#cernunnos deity

[taking-thyme]

My experiences with my Deities so far

Apollo: I’ve found that Apollo just likes to show up and sit with you places. It’s his way of checking in on you. One of my friends actually did a tarot and pendulum reading for me and Apollo apparently recognized me as one of his children which, like, holy shit dude. But seriously, Apollo is super loving. He’s always just kind of around, either because you feel his energy or you see crows and ravens basically everywhere. He also has a very protective energy, I feel like he would get super mad if any of his devotees are mistreated, which definitely fits with his myths. It’s super cliché but the only way to describe how you feel with connecting with him is sunny. My body feels a lot lighter and almost like it’s glowing, and I feel more at peace. This applies to most deities, but you really get the sense with Apollo that he wants you to feel good and he’ll do whatever he can to make that happen. Also he’s fuckin gorgeous. And he really likes apples for offerings, he always asks for them. 

Artemis: Artemis has such a cool energy. I feel like she’s that badass older sister that leans against walls and gives really damn good advice. When I connect with Artemis I just feel way cooler than before, like I can take on anything. Like I could fight any man and win. But don’t get me wrong, she definitely has a softer side. She’s adamant about me taking care of myself and doesn’t want anything bad to happen to me. I deal with a lot of terrible anxiety, and she’s always super reassuring that nothing will happen to me and if it does, she will smite something. Artemis gives me confidence. I also feel really called to help wildlife when I connect with her, which is fitting of course. She has some of the most protective energy out of all my deities - they all love and protect me of course, but Artemis is the most adamant about it. Probably because she knows that helps with my anxiety. I don’t know man, she’s just so badass and supportive and reassuring. She also likes apples. I also get the vibes that the Greek Gods can be a little more vague with their answers than the Norse or Celtic pantheons, but not in a bad way, just in a “you need to figure this out yourself” way, which I can respect and appreciate. 

Cernunnos: Has an incredibly wise and ancient energy. I've found he's very clear with what he wants during tarot readings, he will tell you exactly what you need to work on and do. Cernunnos is also very adamant about self care, probably because I don't do it enough, oops. He has this rule where, if you take something from the earth, you must give something back. Like when you pluck a flower, say thank you or water the ground where it stood. It takes a bit to get into the swing of doing that but you'll have such a better relationship with the land once you do. Whenever I connect with him I feel so much calmer and level-headed than usual. He's also very insistent that I meditate more often. 

(He wanted me to use this picture lmao I love him)

Thor: 100% the deity I feel most casual with. Every time I make an offering or connect with him, I immediately feel so much more chill and laid back. We make jokes with each other a lot. Also he's the biggest hype man of my entire life. If there's a major life event going on, he will send a storm or some thunder to let you know he's with you. At my High School graduation there was a lightning storm in the distance and on my last day of school he sent me a truly apocalyptic looking storm to show his support. Also, and I don’t know if this is just me, but Thor is also a massive flirt. He will compliment you and likes to be flattered right back. That seems to be a running trend with the Norse gods, they like being flattered. But they, and especially Thor, absolutely return the favor.

[jasper-pagan-witch]

With all of the depictions of Cernunnos these days as this hulking, bearded, muscle-clad macho man who lives in the woods, it's very easy to forget that the single major depiction we have of him looks like this:

Image description begin: The engravings on the Gundestrup Cauldron, depicting a male-ish figure with noodle arms holding a torc in the right hand (image left) and a snake in the left hand (image right). There are deer of some kind on the left side of the image, and some strange dogs on the right side of the image. End image description.

I mean...

Image description begin: The same image, zoomed in to the face of the figure. The mouth is partially open, the eyes are looking slightly forward, and the nose is very flat. It overall looks very goofy. End image description.

[hell-yeah-satanism]

Cernunnos e offering

[maceofpentacles]

Hey, so I'm working with Cernunnos currently, and I.....Just can't see him as Pan? I mean, Pan=Goat. I don't see Cernunnos much of as a goat, I do associate him with a feminine counterpart and deer, but not GOATS. Also, I'm trying to weed out his wicca influence cause Idk about Wicca. Not all gods with horns are Cernunnos, especially since he's the only known male god with deer horns.

i hope this doesn’t come off as mean but cernunnos IS NOT pan.

never has been, never will be. sure they can seem similar in appearance, if you squint, but pan is a greek deity while cernunnos is a celtic/gaulish deity who often gets lumped in with the wiccan “horned god” ((which, surprise surprise, he also IS NOT)).

cernunnos is cernunnos. he is his own separate deity.

