Questions & Answers

Q. I am amazed by your work. One senses that it comes from a very deep relatedness. I just want to say that I am very, very grateful to you. Almost all themes are opening doors for me

A. Not at all

Q. I find it totally refreshing that your initiative is non-denominational. So far I have met only Christian projects. . Only in Hessen, there are a total of about ten different ones *. This is of course totally okay, but I always feel pressure from their missionary background.

* Elisabethpfad, Bonifatiusroute, Jakobsweg von Fulda an den Main, Hessischer Ökomenischer Pilgerweg, Ökomenische Pilgerinitiative Nordhessen, Pilgerwege für Frauen, Pilgergemeinde der Kirchengemeinde Baunatal-Mitte, Pilgerweg St.Jost, Missionsweg Nord-Nassau, Jakobsweg Rheinhessen.......

A. With us you don't need to believe anything!

Q. Were there also pre-Christian Pilgrimages?

A. Absolutely. Everywhere there were shrines, oracles sites, places of worship and places of healing. Many were very popular and frequent attended. Christianity has continued this tradition

F. In contrast to the existing pilgrimages, you do not have clearly defined routes. How does that work in practice?

A. Rather than offering pre-programmed theme trails, I wish that you have a real spiritual experience. Steps into the unknown i.e. trust strengthen trust

A. Thus, you determine the destination and find out for yourself how you achieve it. Not knowing it beforehand turns the Path into an (inner) Adventure

Q. Without any guide in the hand?

A. Indeed, it should not be stressful. If you feel uncomfortable, then consider taking one with you. Use the existing pilgrim routes to achieve your goal. Do what best suits you. You yourself ultimately decide how you want to go

Q. One can probably not every night reach a new Green Man place....

A. That is correct. However, the road is the goal. That means focus yourself on the Green Man or Wise Woman while you are on the road. By the way, there are still undiscovered artifacts everywhere. That makes it twice as exciting

Q. Green Man "hunting?"

A. Discover new Green Men, and send us photo's, so we can complete our list

Q. One of the nicest things is the encounter with others. To what extent this is taken care of?

A. You meet on the road, at the camping sites, in restaurants and in particular in the churches, where you get together with the Green Men. In the future I hope that we can establish pilgrim houses for this purpose

Q. I have a Hindu friend. Can he also join?

A. Of course (laughs). It depends only on himself. We are confirmed inter-religious, that means, our aim is to bring together people from all religions

Q. You call it "Green Man Pilgrimage." So you must know in advance something of the Green Man?

A. It is better. So that you know if you feel attracted to this adventure, yes or no. Only then can it bear fruit

F. IIt is almost only about Gren Men. What about the Wise Women?

A. The reason is quite practical, indeed. There is no network of Wise Women, at least not in Germany. In France, there are Black Madonnas, there something could be done

Q. But you do talk about "Wise Women". How important are they on the pilgrimage?

A. First of all Wise Women are just as important. Both - men and women - are children of the Cosmic Mother. Both are Divine in Essence.

A. My whole work of more than four decades, takes the Cosmic Mother as Primordial Ground of all life. So it is very women-oriented. The Green Man is something very recent

A. In this way, a new image of (wo)man is created, with both women and men, taking the Cosmic Order as a starting point in order to be able to redefine their relationship

A. All of this can be studied in my website beforehand and be taken as a reflection material on the pilgrimage. In conversations, you then quickly arrive close to the matter

Q. That sounds good!

A. I think so too (laughs)

Q. You are (holistic) medical doctor, as well. Could I receive  health recommendations from you before starting the journey?

A. Of course. An advice would be to follow my Personal Health Plan * two weeks before. If you do that, then you're in top shape, with a clear mind and open heart before you begin

* www.vitalworld.org

Q. Can I fast during the walk?

A. Absolutely. For practical reasons, fruit fasting is recommended. Fruit is easy to get, i.e. to take with you, you always have energy and it tastes good

Q. From hearsay, I've learned that in 2004, you have been taking care of pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago for free. How was that?

A. One of the best experiences of my life that I will never forget. Other pilgrimages were the Kamakura Kannon Pilgrimage in Japan and the Maya 2012 in Mexico: the Camino de Esperanza

Q. Basically, your project is culture creation in the true sense of the word: spiritually, religiously, culturally, socially, environmentally, art history, etc. How far you might be of interest to official bodies?

A. We currently think about approaching them. Support is welcome

Q. That would have been my second comment. I I will certainly do my best!

A. Thank you very much!

Q. What could the pilgrimages mean for the youth?

A. In the fatherless society, the Green Men can "replace" the father. They manifest Wholeness of Life in all its forms. All depths, emotions, desires, hopes are represented by them

Q. A kind of initiation?

A. Exactly

Q. Is there co-operation with the churches? Quite practically seen it all but only works if the churches are open, for example

A. The bigger churches have all the official opening times and are accessible to everyone. The smaller but not always. In all cases, there is someone in charge, usually the pastor (in) that will open the church for you

Q. Can I rely on that?

A. We are a very serious interfaith initiative, which includes all and everyone. The same is  true for most religions. In addition, many will be interested in exchange. So I just do not see any difficulty

A. However, respect should come from two sides. We commit ourselves to silent meditation in the church. So, no rituals, ceremonies, no singing, etc.

A. Not unimportant: many Green Men are on the outside of the church! So there no any problems are expected

A. In addition, I am always ready to cooperate with the churches. If they want to expand their horizons, I am there for them e.g. in the form of lectures for the congregation about the Green Man

Q. When will the pilgimages be officially announced?

A. Actually, they have already begun. The first solemn announcement was on January 6th 2010. But in the spring of 2010 during the Easter holidays - Easter is the archaic festival of rebirth - some routes are selected in all for a "rally"

Q. Meaning?

A. A solemn event, with many people on the move, meet, exchange, share etc., etc., as an inspiration for all the others who will take the initiative later

Q. Perhaps still a practical question. In general, many people cannot afford staying in inns.  What do you do in order for them to be able to participate?

A. The Green Man PilgrimNetWork calls on everyone who lives in or near a Green Man City to accommodate pilgrims free of charge for one night

A. We call them "Pilgrims friends". The pilgrims have accommodation and pilgrims friends can enjoy each time on a valuable meeting

A. Of course, the application goes through us, so that the hosts are confident that they will welcome reliable people

SET YOURSELF INTO MOTION!