John Michael Greer
Encyclopedia
John Michael Greer is an American
author, independent scholar
, historian of ideas, cultural critic
, Neo-druid
leader, Hermeticist, environmentalist
/conservationist
, blog
ger, novelist, and occultist/esotericist who currently (2010) resides in Cumberland, Maryland
after living in Ashland, Oregon
for a number of years. He was raised in a nonreligious family. Greer graduated from Western Washington University
in 1983, and from the University of Washington
with an B.A. in the Comparative History of Ideas
in 1993. He currently serves as the Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America, a position he has held since 2002.
His first book, Paths of Wisdom, a study of the Golden Dawn
system of Qabalah, was published in 1996. Greer has since written, edited, and/or translated many other books on numerous subjects and topics, including multiple encyclopedias.
Greer also studies and practices various forms of Asian mysticism (T'ai chi ch'uan, Neigong
, etc.), Tarot
, sacred geometry
, and similarly esoteric practices; he is one of 21st Century America's most noted occultists. He is also an organic gardener.
Some of Greer's more recent books include an exploration of UFO phenomena, multiple titles on Druidism and Western esoterica, along with the predicted overall effects of the post-industrial age and associated resource depletion
on human culture in the future. Greer has also written extensively about "peak oil
" and other forms of expected resource shortages which he believes will eventually bring about fundamental changes in many societies around the world for generations to come. In addition Mr. Greer maintains an interest in historical hermetic philosophical teachings. This historical interest led him to translate the Historic rapier tretise of Girard Thibault. Mr. Greer has taught several classes on the philosophical and practical teachings of Girard Thibault in partnership with the fencing school Academia Duellatoria.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author, independent scholar
Independent scholar
An independent scholar is anyone who conducts scholarly research outside universities and traditional academia. Independent scholars play an especially important role in areas such as art history and other humanities fields...
, historian of ideas, cultural critic
Cultural critic
A cultural critic is a critic of a given culture, usually as a whole and typically on a radical basis. There is significant overlap with social and cultural theory.-Terminology:...
, Neo-druid
Neo-Druidism
Neo-Druidism or Neo-Druidry, commonly referred to as Druidism or Druidry by its adherents, is a form of modern spirituality or religion that generally promotes harmony and worship of nature, and respect for all beings, including the environment...
leader, Hermeticist, environmentalist
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
/conservationist
Conservationist
Conservationists are proponents or advocates of conservation. They advocate for the protection of all the species in an ecosystem with a strong focus on the natural environment...
, blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
ger, novelist, and occultist/esotericist who currently (2010) resides in Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
after living in Ashland, Oregon
Ashland, Oregon
Ashland is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States, near Interstate 5 and the California border, and located in the south end of the Rogue Valley. It was named after Ashland County, Ohio, point of origin of Abel Helman and other founders, and secondarily for Ashland, Kentucky, where other...
for a number of years. He was raised in a nonreligious family. Greer graduated from Western Washington University
Western Washington University
Western Washington University is one of six state-funded, four-year universities of higher education in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located in Bellingham and offers bachelor's and master's degrees.-History:...
in 1983, and from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
with an B.A. in the Comparative History of Ideas
History of ideas
The history of ideas is a field of research in history that deals with the expression, preservation, and change of human ideas over time. The history of ideas is a sister-discipline to, or a particular approach within, intellectual history...
in 1993. He currently serves as the Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America, a position he has held since 2002.
His first book, Paths of Wisdom, a study of the Golden Dawn
Golden Dawn
Golden Dawn may refer to:In popular culture:* Golden Dawn , an Austrian black metal band* The Golden Dawn , a 1960s psychedelic band* The Golden Dawn , an indie pop/rock band* Golden Dawn , a 1930 musical...
system of Qabalah, was published in 1996. Greer has since written, edited, and/or translated many other books on numerous subjects and topics, including multiple encyclopedias.
Greer also studies and practices various forms of Asian mysticism (T'ai chi ch'uan, Neigong
Neigong
Neigong, also spelled nei kung, neigung, or nae gong, refers to any of a set of Chinese breathing, meditation and spiritual practice disciplines associated with Daoism and especially the Chinese martial arts...
, etc.), Tarot
Tarot
The tarot |trionfi]] and later as tarocchi, tarock, and others) is a pack of cards , used from the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play a group of card games such as Italian tarocchini and French tarot...
, sacred geometry
Sacred geometry
Sacred geometry is the geometry used in the planning and construction of religious structures such as churches, temples, mosques, religious monuments, altars, tabernacles; as well as for sacred spaces such as temenoi, sacred groves, village greens and holy wells, and the creation of religious art...
, and similarly esoteric practices; he is one of 21st Century America's most noted occultists. He is also an organic gardener.
Some of Greer's more recent books include an exploration of UFO phenomena, multiple titles on Druidism and Western esoterica, along with the predicted overall effects of the post-industrial age and associated resource depletion
Resource depletion
Resource depletion is an economic term referring to the exhaustion of raw materials within a region. Resources are commonly divided between renewable resources and non-renewable resources...
on human culture in the future. Greer has also written extensively about "peak oil
Peak oil
Peak oil is the point in time when the maximum rate of global petroleum extraction is reached, after which the rate of production enters terminal decline. This concept is based on the observed production rates of individual oil wells, projected reserves and the combined production rate of a field...
" and other forms of expected resource shortages which he believes will eventually bring about fundamental changes in many societies around the world for generations to come. In addition Mr. Greer maintains an interest in historical hermetic philosophical teachings. This historical interest led him to translate the Historic rapier tretise of Girard Thibault. Mr. Greer has taught several classes on the philosophical and practical teachings of Girard Thibault in partnership with the fencing school Academia Duellatoria.
External links
- Greer's blog -- "The Archdruid Report"
- Author's page on Red Room site
- Greer's eNovel -- "Star's Reach: A Novel of the Deindustrial Future"
- The Ancient Order of Druids in America
- An interview with Greer in "The Wiccan-Pagan Times"
- Book review of Academy of The Sword
- The Temenos of John Michael Greer, a site index of his articles and book reviews