#and lugus and mercury

[telemna-hyelle]

is it so hard to believe that Julius Caesar was wrong?

[aviedoodles]

an explanation

inspired by this post

[donnodubus]

Hermes omnia solus et ter unus. (Hermes, alone is all and three in one.)

— M. Valerii Martialis, Epigrammaton libri V, XXIV

[thevixenwitch]

Sources for Celtic History and Paganism!

So today I was reading Ancient Fire: An Introduction to Gaulish Celtic Polytheism by Segomâros Widugeni when it struck me just how many of the sources were the type of thing that wouldn't necessarily come up on a regular search, particularly some out-of-print books, a lot of which are actually available on the Internet Archive! I took some time to take note of each listed source, and tried to see if I could find the right place to request them from (in the case of a handful of articles and theses), find PDF links where they did already exist, basically whatever I could! Some books are available to buy, most secondhand, and while most are available on Amazon, I won't be linking those here. I'd encourage anyone shopping to consider an alternative option if they can! Now, I haven't read through all of these, but the moment I found at least one of them seems to be impossible to find, I was reminded of the dangers of dying media. So I wanted to put these together so anyone could use them. Not every resource listed is in English. Anyway, on to the list~

Cernunnos: Looking a Different Way

By Ceisiwr Serith

https://ceisiwrserith.com/therest/Cernunnos/cernunnospaper.htm

Cernunnos Origin and Transformation of A Celtic Divinity

By Phyllis Fray Bober

https://www.scribd.com/document/460345187/cernunnos-origin-and-transformation-of-a-celtic-divinity-phyllis-fray-bober

Basic Celtic Deity Types

by Alexei Kondratiev

https://naomh-na-tursan.livejournal.com/5752.html

Deep Ancestors: Practicing the Religion of the Proto-Indo-Europeans

Book by Ceisiwr Serith

https://www.scribd.com/document/362472999/Deep-Ancestors-Practicing-the-Religion-of-the-Proto-Indo-Europeans

The Gods of the Celts and the Indo-Europeans

Book by Garrett S. Olmsted

https://www.academia.edu/38135817/The_Gods_of_the_Celts_and_the_Indo_Europeans_revised_2019_

Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend

Book by Miranda Aldhouse-Green

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/dictionary-of-celtic-myth-and-legend_miranda-aldhouse-green/543335/#edition=5215209&idiq=16154030

The Book of The Great Queen: The Many Faces of the Morrigan from Ancient Legends to Modern Devotions

Book by Morpheus Ravenna Further

to tongu do dia toinges mo thuath [“Mi a dyngaf dynged it”], &c.

By John Koch

https://www.academia.edu/7242277/Further_to_tongu_do_dia_toinges_mo_thuath_Mi_a_dyngaf_dynged_it_and_c

Goddesses in Celtic Religion Cult and Mythology: A Comparative Study of Ancient Ireland, Britain and Gaul

By Noémie Beck

http://theses.univ-lyon2.fr/documents/lyon2/2009/beck_n#p=0&a=title

The Integration of Mercury and Lugus: Myth and History in Late Iron Age and Early Roman Gaul

By Krista Ovist

https://archives.library.wales/index.php/integration-of-mercury-and-lugus

Lady with a Mead Cup: Ritual, Prophecy, and Lordship in the European Warband from La Tène to the Viking Age

Book by Michael J. Enright

How to Kill a Dragon: Aspects of Indo-European Poetics

Book by Calvert Watkins

https://ia801404.us.archive.org/view_archive.php?archive=/7/items/twain-mark-a-connecticut-yankee-in-king-arthurs-court/1-ptry.zip&file=How%20to%20Kill%20a%20Dragon%20-%20Aspects%20of%20Indo%20European%20Poetics.pdf

The Celtic Gauls: Gods, Rites and Sanctuaries

Book by Jean-Louis Brunaux

The Apple Branch: A Path to Celtic Ritual

Book by Alexei Kondratiev

https://archive.org/details/applebranchpatht0000kond

Oxford Dictionary of Celtic Mythology

Book by James Mackillop

https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofcelt0000mack

The female deities of the Celtic religion: worship and mythology: a comparative study of ancient Ireland, Great Britain and Gaul

By Noémie Beck

https://theses.fr/2009LYO20084

Celtic Curses

Book by Bernard Mees

https://www.academia.edu/1012094/Celtic_Curses_Woodbridge_Boydell_2009

Guide to Irish Mythology

Book by Daragh Smyth

https://archive.org/details/guidetoirishmyth00smyt

The Sacred Isle

Book by Dáithí Ó hÓgáin

https://archive.org/details/sacredislebelief0000ohog

The Matronae and Matres: Breathing New Life into an Old Religion

By River Devora

http://polytheist.com/the-web-of-blessings/2015/08/12/the-matronae-and-matres-breathing-new-life-into-an-old-religion/

Interpretatio Romana and Matronae Iconography

By River Devora

http://polytheist.com/the-web-of-blessings/2015/08/31/interpretatio-romana-and-matronae-iconography/#:~:text=The%20overlay%20of%20interpretatio%20Romana,and%20plaques%20and%20glean%20valuable

