Green men and women: dragons, serpents, and the green force of nature

This September 26th, Guy Hayward will be leading a pilgrimage to St George’s Chapel, Windsor, with a theme inspired by the symbol of the Green Man and its relationship to King Charles III and the monarchy in general.

This article attempts to add some colour to the deeper mystery surrounding this pilgrimage, and how the Green Force relates today to bringing back the practice of pilgrimage in Britain.

Symbols of nature's power, rebirth, and the profound cycles of life and death permeate human history, mythology, and spirituality. Among these symbols, the Green Man and Green Woman stand out, representing the Green Force that sustains and regenerates life; a 'greening power' which the great 12th-century Christian mystic, Hildegard von Bingen, referred to as viriditas. In Paul Broadhurst's book "Green Man and the Dragon," the connections between Green Men and Women, dragons, serpents, and other mystical figures are explored in depth, revealing a network of myths and symbols that link humanity to the natural world. By weaving these threads together, we can trace a narrative that reflects the continuous relationship between humans and the earth—a relationship newly underscored in the modern era by King Charles III's use of the Green Man symbol in his coronation invitation.

The Green Man: guardian of nature and rebirth

The Green Man, often depicted as a face surrounded by foliage, is an ancient symbol found across Europe with the archetype appearing in stone carvings in medieval churches and cathedrals, such as the Green Man at Rosslyn Chapel, and in chalk carvings on hills, such as the Cerne Abbas Giant and the Long Man of Wilmington. This figure, either with his leaves and vines in stone or embedded in the landscape, embodies the resilience of life and the constant cycles of death and renewal that define the natural world.

The prominence of the Green Man in King Charles III's coronation invitation suggests a contemporary recognition of these ancient themes. This connection is not just ceremonial; it speaks to the deeper, enduring relationship between leadership and the forces of nature, and highlights the growing awareness of our need to live in harmony with nature. As our current monarch, King Charles III represents this synthesis of ancient wisdom and contemporary environmental consciousness, offering a symbol of hope and guidance in facing ecological challenges.

Green Women: embodiments of the life force

While the Green Man is often celebrated, the Green Woman represents the nurturing, life-giving force of nature, embodying fertility, creation, and resilience. In Oxford, St. Frideswide (whose symbol is a sprig of rosemary, and she was a herbal healer), is depicted as a Green Woman at her shrine in Christ Church Cathedral, and St Margaret in nearby Binsey is seen in relationship with a dragon. Both reflect this feminine aspect of the Green Force, which offers protection and healing in the cycle of life.

The Sheela na gig carvings, found in places such as Kilpeck in Herefordshire and St Michael's Tower in Oxford, further underscore the raw, powerful, and often misunderstood aspects of the feminine life force. These figures, with their provocative imagery, celebrate fertility, renewal, and the mysteries of birth and death, connecting the physical realm with deeper spiritual truths.

Dragons and serpents: symbols of transformation and power

Dragons and serpents are powerful symbols that often represent transformation, primal energy, and the balance between creation and destruction. These creatures are deeply connected to the earth and are seen as guardians of sacred knowledge. The dragon, for instance, is a recurrent motif that appears in myths across cultures as a force to be reckoned with, representing both danger and wisdom.

In England, for example, the Uffington White Horse, thought by some to represent a dragon or serpent, aligns with this ancient symbol of the Green Force. The Avebury Serpent Temple with its serpentine stone avenues and the dragon mound at Uffington (where George allegedly had his confrontation with the dragon) are examples of ancient alignments that reflect the flow of energy through the landscape. These sites are aligned with celestial bodies, recognising the interplay between heaven and earth. Dragons, in these contexts, are more than mythical creatures or chalk carvings; they are the earth’s energetic lifeblood, connecting the physical with the spiritual and all life forms. 

Sacred Guardians: giants, trees, and serpents

In Glastonbury, the ancient guardian oak trees of Gog and Magog (male and female) stand as symbols of the earth's enduring strength. These mythical giants connect to the founding story of Britain and broader Celtic traditions, where they serve as protectors of sacred spaces. But the Green Man and Woman are not confined to Western mythology, the imagery of Osiris in Egyptian mythology, often depicted with green skin as the god of the afterlife and vegetation, mirrors the Green Man’s themes of regeneration and resurrection. Osiris is the Egyptian ‘Corn’ god (a bit like John Barleycorn) who was represented in many tombs by wooden sculptures that function as seed trays with germinating corn seeds in black Nile soil, that grew into small plants before being wrapped in linen and buried.

