructor discussing the foliate masks, vine disgorging heads, or human fruiting vegetation Anderson clearly describes. The photographs in his book show they can be found in many places in churches including on rood screens, columns, capitals, corbels, tympani, stringcourses, pediments, flying buttressses, with the Holy Virgin and child, and weeping over Christ.

Anderson suggests the Green Man (or our need for him) has morphed into variation after variation over the millenia. The Green Man probably began life as a Celtic mythical figure, but by the 20th Century he had become a hidden Art Deco element. His most amazing incarnation occurred in the Middle Ages in the Gothic cathedrals, especially very sacred spots like Chartres in France. Chartres was one of Joseph Campbell's favorite haunts, and he has shared many of his insights about the cathedral, as has the art historian Panofsky. Anderson shares a few more ideas involving the Green Man.

If you plan to visit churches or cathedrals in Britain, Ireland, or Europe, I think you'll find this book a good resource. You can also learn more about the Green Man and his link to the Earth Mother and the natural order.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Historically Informative, October 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Green Man: The Archetype of Our Oneness with the Earth (Paperback)

Very good variety of photos of Green Man sculptures. Poses interesting theories as to the disappearance and reappearance of the Green Man in art and sculpture.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative, November 19, 1998

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Green Man: The Archetype of Our Oneness with the Earth (Paperback)

This book was an interesting read. It contained a great many theories about the Green man as well as on location photography. However, the author was somewhat prone to reciting his poetry and making theories without clearly stating they were simply his ideas. A very informative source on the Green man. I bought this book as I wanted to discover who and what the Greenman is.