Celtic chiefdom, Celtic state: the evolution of complex social systems in prehistoric Europe

By Arnold, Bettina and Gibson, D. Blair

https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/3086499

*butacos, *wossos, *geistlos, *ambactos. Celtic Socioeconomic Organisation in the European Iron Age. Studia Celtica 40, 2006: 23-41

By Raimund Karl

https://www.academia.edu/245239/_butacos_wossos_geistlos_ambactos_Celtic_Socioeconomic_Organisation_in_the_European_Iron_Age_Studia_Celtica_40_2006_23_41

The Ancient Celts

Book by Barry Cunliffe

https://archive.org/details/ancientcelts00cunl_0

Sengoidelc: Old Irish for Beginners

Book by David Stifter

https://archive.org/details/sengoidelcoldiri0000stif

Greek Kελτóς and Γαλάτης, Latin Gallus ‘Gaul’

By Kim McCone

https://spr.harrassowitz-library.com/article/spr/2006/1/6

Celtic Heritage: Ancient Tradition in Ireland and Wales

Book by Alwyn and Brinley Rees

https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.36494

Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism

By Erynn Rowan Laurie, Kathryn Price NicDhàna, Aedh Rua Ó Mórríghan, Kym Lambert ní Dhoireann and John Machate, ed. by Erynn Rowan Laurie

https://web.archive.org/web/20080418025755/http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usma&c=trads&id=6645

Which witch is which? : a concise guide to Wiccan and Neo-Pagan paths and traditions

Book Compiled and Edited by Patricia Telesco

Sources for the Three Realms

By Annie Loughlin - original source link is dead, need help to locate!

Dictionnaire de la Langue Gauloise

Book by Xavier Delmarre

https://archive.org/details/dictionnairedelal00dela (referred to as “Essential for Gaulish Language study)

The Settling of the Manor of Tara

By R.I. Best

https://www.ucd.ie/tlh/trans/rib.eriu.4.001.t.text.html

The court of law in Iron Age ‚Celtic’ societies. In R. Karl & J. Leskovar (eds.), Interpretierte Eisenzeiten 3. Fallstudien, Methoden, Theorie. Tagungsbeiträge der 3. Linzer Gespräche zur interpretativen Eisenzeitarchäologie. Studien zur Kulturgeschichte von Oberösterreich Folge 22, Linz: Oberösterreichisches Landesmuseum 2009: 135-60.

By Raimund Karl

https://www.academia.edu/245221/The_court_of_law_in_Iron_Age_Celtic_societies_In_R_Karl_and_J_Leskovar_eds_Interpretierte_Eisenzeiten_3_Fallstudien_Methoden_Theorie_Tagungsbeitr%C3%A4ge_der_3_Linzer_Gespr%C3%A4che_zur_interpretativen_Eisenzeitarch%C3%A4ologie_Studien_zur_Kulturgeschichte_von_Ober%C3%B6sterreich_Folge_22_Linz_Ober%C3%B6sterreichisches_Landesmuseum_2009_135_60

Matasović Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

By Ranko Matasović

https://archive.org/details/matasovic-etymological-dictionary-of-proto-celtic

Hammer of the Gods: Anglo-Saxon Paganism in Modern Times Second Edition

Book by Swain Wodening

https://archive.org/details/hammerofgodsangl0000swai

Various Works by Christopher Scott Thompson - recommended re: honor in Gaulish society

https://cateransociety.wordpress.com/books/

A Handbook of the Scottish Gaelic World

Book by Michael Newton and Michael Steven Newton

Celtic Values

By Alexei Kondratiev

http://dagdacelt.freehostia.com/values.html

European paganism : the realities of cult from antiquity to the Middle Ages

By Ken Dowden

https://archive.org/details/europeanpaganism0000dowd

A Definitive Reconstructed Text of the Coligny Calendar

By Garrett Olmsted

https://www.academia.edu/62011364/A_Definitive_Reconstructed_Text_of_the_Coligny_Calendar

New Calendar of Gaulish Polytheism

By Jess via Nemeton Nigromanitcos

https://thebloodybones.wordpress.com/2015/07/10/new-calendar-of-gaulish-polytheism/#more-265

Calendar of Feast-Days of Deities

Via the blog Deo Mercutio

https://deomercurio.wordpress.com/calendar-of-feast-days-of-deities/

Altkeltische Sozialstrukturen

By Raimund Karl

https://homepage.univie.ac.at/Raimund.Karl/Sozialstrukturen.pdf

La Langue Gauloise

Book by Pierre-Yves Lambert

https://www.scribd.com/document/782869557/Lambert-1994-La-langue-gauloise-description-linguistique-commentaire-d-inscriptions-choisies

Death, War, and Sacrifice: Studies in Ideology & Practice

Book by Bruce Lincoln

The Gods of the Celts

Book by Miranda Aldhouse-Green

https://archive.org/details/godsofceltsar00mira

War Goddess The Morrigan And Her Germano Celtic Counterparts

Book by Angelique Gulermovich Epstein

https://archive.org/details/WarGoddessTheMorriganAndHerGermanoCelticCounterparts

Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss/Slaby

- Database of “almost all inscriptions ever recorded”

https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/hinweise/hinweis-en.html

A website on Gallo-Roman religion:

http://www.deomercurio.be/en/

A scholarly website with information on Epona:

https://epona.net/

[sapphirelotus]

✨witch tip✨

did you know that each day of the week is magical? literally. each day of the week is ruled by a different planet and are associated with certain plants and herbs, crystals, incense, spell work, colors, deities, and elements! if you honor any deities in this list, this is a great way to honor them on the day they’re associated with!

