#celtic pantheon

[that--witchling]

Quick question, is Celtic Paganism open, closed, or partially both? Because I've heard all different angles and honestly I'm so confused now.

I am not Welsh by blood but have citizenship and have lived here for the majority of my life since I was a child so does it count if I practice? I do consider myself Welsh as I've lived here for so long.

[the-purvashadha]

You honor the gods by simply breathing

[paganpillar]

Cernunnos

Gaulish God of liminality, crossroads, death, pastoral wealth, abundance, hunters, the hunted, the wild, and the tame.

[aodhan-art]

Celtober 2023 Days 4, 5 and 6: Murder, Judgement and Mound

Corrgend, the king of the Fir Bolg, caught Áed, son of Eochaid Dagda, in the act of sleeping with Corrgend’s wife, and so he killed Áed in a fit of rage and jealousy. The grieving father sentenced Corrgend to carry Áed’s decomposing body tied to his back until he finds a perfect place for the mound that he should build for his victim. After that, Corrgend was finally executed and buried elsewhere.

[dare-valley]

A start of shift prayer:

Gorfannon the Smith, guide my hand.

Amaethon of the Plough, give strength to my back.

Let me lose myself in my labours and find peace in my toil,

May my efforts be fruitful and my respite well earned.

[pagan-rapscallion]

Hey y’all

I’ve been trying to do divination to see if any deities want to work with me. The signs I’ve been getting have been more associated with ares. Any advice? I’m lost. I thought that celtic paganism was for me, but since I’ve been seeing these signs, I’ve been seeing things about myself that would honestly be more fitter for ares. Maybe I’m interpreting them wrong?

[theludicwitch]

[that-cunning-witch]

Know any good sources on Celtic (specifically Gaulish practices)? I know it’s not your area, but you seem like someone who might know some people who dabble in that sort of stuff. The area I live in has some celtic archeological sites, but sadly not much is known about the local religion or culture. I am trying to put together a Romano-Celtic hearth cult, but it’s difficult finding practices and deities that feel right.

Gaul is a larger Celtic area of Western Europe (modern-day France and parts of modern-day Belgium, Germany, and Northern Italy). I say this because the Celts, when invaded by Rome, took in a lot of Roman religion including Hellenic and (rarely) Kemetic beliefs as well. When the Celts did this, so did the Gauls.

If it helps at all, the specifics you're looking into is called Gallo-Roman, which is part of the larger Romano-Celtic area.

This selective acculturation manifested in several ways. One of the main ways we see this is with the melding of Greco-Roman deities with Gaulish (Celtic) deities. Gaulish epithets for Roman gods (Jupiter Poeninus) and Roman epithets for Gaulish gods (Lenus Mars). Roman gods were given Gaulish god partners (Mercury and Rosmerta & Apollo and Sirona). Towards the east of the Gauls, many mysteries were formed, including one for the Greek hero Orpheus, the Iranian (or Persian) god Mithras, and the Egyptian goddess Isis. In other words, a whole lot of syncretism.

When it came to the Gauls (and the Celts overall) a main part of their belief system was the heavy use of animal imagery. More specifically, zoomorphic deities. However, we see a lot more human-looking representations of the gods because the Romans (and Greeks) weren't too keen on the idea (see Greco-Egyptian).

As for specifically Gallo-Roman hearth religious beliefs, the Lares (Lar singular) is a good place to start. They're the equivalent of Agathos Daimon in Greek religion (Hellenism). Essentially, they're personal household deities that are connected to the hearth.

A majority of the information we have about the Gaelic culture and the eventual melding of the Gallo-Roman culture stems from two sources: artifacts and Julius Ceasar, who wrote all about in what we now call the "Commentarii de Bello Gallico". The gods that he mentions the Gauls worship (like Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, and Minerva) aren't really the Roman gods that the Gauls are worshipping at that time but rather the closest thing Ceasar can connect. For example, Caesar may say that the Gauls worshipped Mars, when in reality they were worshipping Lenus, a healing god that quickly became associated with Mars because of Caesar and the Roman Empire. However, not all of them were caught. Gobannus is the most well-known example we have, with him being the equivalent to the Roman god Vulcan or the Greek god Hephaestus and yet Caesar makes no comment on the Gaulish god.

