The Waldgeist is Watching...

...eine der schönsten Coins wie ich finde! Einfach großartig! Der Erklärung, die der Designer Chris Mackey selber seiner Coin mit auf den Weg gegeben hat, ist nichts hinzuzufügen. Sie ist so ausführlich, dass sie nur in einer Sprache hier gelistet werden kann - ich habe mich für die englische Originalversion entschieden!

...one of the most delicious coins ever made I think! Really outstanding! The designer Christian Mackey made the explanation of the background of that coin that complete, that I've decided to overtake it 1:1 here. It's so much text that it's only possible to be added to the listing in one language - decided to use the English version here!

It is the year 1264, in the tiny village of Hoveheim, Germany, when a woodcutter rises early in the morning and wakes his young son to chores.  They finish their morning duties and quickly grab their tools before heading toward the forest.  The cutter's young son is excited to be joining his father and the other men for the very first time to work the woodlands.  As they cross over the river and approach the path into the forest, other men of the village join them until they reach the edge of the woods.  Here they all pause while the oldest among them approaches a tall oak near the path.  He knocks loudly three times against the trunk of the tree and calls out a greeting to the silent depths.  He knocks again and loudly asks for safe conduct into the forest to work.  He knocks a last time and cries for mercy upon his people until they leave at days end.  The young boy watches in awe before following in his father's steps as they enter into the old growth with the other men of the village.  The young man can barely contain his excitement and curiosity at this display and asks his father who the elder was addressing.  The father turns and looks down at his son and says "Mind yourself now child, Waldgeist is watching... always!".  A shiver of fear and excitement trembles down the boy's spine as he hurries to keep up. All my life I have wondered why people in my family would ritually "knock on wood" for good luck or to ward off bad luck and had never understood why.  While working on a recent project I happened across a stray piece of information that would send me hairing off after tidbits of information bridging multiple cultures and historical time frames before finding the answers I sought.               The Waldgeist (prounounced "vawld-guy-st") has been known by many names, in many parts of the world and by many cultures, but he is always the undisputed Lord of the Forest.  This coin is a tribute to the Germanic culture of abiding by the will of this ruling spirit of the woodlands.  The Waldgeist is the protector of the far reaching forests and of those people of pure spirit who dare enter his domain.  Although seldom seen, since he would rather observe than be observed, he has often been described as a tall, well-built humanoid with sticks, twigs and leaves for hair and beard.  He is tremendously strong, loves to play and has a great sense of humor, but if startled he is prone to prank, torment or destroy those who so rudely disturb him or his charges.  Like the forest itself he is beautiful and strong, but can be deadly when tested.  Like the forest, he is timeless and forever watches through the passage of the seasons.

                While these attributes of the woodland spirit are more commonly known and referenced, Waldgeist is also known for being a beneficient Lord as well.  He is purported to grant wishes to the pure of heart, lead the lost back onto their paths and was considered the guardian of the gates of both the physical treasures of the forest as well as the spiritual and mental treasures of the mind.  He is timeless, ever aware, ever present and a powerful deterent to those who would misuse the bounty of his lands.  He is the guardian not just the forests, but glades between, the heights of the mountains within and the skies over them all.

                Everything I learned about this custodian of the forest was fascinating.  I began to quickly gather all the imagery I could to pursue the chance to share the story with other cachers of like mind who appreciate the sanctity of the woodlands.  I wanted to create a coin that showed the many aspect of this fascinating creature and just why it never hurts to remember that he’s out there watching.

                On the face of this coin I would depict the most common and recognized aspect of Waldgeist as the "wild" or "savage" man.  To either side I would add the one-pronged key of passage of the physical and two-pronged key of passage of knowledge.  Near both keys, his name would be bordered by the branching column symbols of Yggdrasil, the ancient world tree, the mightiest oak and center of the universe for the people of this age.  He would also be surrounded by the depictions of his beloved oaks through their various species by leaf shape and acorns.  The leaves in their fall colors would indicate the passage of time and the acorns, like eggs, would symbolize the renewal of the seasons through the rebirth in spring as well as being a Norse symbol of good fortune.  He would also be bordered right and left with three markers in the border to symbolize the request for his benevolence.  In fact there are quite a few themes of three throughout this design.

                Below his visage would be ancient runes in a special order.  While the origin of some runes are still debated by scholars, many of them appear first in Germanic history all the way back into Norse mythology.  From left to right in their order of appearance would be Mannaz, Raido, Algiz and finally Uruz.  Mannaz for man, Raido for traveling or journey, Algiz for the seeking of protection and finally Uruz for strength of body and will.  All together: Man journeying seeks protection and strength while under the watchful eye of Waldgeist and within his boundaries (notice the color change to green inside near him from the red outside his inner sanctum surrounding the warning)  The colors themselves were chosen for the holly leaf and berry which are also powerful traditional symbols of fortune and protection.

                For the reverse side of the coin Waldgeist would be depicted in three of his various forms.  The woodland spirit appears in many forms masked in the visage of inhabitants of his domain so his depictions would reflect this with three masks.  The Alpine Ibex for the mountainous heights rising out of the forest, the Red Fox for the lower fields and woods and finally the owl preying over all from above.  All the masters of their individual domains and worthy of providing form for the forest lord.

                Over the words "knock", "three" and "times" would appear the same marker from the other side with waves of sound breaking away in arcs.  Sunwheels, those ancient symbols of time and space for these people would surround from the border.  Three striking fists knocking out the call for passage under three crescent moons as symbols of good fortune (that just happen to mimic the soundwaves of the knocking).  Hidden deep in the center behind the three piece symbol of crossed oak leaves and acorn would be the final symbol of the Triskel.  The triskel is an ancient three sided rune symbolizing passage and forward movement, progress and even competitiveness which should ring clearly to the tune of every cacher.  

 -  Christian Mackey - Geocacher, Art Director and Professional Geocoin Designer