Poster’s Note: if i left anything out or if i made any mistakes in this post please let me know and i will edit this post accordingly! 💕

~~~

•Monday

Ruled by: the moon

Element: water

Deities: Artemis (Greek), Selene (Greek), Hera (Greek), Nyx (Greek), Athena (Greek), Luna (Roman), Diana (Roman), Juno (Roman), Minerva (Roman), Khonsu (Egyptian), Máni (Germanic), Chandra (Hindu)

Colors: light gray, dark gray, light blue, purple

Crystals: opal, pearl, selenite, moonstone, aquamarine, clear quartz, sapphire

Magickal Energies: intuition, justice, psychic work, fertility and femininity, healing, peace, spirit work/divination, sleep and dreaming

Plants/Herbs: chamomile*, water lily, orris, lotus, mint

Incense: sage, lavender, mugwort, lotus

•Tuesday

Ruled by: Mars

Element: fire

Deities: Ares (Greek), Mars (Roman), Silvanus (Roman), Tyr (Norse), Horus (Egyptian), Kali (Hindu), Lilith (Judaic/Hebrew), Gwyn ap Nudd (Welsh)

Colors: red, orange, pink, black

Crystals: ruby, garnet, bloodstone, rhodonite, red jasper, carnelian

Magickal Energies: success, conflict/war/revenge, victory, breaking hexes and curses, protection, strength, courage, self esteem

Plants/Herbs: holly, thistle, cactus, basil, coneflower, dragon’s blood, garlic, pepper

Incense: basil, patchouli, ginger, dragon’s blood

•Wednesday

Ruled by: Mercury

Element: air

Deities: Hermes (Greek), Mercury (Roman), Odin (Norse), Thoth (Egyptian), Krishna (Hindu), Lugus (Celtic)

Crystals: agate, citrine, sodalite, aventurine, hematite

Colors: orange, yellow, blue, purple

Magickal Energies: wisdom, healing, communication, money matters, art and creativity, travel and business, study and knowledge

Plants/Herbs: lilies, fern, eucalyptus, lavender, aspen, mandrake, lavender,

Incense: lavender, rosemary, cherry, clove

•Thursday

Ruled by: Jupiter

Element: earth

Deities: Zeus (Greek), Jupiter (Roman), Thor (Norse), Vishnu (Hindu), Taranis (Celtic)

Crystals: amethyst, turquoise, lepidolite, lapis lazuli, clear quartz, sapphire, sugilite

Colors: yellow, green, blue, purple

Magickal Energies: luck, ambition, success, happiness, justice, abundance, victory, wealth and prosperity, business and travel, loyalty and honor

Plants/Herbs: oak, honeysuckle, clove, sage, cinquefoil

Incense: cedar, sage, musk, cinnamon

•Friday

Ruled by: Venus

Element: water

Deities: Aphrodite (Greek), Eros (Greek), Venus (Roman), Cupid (Roman), Freya (Norse), Hathor (Egyptian), Shukra (Hindu), Brigid (Celtic)

Crystals: jade, peridot, emerald, rose quartz, rhodonite, rhodochrosite, coral

Colors: pink, blue, light gray, seafoam green

Magickal Energies: love and passion, harmony, balance, nature, romance, partnerships, fertility/motherhood, beauty and glamour

Plants/Herbs: saffron, coltsfoot, feverfew, pink rose, apple blossom, vanilla, sandalwood

Incense: rose, apple, clove, strawberry

•Saturday

Ruled by: Saturn

Element: all elements

Deities: Kronos (Greek), Hades (Greek), Saturn (Roman), Pluto (Roman), Loki (Norse), Dagda (Celtic), Geb (Egyptian), Osiris (Egyptian), Shani (Hindu)

Crystals: obsidian, hematite, serpentine, apache tear

Colors: red, purple, light gray, black

Magickal Energies: banishing, protection, defense, cleansing, finding lost items, spirituality, wisdom, transformation, psychic attacks

Plants/Herbs: cypress, thyme, hemlock, myrrh, mullein

Incense: sage, opium, myrrh, sandalwood

•Sunday

Ruled by: the sun

Element: fire

Deities: Helios (Greek), Sol (Roman), Sekhmet (Egyptian), Ra (Egyptian), Surya (Hindu), Lugh (Celtic)

Crystals: citrine, carnelian, amber, tigers eye

Colors: red, orange, yellow, gold

Magickal Energies: abundance, breaking habits, growth, success, decision making, confidence and strength, health and healing, self expression, happiness, prosperity and wealth

Plants/Herbs: sunflower, marigold, hibiscus, cinnamon, st. john’s wort*

Incense: lemon, cinnamon, opium, frankincense

*if you are currently taking birth control pills, DO NOT ingest the herbs with an asterisk next to them as they can make the pills less effective!

[nogetron]

Lugh, warrior of light of the Tuatha dé Danann. Lugh was born as the grandson of the Fomorian chief Balor. Destined to be killed at birth by his grandfather’s decree like his brothers before him, Lugh’s mother hid him among the Firbolg, requesting that they raise him well. As the god of light, Lugh brought warmth to the downtrodden Firbolg, who were enslaved with the Tuatha dé by the Fomorians. Lugh was described as a beautiful young man, whose body shined like rays of the sun, with strength that rivaled even the greatest of the Tuatha dé. Experiencing the plight of both the Firbolg and the Tuatha dé, Lugh presented himself to the convening Tuatha dé. The gods spoke of rebellion against the tyrannical Fomorians, Lugh understanding their suffering wished to join them. to test the young deity, Ogma stepped forth, picking up an unwieldy boulder and throwing it across the horizon. Lugh answered the challenge, swiftly catching the rock mid air before hurling it back to Ogma without landing on the ground. Proving himself to the Tuatha dé, Lugh took command of a legion of warriors, with a speech these warriors were roused in strength and spirit, their power growing to that of kings. During the following battle, Lugh encountered his grandfather Balor, opening his eye Balor reigned destruction upon the battlefield. Their fight was a sight to behold, however, hurling his spear Lugh punched out Balor’s eye and used it to decimate the Fomorian forces. After the battle, the Dagda gathered Lugh and Ogma to help him take back his harp from the retreating forces of the Fomorians. The Fomorian chief Balor had survived the war, his rage still burning he continues to try and invade the mortal world, however each time Lugh drives him away with his spear, causing storms in the process. Lugh is also the father of the great hero Cú Chulainn, with the hero being his earthly incarnation.

