For our ancient ancestors, many spirits and deities were associated with nature, wildlife, and plant growth. The most common is that of a pagan nature spirit, the Green Man, who is a symbol of man’s reliance on and union with nature, a symbol of the underlying life-force, and of the renewed cycle of growth each spring. It is likely that he evolved from older nature deities such as the Celtic Cernunnos and the Greek Pan and Dionysus.

Green Man is often depicted as a horned man peering out of a mask of foliage, usually the sacred oak. He is known by other names such as Green Jack, Jack-in-the-Green and Green George and represents spirits of trees, plants and foliage and is known to roam the woodlands. It is believed that he has rain making powers to foster livestock with lush green meadows. It is also believed by some that the Green Man shares an affinity with the forest-dwelling fairies since green is the fairy color.

Green Man is sometimes hung on walls to represent a common form of personal transformation in meditations or ritual. The icon of the face with leaves sprouting out is a representation of a personal visionary experience of "becoming" a green man or woman.

But Green itself,  is the universal healing color. The ancient Egyptians and Chinese used green as the primary color of healing because it is midway in the color spectrum; therefore, it contains both a physical nature and a spiritual nature, in equal balance and in equal harmony. Green is also the color of Nature and the Earth. It is balance and harmony in essence and possesses a soothing influence upon both mind and body. Thus, green can be used for just about any condition in need of healing. Green links with and stimulates the heart chakra too, and in a more practical sense, green affects blood pressure and all conditions of the heart. It has both an energizing effect and a moderating or soothing effect. So be around more green or wear green and you will be able to sense this colors healing ways.

Be Well