One other thing, the specific time we are taking a look at was prior to the overtaking by the Anglos, Saxons, and Jutes (aka pre-Anglo-Saxon times). Because of this, Germanic (Norse) gods weren't known to these people yet. Odin, Thor, and Freyja were unknown to them at this point in time.

Other than that, the last thing I can give to you are articles and books that I stumbled upon that may pique your interest. I do recommend a couple of Wikipedia links, but just know that I recommend using Wikipedia as a jumping-off point. Hope this helps! :^)

Becoming Roman: the origins of provincial civilization in Gaul -- Greg Woolf https://archive.org/details/becomingromanori0000wool

The gods of the Celts -- Miranda Green https://archive.org/details/godsofceltsar00mira

Gallo-Roman Religious Sculptures -- A.N. Newell https://www.jstor.org/stable/640758

Fifth-Century Gaul: A Crisis of Identity? -- John Drinkwater & Elton Hugh https://www.loc.gov/catdir/samples/cam031/91018375.pdf

Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic War: literally translated -- Frederick Holland Dewey, A.B. https://archive.org/details/caesarscommentar07caes

Category:Gaulish gods -- Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Gaulish_gods

Category:Gaulish goddesses -- Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Gaulish_goddesses

sources: https://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/1999/1999.10.34/ http://www.deomercurio.be/en/dii.html https://www.britannica.com/topic/Celtic-religion/The-Celtic-gods https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lares https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lar-Roman-deities https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallo-Roman_culture https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallo-Roman_religion

[jessgoulder]

LUGH IS NOT A SUN GOD. THAT'S BELENUS' JOB!!!!

[witchbydaywitchbynight]

What pantheon do you work with / worship?

[hecatedeipnon]

The Celtic Pantheon

The Morrígan: This was a goddess of death and rebirth, and was associated with war, prophecy, and the cycle of life.

The Dagda: God of fertility, abundance, and the natural world. He was often depicted as a large, powerful figure with a club that had the power to kill and bring back to life.

Brigid: Goddess of fertility, abundance, and the arts. She was associated with fire, poetry, and the forge.

Lugh: God of the sun, craftsmanship, and magic. He was often depicted as a skilled warrior and a master of many different arts and crafts.

The Tuatha Dé Danann: A group of Celtic deities who were associated with the natural world, magic, and wisdom. They were said to be the descendants of the goddess Danu and were often depicted as powerful and mysterious beings.

The Green Man: A deity who was associated with the earth and the natural world. He was often depicted as a man with a face made of leaves, and was believed to be a guardian of the forest.

Cernunnos: Also a god of the natural world, and fertility. He is often depicted as a man with the antlers of a stag. He is associated with the wild and untamed aspects of nature, and is believed to have the power to bring about abundance and fertility.

[pomegranatesanddevotions]

Hey do any Scottish-Irish witches/pagans or those who work with Celtic deities or anything of the sort have any resources or recommendations for what to research? I want to connect with my heritage and expand my craft into it but as a Hellenic Pagan living in Canada I have no idea where to begin 🥲

[the-purvashadha]

Dedicate a piece of craft to Brigid. It could be origami, crocheted, knitted or even metal work if that is your area of interest. You can even dedicate a recipe that you've created. It could be anything. If it is made with love, it'll please Brigid.

[paganpillar]

Adsaxsona: "Weaver of Spells" and Gaulish goddess of the Underworld, witches, revenge, justice, and magick.

[aodhan-art]

Enough graveyards for now, here come the princes of the sidhe!

These are young Bodb and young Orbsen, and they’re absolutely not amused.

[onyxtides]

Simplistic Celtic Tree of Life Charm Bracelet made with Moss Agate, Aventurine and Flourite. This Celtic Charm Bracelet is a perfect gift for any Nature Lover Bracelet, Pagan, or to show your love for the Circle of Life in the Irish Traditions.

This bracelet measures at 7.5 inches and comes with an organza bag for easy carring or storage.