Lugh was one of a trinity of deities known as ‘three gods of skill’, together they held prowess in all forms of skill, whether it be art or war. Despite the Christianization of Ireland, Lugh was still a popular folk hero, with him still pervading the public consciousness. However due to the Christianization of Ireland, the nature of his divinity is still unclear. Some have posited that Lugh was a sun god, a sort of divine counterpart to his grandfather Balor who was the demon of the scorching sun. Most likely he was also a storm god, bringing fertility and life to the land through storms. Lugh’s spear accentuates this, as it is described as fiery and is capable of returning to the wielder, clearly being a weaponization of lightning. Lugh’s title of Lámfada translates to “of the long arm” sometimes also rendered as “of the long hand”, this title is not literal as it most likely alludes to his rulership, the long arm being a allusion to his wide reaching power. Lugh is the Irish form of the Gaulish chief god Lugus, with Lugus’ importance translating to Lugh’s popularity in Ireland, despite the Dagda being the Chief god of Ireland instead. In wales, Lugh was referred to as Lleu Llaw Gyffes. The romans equated Lugh to their god Mercury, however unlike other peoples whose myths and legends were taken by the victorious Romans, much of the Celts mythology stayed the same, mainly due to the genocide of 2/3rds of the population by Rome, with the Celts facing less Hellenization attempts. Lugh also corresponds to other deities across the world, as a storm god he owes his origin to the Semitic Baal, and shares his status with many other storm gods such as the Vedic Indra, the Norse Thor, the Slavic Perun, and many others. Like the other storm gods, Lugh’s fight with Balor is an instance of the Chaoskampf, an archetypal myth which has the storm god go against the forces of Chaos to bring back order and fertility to the world, whose origins can also trace back to Baal’s fight with Yam and Mot. Lugh could’ve been originally seen as an aspect of the Dagda with Ogma, with the ‘three gods of skill’ being a remnant of this, similar to the Morrigan’s Morrigna. Another origin could be that Lugus had absorbed and fused with the Gaulish storm god Taranis, however this theory is merely conjecture.

[talonabraxas]

Lugh Talon Abraxas

Lugh (also Lug, Luga) was one of the most important Celtic gods, particularly in Ireland, and he represented the sun and light. Although originating as an all-wise and all-seeing deity, Lugh was later thought of as a historical figure, great warrior, and Irish cultural hero. Lugh often has an epithet such as Lugh Lámfada (or Lámfhota), meaning long-armed or 'of the long hand', which refers to his prowess with throwing weapons, or Lugh Samildánach, meaning 'skilled in many arts and crafts'. He is a prominent figure in many stories in Irish mythology where he leads the Tuatha Dé Danann race to victory against the seafaring Fomorians at the Battle of Mag Tuired. Lugh kills one-eyed Balor with his magic spear or sling and so establishes a 40-year reign of peace and prosperity. Lugh is similar in many ways to the Celtic god Lugus, the figure the Romans described as Gaulish Mercury.

Names & Skills

The god Lugh's name means 'light' and 'brightness'. His common epithets are Lugh Samildánach ('skilled in the arts, crafts, and trades') and Lug Lámfada, Lámfhada, Lámhfhada or Lámfhota ('long-armed' or 'long-handed'). The god's most common epithet of 'long-armed' refers to his ability to either throw a spear or a slingshot a very great distance. Not only a great warrior, Lugh may have been considered a fili, that is a seer, diviner, and poet. These multi-skills make Lugh very similar to the deity the Romans described (without giving the indigenous name) as Gaulish Mercury, now known to be called as Lugos or Lugus by the Celts. He is also the equivalent of the Welsh hero Lleu Llaw Gyffes. In art, Lugh is almost always presented as a youthful and handsome athlete, and he often carries his famous spear called Gáe Assail.

The Tuatha Dé Danann

Lugh is the chief of the pre-Christian Irish gods or supernatural race known as the Tuatha Dé Danann who brought elements of civilization in the Irish Mythological Cycle. Lugh's story principally derives from the Cath Maige Tuired (aka The Battle of Mag Tuired), an 11th-century CE text which collated earlier sources. This text tells the story, before Lugh is born, of the invasion of Ireland by the Tuatha Dé Danann who are victorious against the current inhabitants, the Fir Bolg at Mac Tuired, a plain in Connacht in northwest Ireland. The defeated Fir Bolg then disperse to remote islands and to Scotland.

