Lord of the Deep Wood, Keeper of Ways Cernunnos appears to wear or hold a torc in nearly every depiction of him. Cernunnos is also in various parts of the world like Western Europe and the British Isles. Instead, many historians believe that the Irish figure most influenced by the horned god is actually a Christian saint. Heck I even reconciled with the Galilean before accepting Cernunnos. When you come to the altar, light up the Juniper bundle and in a counter-clockwise motion, circle it in front of you saying: May all that holds me be released, . Theres something about shamanic drumming that puts you into an otherworldly state of mind AND reconnects you to your primal self. Meditate, ground yourself, and then allow him to guide you to the materials. On the cauldron, Cernunnos is a man with antlers sitting cross-legged, flanked by wild animals. And there are actually horned goddesses like Hathor, Selene, and Elen of the Ways. He pushes and encourages me to be a better person and pagan. Whatever places you have for meditation, use them. Some people use cauldrons to burn loose incense on top of charcoal disks. I knew in my heart that it was Cernunnos, and at subsequent rituals at Samhain hes been there to guide me, and lend me strength. (LogOut/ I've fully devoted myself to his cause and principles. Silvanus: Because of his antlers and association with animals, Cernunnos is often interpreted as a forest god. May this sweet bread be a delight to you, as it brings people together (give an offering of sweet bread). A year ago my wife and I commissioned Laura Tempest Zakroff to create a Cernunnos painting for our ritual space. The mysterious origins of Cernunnos haven't kept people from guessing at his mythology. Some historians have suggested that this is because Cernunnos was so foreign to the Romans that they could see no similarities. Many times its just keep moving. And sometimes He has something significant to say: something I need to contemplate or do or write. Cernunnos isnt the only deity or legendary figure depicted with antlers. His name, The Hound of Culann, came from a story in which he took the place of a guard dog. Inscriptions call them by Roman names with local epithets, Roman writers mention local names for their gods, or images combine their symbols. There are many ways to serve. Meditate. Thats what He did with me. This is a Pagan devotional anthology nobodys going to make any significant money on it. And sometimes hes not afraid to use them. Share. The connection of antlers and horns to fertility comes from horned animals in rutting season. Another famous depiction is a statue called the Pillar of the Boatman discovered in the foundation of Notre Dame Church. Not much is known about his traditional role or worship, but scholars have pieced together some information about where he came from and what he does. By this point in my life I didnt want to be the comic relief in ritual, and something other than my inner Puckish-Pan was eager to get out. Cernunnos is a horned god found in Celtic mythology. He holds a torc in one hand, and a ram-horned serpent in the other. We carry everything needed . I found the attempts to link C* (as hes often referred to in our house) to Merlin and other mythological figures laughable, eventually leading me to the idea that there cant be all that much to Cernunnos since no one seems able to write about him. They include poems, songs, rituals, and stories of personal encounters. Into the Wild. Oh Cernunnos, I invoke thee, Lord of the Hunt, By the great mysteries, By the power of your life, death, and resurrection. The wilderness is your shrine. Instead, many scholars believe that such a link may have been made either in sources that have been lost to us or in a way that has not yet been understood. Bulls, in particular, represented prosperity in many ancient cultures. Cernunnos is the name given to a horned god featured often in art from Roman-era Gaul and Iberia. They would liken gods who had similar domains or attributes, for example calling local fertility goddesses by the name Ceres or thunder gods Jupiter. As a deity of animals and the wilderness, hes also likely to appreciate: Cernunnos may be calling you if you feel drawn to the forest or wild animals. Nourisherof the soul If you get this, pay attention. Others make them daily, or monthly, or on some other schedule. Cernunnos. Cernunnos in particular has changed my life in ways I cannot even begin to describe. We provide our readers with ways to connect with deities, but ultimately your connection with the horned god will take on its own personality. Cernunnos: Origins and Personal Worship | Pagans & Witches Amino Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists, Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists, Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, usually when attempting to create some sort of portal. Invocation to Cernunnos - Book of Shadows Meaning: Green says "The Horned One" or "The Peaked One". . . Cernunnos History, Prayers and Rituals - WikiReligions Take care of your neighbors first. Mighty Lord of the Woods and Animals, Hunter and Hunted, I call to You. It is unlikely, then, that a single identical god was worshiped by all Celtic peoples, even in the same era. The place of initiation. By taking a trip and staying in the woods or wilderness, youll feel his presence. When my part of the ritual began I immediately felt a firm, warm, hand on my shoulder. Talking to other followers of Cernunnos over the years Ive heard stories and tales similar to my own. May your light continue to be a light to the people The Dagda appears often in Irish legends, but just who was this king and father of Cath Maige Tuired: The Battles