Cernunnos is a Celtic/Gallo-Roman God of the wilds. He is often depicted with antlers, wearing a torc, and holding a bag of coins, a bag of grain, or a cornucopia, often symbols of abundance or fertility. Animals are often included in these depictions of Cernunnos, such as stags, snakes, dogs, and bulls.
His name seems to come from the Gaulish for 'horn' or 'antler'. However, there are some that believe that the name 'Cernunnos' is actually another name for a more well known deity such as Mercury or Dis Pater.
As with most Gaulish deities, there is little historical evidence to inform us as to how these deities were worshipped, or any mythos surrounding them and their functions. Most of what is written about Cernunnos comes from the few inscriptions that have been found mentioning or depicting him, and interpretations have been made from these. He is often associated with animals and nature, fertility, prosperity, the underworld, strength, vitality, travel, and the cycles of life and death.
One depiction we have comes from the 'Pillar of the Boatmen', a column erected by the Roman Guild of Boatmen in which Cernunnos appears alongside other deities. He is therefore sometimes associated with sailors and commerce or trade, and again hints to him being associated with wealth and prosperity. Another image of him comes from a 9th Century Christian manuscript, in which he is shown alongside Hades in 'Limbo' (the realm between living and death), which again hints towards his role as a God of the underworld, or as a psychopomp.
His name seems to come from the Gaulish for 'horn' or 'antler'. However, there are some that believe that the name 'Cernunnos' is actually another name for a more well known deity such as Mercury or Dis Pater.
As with most Gaulish deities, there is little historical evidence to inform us as to how these deities were worshipped, or any mythos surrounding them and their functions. Most of what is written about Cernunnos comes from the few inscriptions that have been found mentioning or depicting him, and interpretations have been made from these. He is often associated with animals and nature, fertility, prosperity, the underworld, strength, vitality, travel, and the cycles of life and death.
One depiction we have comes from the 'Pillar of the Boatmen', a column erected by the Roman Guild of Boatmen in which Cernunnos appears alongside other deities. He is therefore sometimes associated with sailors and commerce or trade, and again hints to him being associated with wealth and prosperity. Another image of him comes from a 9th Century Christian manuscript, in which he is shown alongside Hades in 'Limbo' (the realm between living and death), which again hints towards his role as a God of the underworld, or as a psychopomp.
Generally he is shown cross-legged in a meditative pose, surrounded by animals, in what is akin to depictions of Shamans. This has led to the belief that he is a peaceful God rooted in nature, who represents balance in all things.
You will often hear reference to 'The Horned God' in witchcraft and Wicca. Cernunnos is not the only horned God to be found across Europe, but is one of the most popular in modern day Wicca, along with the Greek God Pan.
He is the God of the forests, and is often associated with the oak tree, animals, all that comes from nature, and earthy colours such as green and brown. He is the Master of the hunt, the protector of animals, the God who creates life and guides the souls of the living to the underworld when their time is up, ready to be reborn into the world again. Cernunnos embodies masculine energy and virility, and I have to say, the majority of Pagans I have met who worship Cernunnos have been men. Many who work with Cernunnos describe their journeys as unique to each practitioner as he guides them through the wilderness, helping them balance themselves with the world around them and embrace their intuition. There seems to be no 'right' way of working with Cernunnos, no one specific ritual anyone can perform or 'correct' ways of honouring him. If you wish to work with Cernunnos, then it is up to you to follow your intuition and instincts in how that should be done, and let him guide you in the ways which you need.
You will often hear reference to 'The Horned God' in witchcraft and Wicca. Cernunnos is not the only horned God to be found across Europe, but is one of the most popular in modern day Wicca, along with the Greek God Pan.
He is the God of the forests, and is often associated with the oak tree, animals, all that comes from nature, and earthy colours such as green and brown. He is the Master of the hunt, the protector of animals, the God who creates life and guides the souls of the living to the underworld when their time is up, ready to be reborn into the world again. Cernunnos embodies masculine energy and virility, and I have to say, the majority of Pagans I have met who worship Cernunnos have been men. Many who work with Cernunnos describe their journeys as unique to each practitioner as he guides them through the wilderness, helping them balance themselves with the world around them and embrace their intuition. There seems to be no 'right' way of working with Cernunnos, no one specific ritual anyone can perform or 'correct' ways of honouring him. If you wish to work with Cernunnos, then it is up to you to follow your intuition and instincts in how that should be done, and let him guide you in the ways which you need.