Another battle at the same place follows 27 years later, this time between the Tuatha Dé Danann and the Fomorians, who are either semi-divine beings or demonic pirates depending on which source one consults. Despite being fierce fighters with a fearsome aspect - they have one arm, one leg, and one eye in some versions - the Fomorians are defeated by the Tuatha Dé Danann. Before the battle, the two groups had been at peace and even intermarried so that Lugh is born the grandson of a Fomorian. It is Lugh who played the decisive role in the Second Battle of Mag Tuired.

In the Battle of Mag Tuired, Lugh ends up fighting his own grandfather, Balor or the Evil Eye.

First, to become the chief of the Tuatha Dé Danann, Lugh had to present his credentials to the current king, Nuadu, who has a mechanical silver arm which some consider a handicap that makes him unfit to be ruler. Lugh informs the king that he is multi-skilled because he has the capabilities of a carpenter, smith, physician, warrior, sorcerer, and historian, amongst many others. Lugh impresses the court with his strength by throwing a huge flagstone and with his skill at playing the harp. Lugh then defeats Nuadu, and anyone else who cares to play, in a board-game called fidchell - a slightly unfair match since Lugh was credited with inventing it - and so he becomes the king.

In the battle with the Fomorians, Lugh uses his sorcery skills to give his army special weapons and the powers of magic. Lugh's own spear, Gáe Assail, was rather special since it always hit its target and could return to his hand on command. The spear was said to be so fearsome that it had to be kept in a cauldron of water during peacetime lest it set its surroundings aflame.

Lugh ends up fighting his own grandfather, Balor or the Evil Eye. Balor has one huge eye and his eyelid is so heavy that it requires four men to lift it. If enemies ever look directly at the eye, then they are rendered powerless. Lugh uses his mighty sling arm to hit his grandfather in the eye which then turns backwards in his head (or simply falls to the ground). The consequence of this is that the Fomorians become the victims of bad luck and so lose the war. In other versions, Lugh blinds Balor with his spear or lops off his head and puts it on a pole so that the eye shines on the Fomorians and makes them easy to defeat. The Fomorians are then driven back to where they came from: the sea. Lugh goes on to rule his new kingdom for 40 years through which time the cows always give plenty of milk and the harvests are always bountiful.

[silverthornwitchery]

wanting to put my druidic path in a predominantly Celtic (continental Celtic as well as Old British to be exact.. sorry Irish Ancestors.) path so i've been through the help of the internet, coming up with constructed names for the roman deities, and coming up with syncretizations either through history or UPG. For Diana - Adruinna/Louna/Adsagsona Arduinna being the manifestation of the huntress and wilderness Diana, Louna being Luna, and Adsagsona (who we know very little of other than she's a cthonic witching goddess) for Trivia. As for Diana-Nemorensis, she appears to me as Nemetona. For Apollo (this is where it gets really messy) - Grannus is the name I call upon in regards to healing, and I call on Grannus alongside Sirona. In regards to Apollo as the Aradian-Lucifer, I feel that Lugus and Endovelicus both could fill that role. Though Lugus is more associated with Mercury that Apollo, I also tie Lugus to Lugh because of the light aspect. And Both Lucifer and Lugh are known to be mercurial trickster figures. In the fall I usually call to Apollo as Maponos. The Horned One - He's already VERY syncretic in terms of existence, so the name I call him varies based on how he shows himself to me. As the Folk Devil/Witches' Devil, he's usually Lupercus, who through demonization, is syncretized with Lucifer, but historically also Faunus. The Devil as Lightbearer to me is Cunamaglos (who i associate with Lupercus), Lugus, or Endovelicus (through Luciferian ties), and then as King of the Forest(both Folk Devil and Otherwise), Callirius. I dont really click with the name Cernunnos, but alternate spellings like Carneo or Carnonos, or Cernun, resonate a bit more. Cunamaglos also fills the role of my Wolf-Spirit deity in the masculine form. Fauna - Easy enough, Fauna is Druantia. Both the feminine form of the Horned One, and also the personification of Druidry as a whole. She IS Nature personified, and kinda blends with Diana-Nemorensis to form Nemetona. As a fertility and underworld goddess (an epithet i use for Druantia is Bone-Mother, giving her a Cthonic link), she can be Aeracura. Thus giving names such as Druantia, Druantia-Nemetona, and Druantia-Aeracura. Her cthonic form is also linked to her fertility aspect as well, since life and death are two sides of the same coin, which is fitting as Aeracura is historically a cthonic and fertility goddess. I haven't quite figured out where Venus stands in all this, though I'm sure I'll figure it out in time. I also plan to Incorperate Brigantia into my practice, since she's another form of Brigid. I also want to form a relationship with Andraste, and can respark my relationship with An Morrigan/The Raven Queen under the name Cathubodua, which is the first name of hers that really resonated with me. As for Aradia, I Personally don't view Aradia as an external spirit, I feel she exists WITHIN the practicioner, as I view Witches as all of Diana/Adsagsona's children. Though Aradia very well may have been a physical person or deity at some point. I feel Aradia works WITHIN us.