of the Irish Gods. Once adorations are given, stand up (if seated) and take one step away from the altar and hold your hands up: Carnonos, Keeper of the Old Ways, Editors Jason Mankey, Gwion Raven, and John Beckett are looking for your stories of Cernunnos and your devotional works to Cernunnos for a book that will be published later this year. The horns atop his head link him to the stag, ram, goat, and auroch. Its rare for any deity to call someone just to be calling them. This may be why the shipmakers of Paris included Cernunnos on their pillar. Life grows, it dies, it decays, it is born again. He was my first oathed relationship now there are now three. How did you meet him? Isgho Votre ducation notre priorit . . The Book of Cernunnos Call For Submissions. Change). . This means that historians cannot use similarities between him and more familiar Greco-Roman gods to determine how he was seen in the ancient world. Now, if I give Him the Jameson and go drink Glenmorangie myself, thats a problem. Although these images do not have inscriptions that identify them by name, similarities to the figure depicted on the Pillar of the Boatmen make many historians confident that they are of the same god, or at least of the same archetype. Cernunnos Celtic God: 9 Ways to Work with the Horned God There are no "adults" at Fox regardless of ", "Yes, everybody prays. Years later I only remember two things about that ritual: it was a perfect Samhain night, and I felt his hand on my shoulder. A year or so later I had my first ecstatic experience of Him. So that I may be pure and true. Look, listen, and feel. When Ive asked, most times Ive heard Ill have what youre having. Hes as satisfied with a shot of Jameson whiskey (at $22 a bottle) as with a shot of $50 Glenmorangie. As you stand at the portal; to The Underworld, reveal yourself to me, Allow me to see with your eyes. One of the easiest ways to connect with Cernunnos is by going into the wild places. The depiction of this particular God has been found in various types of literary sources and books. During the Cattle Raid on Fraech, the fort Conall attempted to infiltrate was guarded by a great serpent. The name Cernunnos, therefore, seems to refer to the gods imagery. Most people will know him as the Horned God of Wicca. The size of the gift was proportional to the percieved power and wealth of the wearer. Or join a non-profit organization that supports forest preservation, etc. I asked her if I could take on a meatier role, perhaps something involving the Lord of Death . Offerings of food and drink are most common, especially offerings of alcohol. Witches' 2023 Astrological Calendar for Magickal Beltane: A Necessary (and ahistorical) Celebration of Sexuality. If you like it, Hes happy youre sharing it with Him, even if all you have at the time is clean water. Consider working with other horned deities like Khnum, the ancient Egyptian ram-headed god. These include: While Cernunnos is not directly named in association with any of these gods, this is not proof that he was never adopted by the Romans. As well as the Green Man. Sacred Mists Academy of Magickal Arts and Sciences Among other courses offered, they have an in-depth Wicca education program, with the option to join their tradition at a later date if you so desire. Wicca without reincarnation? 3. There are no tales of Cernunnos ruling the abode of the dead, and nothing beyond vague connections to water and the hunt linking C to death, but here he was. It was common at the time to have a statue or relief made in devotion to a god, usually in fulfilment of a vow. I started wearing it. Pour over me the gift of your wealth, and place in my hands the spirit of fortune.Let the gold and silver come from the four corners of the world and bless me. I have come here tonight to give offerings and celebrations. Finding a home for my Patron God (Cernunnos) : r/druidism religious interview questions and answers sharleen spiteri ashley heath. Making offerings is a core polytheist practice. English words derived from both Greek, such as unicorn, and Latin, like Capricorn or cornucopia, include a similar sound to karnon. The Pillar of the Boatmen names a horned god as Cernunnos among other, more well-attested, Roman and Gallic deities. For me, chilly Sunday mornings often meant sleeping in with a paramour, and mid to late October is prime rutting season for Michigans deer population. You see stags and deer, torques and serpents. Ceisiwr Serith, Kondatriev and most scholars agree on "The God with Antlers". About a year after Ari and Is adventure in the woods my friend Sarah Kate asked me if I would like to be a part of her Samhain ritual. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); To learn more about the Otherworldly Oracles website Privacy Policy, visit our Privacy Policy page here. How do you honor, worship, or work with him What does he ask you do to for him? Guardian of the Green World, most virile . The Celtic god Cernunnos is famously depicted on the Gundestrup Cauldron. It took some digging to figure out who it was. A title would have likely remained much more consistent across Celtic tribes than a proper name because their dialects remained very closely related. You who knows the Ancestral Wisdom . Im not all that good when it comes to deities without a concrete backstory, and no where was that more apparent than in my dealing with C. Theres nothing like the Midwest in early Autumn. Because the name can be directly translated to refer to a prominent attribute, most scholars believe that Cernunnos was an epithet for the god rather than a proper name. The bio on my teaching site says I grew up in Tennessee with the woods right outside my back door. (LogOut/ The torc included in most horned god images was a symbol of status and wealth in ancient Gallic tribes, but it was not the only such symbol pictured with Cernunnos. He usually wore at least one torc, a neckband that symbolized status in the Celtic world, and sometimes carried a coin purse as well. It appears the one I have is no longer in production, but similar ones are available. Because of his association with virility and the deer breeding season, hes strongly connected to sex. Closely-related names are found in a few other places, but are not mentioned in Roman sources and can only be assumed to refer to the same figure. Great Horned One, come into the Circle! The Gundestrup cauldron is another significant depiction of Cernunnos. Cernunnos - Wikipedia May my words rise on the winds and may they sound deep in the wells. The place where Cernunnos calls his wild children to him. It is unusual for a god as wide-spread as Cernunnos appears to have been to have no such syncretization. As far as I'm concerned, cleaning up litter and other human-made debris or graffiti can in itself be an act of devotion to the place or to any deity or beings (even the deer) that you may perceive or worship there. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) My usual weekly practice is to pray to Cernunnos, then make offerings to Him, and then listen for His response in meditation. Its time he has his own devotional anthology. The wilderness is your shrine. To Wiccans, he is The Horned God. *1 *1 The presence of Hes one of the most iconic gods of the Celtic pantheon, but almost nothing is known about him. When John Beckett writes about Cernunnos I feel and hear the god I know in his words. As they are all linked. When he did show up in a book, it often felt like authors were trying to insert a square peg into a round hole, or completely talking out of their asses. While Cu Chulainns link to Cernunnos is tenuous, he is a popular candidate for and Irish varient of the horned god. Or in an exchange of gifts. The appearance of stags or serpents in your dreams can also be a sign from Cernunnos. These iconic neckbands, often made of gold, were symbols of wealth and leadership in Celtic Europe. While no myths of Cernunnos survive, some historians believe that he influenced more well-known legends of later cultures. 1. The deadline for submissions is May 3, 2019. All gods were theirs; they were just given different names and seen differently by foreigners. By understanding the name of a god or heroic figure, they can sometimes pinpoint its origins and possible meaning. On both sides of us on that trail were rutting deer, literally just a few feet away. Emperors could claim divine authority in the name of local gods of all the cultures they ruled over rather than being seen as wholly foreign by those people. Depictions of Cernunnos are found in many parts of the British Isles and western Europe. Keep reading to find out how historians interpret Cernunnos, the horned god of Celtic art! Instead, it was a title. Some crystals tied to Cernunnos are: The herbs most often associated with Cernunnos are: If you dont have access to these, you can also work with herbs that are at their peak during deer rutting season (typically autumn). Figurines and pictures of wild animals and forests make great gifts for this wild Celtic god. Devotional Ritual to Carnonos (Cernunnos) | Nemeton Dumnonantu Because they did not write down their legends, historians are left to fill in the blanks. Cernunnos was a god of the wild who ruled over pristine nature and uncivilized ways. While the name Cernunnos is rarely attested, the similar images found throughout Europe show that this god was likely worshipped by many Celtic tribes in the Roman period. r/pagan - An effigy of Cernunnos I finished today. I'm rather new to Sometimes Cernunnos appears in dreams, or in recurring imagery in the ordinary world. I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. Travel far and sleep well. I sing this prayer to the Old One. I suspect They want us to do the work to figure these things out. Cernunnos is depicted as a man with antlers or horns, and he is believed to be an ancient god of fertility, beasts and the wild. His wealth was that provided by nature. Cernunnos appears alongside other Gallic deities like Esus and Smertrios as well as familiar Roman deities such as Jove (Jupiter), Fortuna, and Vulcan. If prayer is talking to the Gods, meditation is listening for Them (thats not the only form of meditation, but its the one thats most relevant here). The name is taken from a single inscription found beneath Notre Dame Cathedral in . For example, horns and antlers are often used as a visual cue for aggression, wildness, and virility. Mighty Lord of the Woods and Animals, Hunter and Hunted, I call to You. He is sometimes portrayed with 3 faces or 3 heads, demonstrating his connection with the life/death/rebirth cycle (similar to the Triple Goddess), Sacred Animals: stag, ram, (horned) snake, bull, dog, and rat, Sacred plant: Oak, Ivy, Mistletoe, Juniper, Grains, Sacred place: forests and fields (all wild, un-spoiled places), Offerings: wine, water, milk; antler sheds, leaves, soil, his sacred plants; acts of sexuality, primal drumming music, entering an otherworldly state, Spiritual Allies or Aliases: The Green Man, Pan, Puck, Herne the Hunter. A torc is a Celtic piece of jewelry, typically worn around the neck or chest, thats made of thick metal. are performed or presented. Are By submitting your work to this project, you grant the editors a perpetual non-exclusive license (i.e. 21 Comments. Cernunnos. He was specifically associated with the bounty that could be found there. Similar gods with horns or antlers appear relatively often in Gallic and Celtiberian art. This hand directed and guided me, perhaps his voice even whispered into my ear . Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists, Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists, Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Beltane: A Necessary (and ahistorical) Celebration ". This is a time of festival for several families gathered together, each bringing food and drink for the potluck feast. To interpret Cernunnos without this material, historians have relied largely on the gods imagery. When you find one that clearly helps you focus on Him and that you can afford then buy it. Some groups, however, left no written evidence of their religions. Its easiest to connect to Cernunnos in wild places. (Admitting these things does not mean Im proud of them either, just trying to be honest.). His inclusion on the Pillar of the Boatmen also suggests that he may have had some protective power over sailors, merchants, or tradespeople. They remind us though he is a gracious and protective god, he has horns to defend himself and others. My only suggestion is to set some fixed schedule so you dont inadvertently go a long time without making them. The Book of Cernunnos is actively being worked on, but there is no publication date yet. The Magick of Sleep & Dreams Join the Witchy Challenge! While he is pictured often, however, neither Roman sources nor those of later Germanic and Celtic cultures ever elaborated on this widespread image. If you ask anyone whos worked with Cernunnos in their practice how to go deeper with connection, theyll tell you to get into shamanic drumming and trancework. . The lower body of the figure is obliterated, but the dimensions and posture suggest that it was sitting cross-legged. Ari, because shes sensible and knew how dangerous rutting deer were, encouraged me to end our late night nature hike; I wanted it to continue. This is an architectural element found throughout cathedrals and buildings, a face of a man made up of twigs and leaves. The Romans commonly equated foreign gods to their own. Sometimes the omen happens when the needs of the work arise. This likely comparison is strengthened by the fact that a few known images of Cernunnos similarly show two faces. Witches & Magick in the Media Join the Challenge! Just be prepared: working with Cernunnos is no easy matter. Learn the history of Cernunnos and eight ways to work with him in your pagan practice. All I know is that when I went into the woods I was comforted, and I was encouraged to keep moving and keep working. There was Someone in the woods, Someone who listened. His original name was lost but the name Cernunnos was inscribed in the Pilier des Nautes, a Gaelic-Roman monument found under the Notre Dame cathedral, in Paris, France in 1711. As such, mentions and comparisons made by contemporary Roman writers may have been under a different, unknown name. Before starting the ritual, make sure to properly wash and clean yourself. I do not consider myself an expert just because I made a blog. Lead my arrow true. This last year, I was part of a project to develop rituals and practices dedicated to Carnonos (Cernunnos) from a Gaulish perspective. Commissioned by a shipmakers guild in the 1st century AD, the pillar includes the only written reference to a god identified as Cernunnos. Answering the Call of Cernunnos | John Beckett By likening the gods of conquered territories to the Roman pantheon, they allowed people to continue worshipping in their own way while still fitting into the state religion. Not much is known about his traditional role or worship, but scholars have pieced together some information about where he came from and what he does. During those times hes with me, but in a completely different way. Jason Mankey, Gwion Raven, and John Beckett are the editors and primary writers. But this is what Ive done, and what Ive seen others do that worked for them. Within Gaulish culture, he is variously interpreted as a god of animals, nature, fertility, commerce, or travel. Since they were very rare, I decided to make one. But we want it to be as deep and as complete as it can be, so were soliciting contributions from Pagans we know have knowledge of or experience with Cernunnos. Puck and the Green Man both display some prominent features similar to Cernunnos too. Note: This ritual goes under the assumption that you have an established sacred space already up and ready to go. On the Action is Ritual/Ritual is Action page, there is a monthly ritual devoted to Gwydion Ap Don. May your generosity continue to be a blessing to the people. devotion to cernunnos If Saint Ciarans link to Cernunnos is true, it would be evidence that the horned god was still prominent in at least some areas of the Celtic world at the time of Irelands Christianization in the 6th century. When I get the same question several times in close succession, that usually means its time to write about it publicly if only so I can point future questioners to a blog post instead of having to answer it yet again. Like English, most languages of Europe use the same words for this type of horn as for an animals. Everything he stands for resonates with me on a deep and spiritual level. It would be much easier if Gods wore nametags and if They were explicit about what They want from us. The Pillar of the Boatmen featured a male deity with stag-like antlers. Offerings for Cernunnos include water, wine, mead, ale, and non-edibles like tree branches, acorns, seed pods, flowers, etc. Both the legendary folk hero Cu Chulainn and his foster brother Conall Cernach have been identified as having possibly been descended from the horned god archetype.