[rokai-butterfly]

Paintings I made as offerings to Brigid and Cernunnos - the two deities I follow. I hope they like them 🥰 made with acrylic, water colour, & ink. Water was moon water I made with the intention of these paintings. Will display them on my altar for a while and then move them to my wall with other dedications.

[coinandcandle]

Cernunnos Deep Dive

This was a requested deep dive on Hermes, you can request a deep dive on my ko-fi for $5!

Unfortunately not much is known historically about Cernunnos. Scholars seem certain, however, that he was an ancient Gaulish deity.

Let’s get to know this elusive deity!

Parents and Siblings

No attested parents or siblings

Lovers or Partners

No attested partners

Children

No attested children

Epithets

As far as we know, no ancient or historical epithets of Cernunnos have made it through the passage of time. That said, we have some epithets given to him from more modern times.

Lord of Beasts (Anne Ross)

Patron of Prosperity (Anne Ross)

Lord of Animals (Proinsias MacCana)

Lord of Living Beings (David Rankin)

Lord of Beasts and Fecundity (Miranda Green)

The Horned God*

More potential epithets listed in Jess South’s text referenced below.

Keeper of riches

God under the earth

Antlered serpent, Horned serpent

Clearer of paths

Sitter-at-the-crossroads

Sitter-between

Liminal one

God undying

Notes

*In depictions of Cernunnos, his head is notably adorbed with antlers, not horns. This epithet is also the name of the two primary deities of traditional Wicca. It is also shared among many other deities who are depicted with horns.

The name Cernunnos has appeared only once throughout history—on the Pillar of the Boatmen.

Though he is sometimes known as a god of animals or beast, Ceisiwr Serith (or David Fickett-Wilbar) makes the case that although he is depicted on the Gundestrup Cauldron surrounded by animals, only two are looking at Cernunnos, the stag and the dog. Plus there are other deities present on the cauldron.

Cernunnos’ depiction as a “Lord of the Wild” likely comes from his imagery, a man often sitting cross legged and with antlers on his head. This may denote a more spiritual, natural theme for Cernunnos. However, he is not depicted with vegetation or plants

Often depicted wearing a torc, Cernunnos is sometimes considered a god of wealth or fortune. Torcs were known to be a sign of wealth.

He is also seen as a cthonic deity or a psychopomp. Jo Forest makes the case that due to his imagery with snakes—creatures often associated with the underworld—and his relation to the ram due to the ram's horn. Rams were often sacrifices in ancient Indo-European practices.

Cernunnos is likely not a fertility god. This idea may come from his conflation with the Wiccan Horned God, as mentioned earlier.

Cernunnos has been considered to be related to masculinity, but this is also likely due to the conflation with Wicca’s Horned God.

Depictions of Cernunnos with domesticated and prey animals may suggest him being a god of hunting or hunters.

Jess South makes the case further for Cernunnos’ associations with liminality. Between man and animal; hunter and hunted; life and death.

This also points to him possibly being a god of balance or dualities. See Jess South’s “Liminality and Dualities, or “Paired Opposites”’ portion in the text referenced below for more.

Modern Deity Work

Not much is known about Cernunnos or how he was worshipped in the past, but any of the more historically-attested correspondences will have an explanation with them!

Correspondences

Rocks/Stone/Crystals

Gold, silver, copper, iron, and bronze (torcs were made of these metals)

Herbs/Plants

Ferns

Oak

Mushrooms

Mosses

The following plants are associated with liminality, trancework, or hedge-crossing which is why I have included them. Do not consume a plant that you’re unfamiliar with, and be careful touching them. Keep them out of reach of children and pets.

Foxglove

Mugwort

Nightshades

Animals

Stag (depicted looking at him on the Gundestrup cauldron and the silver bowl from Lyons, also he is often depicted with antlers like a stag)

Dog (depicted looking at him on the Gundestrup cauldron and the silver bowl from Lyons)

Ram-horned snake (often depicted holding a snake)

Symbols

Torc (often depicted wearing and holding torcs)

Snake

Antlers

Offerings

Torcs

Imagery of the animals associated with him

Wine

Beer

Antlers

Food

Bones

Feathers

Coins

Acts of Devotion

Explore liminality--what this means is up to you!

Take time to appreciate the balance between man and nature, see how you can participate.

Go hunting--this isn't required but if you're up for it, go for it! Just make sure to do so in an ethical way.

Meditate in the forest, or forest bathe, or just hang out in a woodsy /natural area

Quite frankly, since he is a god heavily associated with liminality, it may be a good idea to test the waters with gender expression!