[pigsongpearls]

Moccus

Moccus, also known as Moccos, is a fascinating figure in Celtic and Gaulish mythology, tied deeply to the cultural and spiritual significance of pigs and boars in ancient Celtic society. He emerges as a deity associated with the continental Celtic tribe of the Lingones, whose territory centered around modern-day Langres in northeastern France, near the Seine and Marne rivers. The Lingones were a Gaulish people who also had a presence in northeastern Italy near the Po River, known for their skills in agriculture, weaving, and metalworking.

Moccus is primarily recognized as a boar- or swine-god, a protector of boar hunters and warriors. His name derives from the Gaulish word moccos, meaning "pig" or "wild boar," a root that appears in related Celtic languages like Old Irish mucc (pig), Welsh moch (pigs), and Breton moc'h (pig). This etymology strongly links him to the boar, an animal that held immense symbolic power for the Celts. Boars represented ferocity, strength, and war, but also prosperity and fertility—dual aspects that likely shaped Moccus’s role in the spiritual landscape. Archaeological evidence, like the Euffigneix statue found in the Lingones’ territory, reinforces this connection. The statue, dating to around the 1st century BC, depicts a torc-wearing figure with a large wild boar across his torso, suggesting a divine association with the animal, possibly Moccus himself.

Moccus is known from a single votive inscription from Langres, dated to the late 2nd or 3rd century AD, which identifies him with the Roman god Mercury. The inscription reads: In h(onorem) d(omus) d(ivinae) deo Mercur(io) Mocco L(ucius) Mascl(ius?) Masculus et Sedatia Blandula mater ex voto—translating to a dedication "in honor of the divine house, to Mercury Moccus" by Lucius Masclius Masculus and his mother Sedatia Blandula. This blending with Mercury reflects the Roman practice of interpretatio romana, where local deities were equated with Roman gods. Mercury, a god of trade, travel, and communication, might seem an odd match, but in the Gaulish context, Mercury often took on roles tied to fertility, abundance, and the land, which aligns with Moccus’s association with pigs as symbols of prosperity.

Some scholars suggest Moccus’s role extended beyond hunting. He may have been a deity of fertility and vegetation, reflecting the boar’s broader symbolic role in Celtic culture. In Irish mythology, pigs are often linked to the Otherworld, slaughtered and magically reborn in supernatural feasts, hinting at themes of abundance and renewal.

Scholars like Philippe Jouët connect Moccus to the Irish myth Oidheadh Chlainne Tuireann, where Lugh (the Irish equivalent of the Celtic god Lugus, also tied to Mercury) obtains the pig-skin of Tuis, which can heal any injury. This connection suggests Moccus might have had healing or protective aspects, perhaps safeguarding the land and its people as much as its hunters.

Moccus, the healing druid

The boar’s significance in Celtic culture can’t be overstated. It appeared on Gaulish coins, standards, and altars, often as a divine symbol. In the Lingones’ territory, the reverence for boars is clear from artifacts like the Euffigneix statue and the votive inscription. Some myths even attribute to Moccus the creation of wereboars, or Grondr, as a curse on humans who desecrated forests, transforming them into boar-like creatures to reflect their greed—a narrative that paints him as a god of nature’s vengeance, tied to the forest, vegetation, pestilence, and omens.

Moccus, a stout, humanoid figure with a majestic boar's head, dressed in rustic, earth-toned druidic robes with intricate, Celtic-inspired embroidery, stands amidst a serene, misty forest of ancient, gnarled trees, their trunks adorned with moss and ferns. Wild boars, sows, and playful piglets roam freely around him, as he gently guides them with a worn, wooden pastoral staff, its surface etched with symbols of the natural world. The atmosphere is tranquil, with warm, golden light filtering through the canopy above, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. Inspired by the works of Simon Stalenhag, Ian McQue, and Jakub Roztočil, this detailed, matte painting-style artwork features deep, rich colors, with a focus on complementary hues, and intricate, hand-painted textures, evoking a sense of fantasy and wonder, as if rendered in Unreal Engine 5, with an 8k resolution.

[r8lobster]

Tallinnfilm

Picked up a good one the other day at the Terminal bar and record store, out by the train station and jazzed-up market here: a compilation of music written for eye-opening Estonian animated films.

The sampler covers two remarkable decades beginning with Arvo Pärt's pieces for Elbert Tuganov's Hiirejaht (Mouse Hunt, 1965) and running through Olav Ehala, "the Burt Bacharach of Estonia" and his hip-hop-tinged numbers for Rao Heidmet's Kaelkirjak, a sweetly-made stop-motion dig at consumer taste featuring a statue of a giraffe at the zoo that goes viral (becoming more popular -- and drawing more attention -- than the animals themselves).

Animapop is a door to sounds and colors and animation and graphics and puppetry skills that are transporting and delightful to spend time with. It draws out a full range of mood and impression. Rein Rannap is here, pianist and melodic spirit behind the pomp-avantists Ruja. So is the mercurial art shaman Leonhard Lapin and a healthy dose of classic psychedelia (remix circa 1974) in Rein Raamat's Värvilind, or Color Bird, taken from a children's book by Ellen Niit.

