IV – The Emperor (HE) Ruling in Harmony with Nature (The Green Man)

The Green Man represents the intelligence of nature & bringing that knowledge to the human community; he represents principles of power & leadership; what can be called “father energy,” although its presentation here is in a form that is not often actualized in our current culture.

The Green Man leads by encouraging others with a vision of the possible.  He can empower others because he is secure in his own power & thus not easily threatened.  He holds his authority lightly & leads by example rather than by command.

The Green Man embodies a sense of confidence, insight, balance, will & the power to do & get things done – to make things happen.  Because he is in charge of his feelings & ambitions (rather than being run by them) & knows his own weaknesses, he can avoid many of the shadow issues that often trip people who are in positions of authority.  I saw this archetype in the character of Socrates in the movie The Peaceful Warrior (written by Dan Millman).

As a father figure, he is also to be admired & loved.  He can nurture, guide, & protect as well as provide materially.  Because he is attuned with the Earth & natural resources, he doesn’t support wasteful consumption, but rather keeps the greater good in mind.  He does not rely on material goods to substitute for more important emotional sustenance.
 
The Green Man understands that we live in an interdependent world that is in constant change & that security cannot depend on sameness, isolation, or narrowly defined self-interest.  Prince Albert embodies several of these father-like qualities; he was the power behind the throne of England when Queen Victoria ruled in the 1800’s.

The Green Man is genuinely concerned for those he is responsible for & for the good of the whole.  Like the Earth Mother/Empress, as Earth Father/Emperor, he avoids an “us-versus-them” mentality as gracefully as he avoids separating himself from those over whom he has authority.

What makes him an effective leader (besides his obvious analytical & motivational skills) is the fact that he truly understands the needs of his people.  If he is in a political position, he has come to it, not through might or privilege or the “old-boy” system of favors, but through his own significant abilities.  He has a clarity of vision that inspires others & a compassion that engenders trust.  Abraham Lincoln was such a man as, I think, Barack Obama, our newly elected president to be inaugurated in January, 2009, is.

The name, Green Man reflects our relationship with nature.  The most common depiction of the Green Man is a man’s head, either made of leaves or with leaves coming out of the mouth.  Although he is generally associated with the spirit of vegetation, here we present a new image that includes more of the natural world.  Think of the Green Man as the living intelligence of nature, shape-shifting into the various forms of man, elk, plants & stars.  The crystal on his scepter symbolizes his alliance with the hidden power & wisdom of nature.  He brings this wisdom to the human village.

In the contemporary world, the Green Man may be an urban person who is an eco-activist, like some forms of the Earth Mother.

When you draw or are drawn to this card, you are invited to deepen your alliance with the natural world.  Tune in to the larger Gaia consciousness or let the Green Man inside you guide you to a deeper communion with Gaia.  This is also a good time to “own” your power & authority or heal relationships with people in these positions.  It may be that you are ready to take on a larger role as a leader or to change your style of leadership.

What are your attitudes about power?  Do you see how power can be used in good ways, or are you so concerned about the abuse of power that you stay away from it?  Can you be in a position of leadership or authority without being on a power trip?

If you are a woman, the invitation may be to cultivate the positive male qualities present in this card.  This card may also signify “fathering” children, or a new business or project.  This is not a distant role, but an intimate one.  The Green Man is as tender & involved as he is wise.