In the period between full sleep and awakening I have been receiving messages from the trees. The most recent was a dream or vision of gnarled and foliate faces looking at me. Talking to the trees I realised that I was being told the origins of The Green Man.

Sculptured images of the green man appear in churches and other buildings as well as forming the basis of ceremonies and rituals across Britain, and beyond. They have been interpreted as pagan forms representing renewal and fertility. It seems this is not the case.

From 500BC when the clearance of the woods and forests was gaining pace woodland peoples strengthened their connection with the trees. They carved human faces into the trees to reinforce this close relationship. It was never an act of worship. It simply represented a mutual association between living beings. The woodland peoples worked withe trees rather than against them. In due course they became the craftsmen who worked with wood and later stone. The images of green men carved in wood and stone that appeared in churches are representations/reminders of our continued loss of contact with trees as they were removed for increased building and farming.

It is clear that we have to renew our relationship the trees using as many means possible. Creating green man images and sculptures is the perfect means for us to reconnect with the trees around us. I have been directed to create green man artworks that can be placed in trees. You can help by creating your own green men to place in your favourite tree or trees. When you fix your  artworks to a tree search out different ways to display them. If you need to use nails use thin steel ones as these should not cause too much harm to the tree. Above all treat the trees with respect and you will be rewarded through this reconnection of living beings.