The Green Man and King Charles III Coronation
Green Man symbolism of earth's vitality in the coronation's invitation
Today is the coronation of King Charles III. Aside from the pageantry, the pomp and the ceremony that we do so well in the UK. Inspired by reading Anna Pollock’s1 insightful linkedin post suggesting that Charles could be the first regenerative monarch, I took a deeper look at the formal invitation2 for today's coronation that represents the Kings nature values.
Welcome to Regen/Notes3
And how that has changed since the last coronation 70 years ago:
Replacing the St Edwards Crown, central to the 2023 design is the motif of the Green Man, a symbol or representation of a face made of or surrounded by leaves, vines, or branches, often depicted in art and architecture in various cultures around the world. In the UK, the Green Man has a long history and is associated with the pagan tradition that predates Christianity.
The Green Man is a representation of the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, often seen as a symbol of nature's power to renew itself. It is also associated with fertility, growth, and the renewal of the earth's vitality.
In medieval England, the Green Man appeared in many church carvings and decorative motifs, often used to depict the ongoing struggle between good and evil or the struggle between the wild and the cultivated. The Green Man is also present in folklore, literature, modern popular culture, often as a symbol of nature's power and vitality.
Today, the Green Man is still celebrated in the UK and beyond and is often used as a symbol of environmentalism, sustainability, and the importance of preserving and renewing our natural resources. It continues to inspire many artists, writers, and thinkers to explore the relationship between humanity and the natural world.
today the Green Man continues to represent the struggles we face - of being regenerative or degenerative, of being part of or apart from nature, of being local in place, whilst having global impact, or embracing indigenous wisdom whilst using artificial intelligence, of acknowledging the renewal of the earth's vitality.
and how we see ourselves in the climate and biodiversity crisis.
Oh, and it is also a common pub name, as in my local, across the road from here - The Green Man in Inglewhite, Lancashire.
Elsewhere, the coronation invitation illustrates Charles's dedication to the environment and the coming of spring with …
a British wildflower meadow with the Lily of the valley, for the return of happiness, Cornflowers, for hope and anticipation, Wild strawberries, Dog roses, for love, pleasure, and beauty, Bluebells, for humility, constancy, and gratitude, A sprig of rosemary, for remembrance.
the four national flowers of the UK, The thistle, the national flower of of Scotland, Clover or shamrock, symbol of Northern Ireland, Daffodils, the national flower of Wales and a Tudor Rose, the national flower of England
Wildlife represented by a bee, butterfly, ladybird, wren and a robin
Along with the more monarchy-related Lion, Unicorn and Boar
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/charles-iii-first-regenerative-monarch-anna-pollock%3FtrackingId=yvjo6p9mSQGwYNXjZL61%252BQ%253D%253D/?trackingId=yvjo6p9mSQGwYNXjZL61%2BQ%3D%3D
Previous articles on Regen/Notes can be explored here
Thanks for this post Martin, an insightful explanation.