In ancient times, seekers of esoteric knowledge used a language of symbols to communicate with each other in public without revealing the true subject of their discourse. This was know as the language of the birds, or the green language. Writing has been associated with birds since the beginning of recorded history.

Green Language Press is edited by Andrew Touhy and Rose Haynes Touhy in San Francisco, California. They named the press in honor of the long history between alchemy and printing, and for the not so esoteric secret language spoken by their green-cheeked conure, Rafa.