The Green Man, Myths, and Solidarity

8/09/2026

This is a summary of the previous week’s daily meditations. Some are written by Matthew Fox (MF) and some are written by his colleague, Gianluigi Gugliermetto. (GG)

August 3, 2026: The Green Man Archetype: A Celebration of Sacred Masculinity (MF)

Matthew continues last week’s reflections on Trees. Fred Hageneder, who wrote The Spirit of Trees, comes to the conclusion that “trees are the most successful life forms on Earth”* and the most dominant ever since they appeared over 30 million years ago.

Except for the oceans, tropical rainforests form “the richest ecosystems in existence, providing habitat for the widest variety of species.” Trees are like “cosmic antennae.” Radiation from supernovas have been shown to influence tree growth. Sacred groves are a universal phenomenon.

“Almost everywhere in the world the beginnings of social and religious life took place under trees.” The Green Man represents our oneness with the Earth, something which is desperately needed right now.

Carving on a tree. Photo by Mark Kastles on Unsplash.

August 4, 2026: The Green Man Archetype, continued (MF)

We are meditating on the archetype of the Green Man, who is often depicted with a beard that surrounds his head like a wreath, and within it dwell living things. He is a symbol of humanity’s profound interdependence with the vegetative world.

The Green Man arrived along with the goddess. At Chartres Cathedral, for example, there are about 172 images of the Divine Mother and about 42 images of the Green Man.

The Green Man honors and praises male sexuality within a cosmic context of contributing to the ongoing creative energy of the universe and of community. The Green Man is a warrior defending Mother Earth. Linking Father Sky to Mother Earth, he is potentially a consort to the Black Madonna.

August 5, 2026: Myths and Ideologies (GG)

Modern consciousness has devalued myths, reducing them to false stories. Yet, since the Romantic Period, artists, poets and scholars have begun to see that human consciousness is shaped by mythological kernels in which the lived experience of humanity is contained.

The term “ideology” was popularized by Marx and Marxist thinkers to mean a false narrative which keeps people oppressed. But actually the term simply means “a rational system of ideas.”

Creation Spirituality, for instance, can be considered a healthy ideology, which celebrates community.

Matthew Fox: Creation Spirituality (excerpt) – A Thinking Allowed DVD with Jeffrey Mishlove

Matthew Fox: Creation Spirituality (excerpt) – with Jeffrey Mishlove. Thinking Allowed TV

August 6, 2026: Know Your Enemy (GG)

“Neoliberalism” is vile, says Gianluigi, and we should avoid its clutches whenever possible. One of the subtle disguises of neoliberal ideology is continuous production, and in this day and age, this includes the production of social media content.

On social media, many people talk about the most trivial of their own life experiences, or they comment on any topic without any knowledge of the subject matter.

In general, social media does not really build community, but rather division, as people argue with one another in the comments. … Life is complicated. you became a product and didn’t notice! “You became a product and didn’t notice.” Influencer and former social-media addict kate cassidy comments on the performative quality of online life.

August 7, 2026: Strategies to Re-Enchant the World (GG)

Mythology can be very useful—like, for instance, the teaching tale of King Midas who turned everything he touched to gold, only to realize he could no longer touch anyone he loved, nor eat any food.

Currently, we’re living in a time that seems devoid of morals. What are our strategies in confronting evil? One way is to hold rituals and create community.

For instance, consider those who gather and chant or sing as a form of resistance to ICE. We can also “re-enchant the world,” a notion dear to the Creation Spirituality community.

Philosopher Byung Chul-Han, who wrote The Disappearance of Rituals, suggests recreating a society in which the ritual community is a community of listening and collective belonging, a community in calm harmony with silence.**

August 8, 2026: The Silver Lining & Good News in America’s March to Fascism (MF)

There is a silver lining to today’s fascism? Yes. Americans are beginning to learn the meaning of solidarity. For instance, many millions have showed up for the “No Kings” rallies these past two years. And Minneapolis has been a shining example of standing up en masse against the tyranny of ICE.

In addition, all over the country communities have been rallying to fight the efforts of this administration/regime to buy gigantic warehouses in order to turn them into concentration camps.

Furthermore, more and more people, powered in large part by the voices of young people, are speaking out about the genocide in Gaza. May this solidarity bode well for the midterm elections!

*Fred Hageneder, The Spirit of Trees.

**Byung-Chul Han, The Disappearance of Rituals: A Topology of the Present.

Banner image: Cernunnos, known in Celtic mythology as a god of nature and fertility, is perhaps related to Green Man. Green Man is more connected with vegetation, and Cernunnos with the animal kingdom. Both are symbols of the sacred masculine. Wikipedia, public domain.