Doesn't sound like the Beatles, but they're definitely into the Beatles, the Sgt. Pepper and Yellow Submarine and all, bringing round organic shapes and neon tones to a linear world. Also -- personally speaking -- I shouldn't be so hard on the hippies. They're all right.

Andreas Trossek over at fine broadcasting force and label Raadio Kohila has more. Helpfully there's the whole collection in one place to watch for just a few clams. Many of these films can be found here and there online, but this way you can support the venture. Because that's the good thing to do, y'know?

Raadio Kohila's periodic shows are also worth tuning into. And for good measure here's Mouse Hunt featuring Arvo Pärt and Lugu Jänesepojast (A Leveret's Tale, 1975) from Ando Keskküla, tunes again from Rein Rannap (and also based on an Ellen Niit joint).

Melancholy backstory on Ando Keskküla, but fun rabbit.

[drxwilke]

Tomorrow, Wednesday, November 24th, at Sunrise!

[tarotbee]

I'm relatively new to Witchblr, having only been involved for a month or so. Can you tell me how I can best honor the roman god Mercury/what offerings I can give him?

Offerings and Ways of Worshipping Lord Mercurius

Before making offerings to other Roman deities, make an offering to Janus, the gateway deity, and when you are done, close with an offering or prayer to Vesta the heart deity

Wear a veil/headcovering when praying and making offerings

Get creative with your prayers, make some of your own foe him, read them to him and even write them down and give them to him as a physical offering

Coins on his altar

Study his cross-cultural connections with deities such as Odin, Wodan, Turms, Hermes, Anubis, Hermanubis, Thoth, Hermes Trismegistus, Lugus, Lugh and many more such as Tezcatlipoca, Asclepius and Raphael

Study economics and politics, even brushing up on laws for your area

Start your own business

Support small businesses

Offerings at crossroads or just outside

Hazelnuts

Hazelnut chocolate

Wear yellow or orange

Dress his altar in yellow or orange

Same colours for his candle/s, yellow or orange

Coffee

Water

Wine

Set offerings on Wednesday

Musk, sandalwood, cinnamon and frankincense incense

Recite the orphic hymn to Mercury and then a hymn to Hermes

Write tour thoughts and feelings down as an offering for him

Learn a new language

Olives and olive oil

Associated stones: emerald, agate, red marble and topaz

Associated herbs: Hazel, pine, rosemary, fumitary, pimpernell, marjoram and parsley

Associated animals: Dogs, Apes, Foxes, Weasels, Mule, Hare, Civet-Cat, Linet, Nightingale, Blackbird, Thrush, Lark, the Gnat-sapper, the bird Calandra, the Parrot, the Pie, Ibis, the bird Porphyrio, the black Beetle

A statue of him

Keep in mind this list is shorter because there is less knowledge on the worship of Roman deities and what is known is mostly ritual worship. From what I have heard from other practitioners, Mercury will guide you and commune with you directly when it comes to what he wants I'm terms of offerings.

[xartus]

Okay this is some heavy as fuck speculation on my part:

Wođanaz- Lugus, "Gaulish Mercury"

Frijju (Frigg)- Rosmerta

Thunaraz- Taranis (this is the most solid one)

Cathubodua- Valkyries

Hel- Nantosuelta? Here me out in this one; Hel is the goddess of the dead who rules over the dead. Nantosuelta is the goddess who rules over the dead and the valley of the dead in the otherworld. My other guess is Nerthus. Either way I believe Hel is a later name for something earlier or a grim reaper type personification. Maybe a death matronae?

Lugus and Rosmerta is associated with the warband culture which us exactly what Woden and Frigg do, and the name "Wođanaz" is connected to the celtic "watis" which means seer. I think they originally came from the same source and Taranis even earlier.

[paganpillar]

Which deities do u consider to be in the galloroman pantheon.. i’m still doing a lot of research and trying to connect with the pantheon becoz of my ancestry but I keep getting mixed results about how big or small it is :-( and also, what do you think of instances where it’s probably the same deity just under different regional names (hades/pluton/orcus/cernunnos/etc all being related to the underworld & all being gods of wealth).. THANK YOU for the insight lmao

Most [Gallo-Roman] deities are going to be syncretized indigenous Celtic Gods with Roman deities. A lot of this was due to the changing culture of Gallic regions that lived under Roman rule. It was pretty much a way to make sense of their evolving culture and environment.

This kind of thing happens when ethnic and political boundaries become overlapped as migration, trade, and socioeconomic interdependencies occur. Their religious expressions will begin to resemble each other and a homogeneous culture no longer exists (if they ever really did exist in the first place). So the idea of a Gallo-Roman 'pantheon' might be too generalized, if that make sense.