Read up on him, the following section has a lot of really interesting takes and history on Cernunnos!

Get into cthonic magic

Consider learning more about hedge witchery

References and Further Reading

Cernunnos; An In-Depth Look by Jo Forest

Cernunnos: Origin and Transformation of a Celtic Divinity

Cernunnos: Looking a Different Way by David Fickett-Wilbar

Not Your Mother’s Horned God: The Cernunnos Primer by Jess South (“thebloodybones”)

Britannica

Wikipedia

Mythopedia

ΚΑΡΝΟΝΟΥ: to CARNONOS

[fernthewhimsical]

Prayer for Cernunnos

Lord of the liminal, the in-between The place between life and death, man and woman, hunter and hunted Lord of the cycles of life, of both ancient moss covered forests, and hallowed burial mounds King to all who live in your realms, plant and animal, witch and Fae, and all that lies in between. I honour you

[samkuchingdraws]

Cernunnos, the Horned One. A WIP.

Sketched and inked. Just a matter of colouring now.

[paganpillar]

Cernunnos

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

[unholyleaf]

IO FAUNUS Lord of the Wildwood, Lord of the Green. Keeper of beasts seen and Unseen Faunus, Lupercus, Kernunno, Pan, You are the Horned One who roams the Land, Hail to you Faunus, Primal and True, I sing my praises unto you! IO FAUNUS!

[jasper-pagan-witch]

Aine is caring and proud. She is warm like the summer sun. Her radiance shines like gold.

Angrboda is protective and strong. Pushing for personal improvement, personal strength. The world is cold and hard, but she is harder.

Aphrodite is patient, wild, and free. She is always moving towards something. Water, war, love, all three parts of the same being.

Athena is motherly, protective, and wise. She makes it known what she thinks, but she lets trial and error do its thing.

Azura is loving. She embraces and gently guides. Her wrath is legendary but rarely invoked.

Cernunnos is reassuring and surprisingly gentle. He knows what it's like to lose, to mourn, to wish things were different.

Loki is chaotic. Not in the way of a number generator, but in the way of someone who's tired of following rules. Their power is often underestimated.

Sigyn is everlasting and loyal. She stands with her family and does what she can to protect them.

Tehuti is knowledgeable. A little nuts. Like a beloved uncle, guiding but not always present.

[hell-yeah-satanism]

[musingmelsuinesmelancholy]

The smallest God

Made by magickdeerystudio; hopefully when the Selkies Pearl opens back up for the season I can check out her stuff in person!

As if I wasn’t pleased enough with this little Carnonos, him being created by a local artist just makes it all the more special

I plan on commissioning her to create a piece for Tsirona and Melusine

[leafboy-the-great]

Cernunnos: *huge powerful deity older than time, strong and knowing and absolutely fucking awesome*

Me: *a weak little man* I brought you a dandelion as an offering :)

Cernunnos: *knows I'm a dumb depressed little shit* ah yes this is wonderful thank you :)

[antleredcrown-standingstone]

Fern's introduction to: Cernunnos

(Disclaimer, this is my personal view on this Deity and therefore upg heavy)

Cernunnos is a Gaulish deity whose name means "horned". We know of him from the Gundestrup Cauldron and the Pillar of the Boatmen. Most often he is depicted with antlers (or a place where antlers would be placed), a torc around his neck, a bag in his lap or hands and a horned snake curled around his arms of in his lap.

Because of the antlers I associate Cernunnos with deer, especially the stag. In combination with the other animals I also see him as a Hunter deity, both as hunter and prey. He provides through the natural world.

The torc and bag, which is often thought to contain coins, show me that he is also a deity of riches and wealth, although for me that is mostly in providing natural resources needed to live, than monetary gains.

Cernunnos is a deity of the underworld, which is what the horned serpent might signify. He encompasses the natural cycles of death, decay, and new life growing from this.

He is also a deity of liminality, the places between. Not only the places in nature, but also of the self. In this aspect Cernunnos has been instrumental in my journey towards the discovery and acceptance of my gender fluidity.

To me Cernunnos is a deity of deep greens and bronzes. Of the sun dappled forests and the sound of the chase. He leads the Wild Hunt and invites us to run with him. His is an undemanding and unconditional love. He is the in-between where we will find whatever we need. He is both stag and wolf, both hunter and hunted. Hail the Forest Lord, Hail Cernunnos!

My devotional blogs: Nehalennia, Baduhenna, Cernunnos, Elen of the Ways, Liyesa and Nemetona. Find me on my main, my witchblog, my website, and my pinterest.