Pan, the Greek god of nature, and Al Khidr, the Green Prophet of Islam, also embody the Green Force. Pan, known for his association with the wild and untamed aspects of nature, reflects the playful, untamed yet life-affirming spirit of the Green Force. Al Khidr, often depicted as catching a fish with a spear (St George and Archangel Michael, discussed later, also have spears), is associated with water and the mysteries of the deep, represents a living connection to divine knowledge and the continuous flow of life. His green attire symbolises his connection to the earth and the perpetual cycle of growth and decay.

Jesus also is a Green Pilgrim, given that the first thing he is found doing after his resurrection was gardening, and he also says 'I am the vine'. He is also always out walking throughout his active years and after resurrection he is found walking the Road to Emmaus, hence why he is a Green Pilgrim. For a discussion of nature in Christianity, please watch this Vegetable Sermon.

British archetypes and the green force

Closer to home, figures like Robin Hood embody the spirit of the Green Man in British folklore. As a champion of the forest and the oppressed, Robin Hood represents the Green Man’s qualities of protection of, and dwelling within the natural world. His legend, rooted in Sherwood Forest, reinforces the idea of living in harmony with nature and resisting the forces that seek to disrupt it.

Interestingly, the Charter of the Forest, which was signed at the same time as the Magna Carta in 1217, reasserted the legal rights of the common people to access and use royal forests, and sought to protect the livelihoods of free men and women who depended on the forest for their daily needs. The assertion being made was that the earth's resources should be accessible to all, not just the privileged few. Robin Hood (who was first mentioned in 1377) symbolises the spirit of this legal Charter of the Forest.

St George, England’s patron saint, is famously depicted slaying a dragon with a spear or sword, a symbol of humanity’s ongoing struggle to balance order and chaos, civilisation and the disruptive wild forces within us. This legend, while often interpreted as a triumph of good over evil, also underscores the need to respect and integrate the raw forces of nature rather than merely subdue them.

The destination of our Green King pilgrimage, Windsor Castle Mound, was allegedly once the royal seat of King Arthur, and medieval stories say that here Arthur chose St George as his patron saint. Intriguingly, St George’s Chapel at Windsor was declared a free chapel by Pope Clement VI in 1348, ungovernable by the Roman Catholic Church and therefore beyond the restrictions of any religion. It became a place of pilgrimage and of healing miracles, and its ceiling's fan vaulting is like a great stone forest.

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George’s angelic counterpart, Archangel Michael, is also often associated with battling the dragon in Christian iconography, also bringing together themes of protection, divine intervention, and the triumph of light over darkness. His miracles, such as the Miracle of Chonae where a dragon is associated with destructive water, further link water, dragons, and the Green Force as elements that must be respected and engaged with wisely. Also, it is interesting that Prof Veronica Strang argues that dragons have represented water throughout time and across the world.

Mystical Symbols: the caduceus and the spiral 

The motifs of the dragon and the Green Force also appear in various mystical symbols, such as the Caduceus, where intertwined serpents represent the balance and harmony necessary for healing and transformation. The caduceus’ rod symbolises integrity, its serpents give life force and adaptability, and its wings reflect a higher perspective – a trinity of qualities useful for navigating the complexities of life.

The spiral carvings all across the world and famously nearer to home at Newgrange in Ireland, for example, with their swirling patterns, connect to the imagery of dragons and serpents as representations of life's continuous cycles, evolving with each turn of the spiral. Similarly, the spiralling and serpentine Apprentice Pillar at Rosslyn Chapel, with its intricate carvings, ties together themes of growth, knowledge, and the biodiverse connection of all life forms.

The Green King: a new symbol for a new era

With the inclusion of the Green Man on his coronation invitation, King Charles III aligns himself with this deep-rooted tradition, symbolising a commitment to environmental stewardship and a harmonious relationship with nature. The Green King, as a modern adaptation of these ancient symbols, embodies the values of regeneration, protection, and respect for the natural world—qualities essential for leadership in today’s ecological landscape.

In embracing the Green Man and the wider Green Force, King Charles III offers a symbol of hope and renewal, bridging ancient wisdom with contemporary challenges. This renewed emphasis on the Green Force invites us all to recognise our connection to the earth and our role in preserving its delicate balance. As we look to the future, these ancient symbols guide us toward a more sustainable and harmonious way of life, reflecting the timeless truth that we are all part of the great web of life.

With thanks to Paul Broadhurst, author of “Green Man and the Dragon” whose many insights have informed this article.

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