Unfortunately, there were some Gods that fell victim to Roman interpretations like Esus, Lugus, Taranis, etc. who were commonly associated with Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter. But, do not let that deter you! The great thing about being a Gallo-Roman polytheist is that you have the religious freedom to decide what you consider to be the same deity, and what you do not. I know that is complicated and does not really fit in with the modern idea that you have to be a hard polytheist or a soft polytheist. But remember, the Gauls and Romans did not even realize the concept of a 'pantheon' or hard/soft polytheism.

You probably will not find a Gallic deity that is not associated with a Roman deity in some way (from a Gallo-Roman region) but, like I said, you really have the power to decide what deity you consider stand-alone, and which you consider syncretized with Greek, Celtic, or Roman Gods. That is why I like to utilize epithets and theonyms where I can!

For instance, we know Apollo is a Greek God whose domain is usually healing, music, poetry, archery, solar qualities (for some), etc. Now, the Romans who are a completely different culture (despite what others might say) will interpret Apollo in their own way. The Romans focused on his healing qualities because a plague began to threaten the population. As time went on and some Gallic regions were enveloped under Roman rule and they began to associate Apollo with their indigenous healing God, Grannus. This deity is associated with hot springs. So, the epithet Apollo Grannus meant that he was God of healing waters and hot springs! Now, you can choose to worship Grannus as a stand-alone, or you can worship him as Apollo Grannus. The choice is really up to you.

Now, there is no one Gallic pantheon. They were a tribal region and so every tribe had their own types of deities. There are some regions that have syncretized Gods with Germanic Gods, Brythonic Gods, Greek Gods, and so on. But they had their own indigenous Gods as well. So my advice is looking into what region of Gaul you are interested in. If you want to focus on Gallo-Roman Gods specifically, I might would check out the Cis-alpine regions which is what I like to research.

I am really sorry for such a long reply, but sycnretism is a complicated topic that is hard to simplify. I will link some sources for you down below. Let me know if the links are not working as some of them will be directly connected to my Google Drive (I'm not really THAT tech-savvy). I hope this helps you a little bit! I'm not a huge expert on all things Gaul because I like to focus on the syncretized Gods in Gallo-Roman regions. Sorry I don't have a list of deities (which would make things easier for you I'm sure). But half the fun is combing through resources until you find something that resonates with you!

Resources:

How to Identify Celtic religions in Roman Britain and Gaul by: Ralph Haeussler.

The Creation of New Ritual Traditions from Imperial Contact in Roman Gaul by: Matthew Coleman.

Interpratio Indigena: Re-inventing Local Cults in a Global World by: Ralph Haeussler.

The Importance of Location: Religious Inscriptions From Archaeological Contexts by: Ralph Haeussler.

A Landscape of Resistance? Cults and Sacred Landscapes in Western Cisalpine Gaul by: Ralph Haeussler.

This excellent website by Deo Mercurio who covers many Gallo-Roman Gods!

I also suggest looking at joining Gaulish Discord servers and browsing through their websites to get a better idea of some of the Gallic Gods! They can be really helpful and will answer any questions you might have on the regions you would like to focus on.

I also highly recommend the book: Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend by Miranda J. Green because it covers a lot of Gallic deities and their syncretism with Roman Gods, especially Apollo, Mars, Jupiter, and Mercury.

[breelandwalker]

I had a post about this a while ago but for the first half-year of interacting with Lugh I thought he was Loki the whole time.

I only realized it wasn't Loki when I started doing research on the holiday Lughnasadh and the name, symbolism, and everything about the god Lugh just clicked. Like everything clicked into place.

It's funny to look back on it now and realize how wrong I was about it being Loki lol. My discernment has gotten a lot stronger too because of it!

In all fairness, I think he does that on purpose. I thought he was Hermes or Mercury initially. Part of my "test," as it were, was figuring out who I was really dealing with. In my experience, Lugh has a very definite sense of humor and a sort of rough-but-twinkly playfulness, and I've heard followers of Loki express similar sentiments about their god.

It wasn't until I found the comparisons between Mercury and Lugus in Julius Caesar's writings (and uncovered a certain connection in my family history with certain Welsh names) that things finally clicked. I very clearly remember thinking, "You sneaky sonuva-...." 😂

[lostpeace]

1. Lugus, an ancient Celtic god, cognate with the Irish Lugh and Welsh Lleu, and likely identified with the Roman god Mercury. Though little is known for certain about him, his associations point towards him being a god of arts and skill.

2. Mot, Ugaritic god of death, and villain of the Baal cycle. He opposed the god Baal Hadad and was described as an evil deity with monstrous hunger, who became enraged when the other gods did not offer him corpses to devour.

3. Moloch, a false god from the biblical Old Testament. He was associated with the Ammonites, and allegedly was offered child sacrifices. Though he might have been a biblical creation, he was likely derived from the Ammonite god Milkom.