Cernunnos?

[Pagan Mantis]

Hey everyone, just a quick question here. So, I've researched the crap out of Cernunnos and have found relatively little along the lines of contacting him. Aside from sandalwood, I don't have peridot. Are there any suggestions? I'm going to try meditating using sandalwood incense as an offering and see if that gets me anywhere. Any suggestions would be lovely!

[_Banbha_]

There is very little about Cernunnos on the record and there are a couple of schools of thought on theories. I think how best we as individuals commune or the tools we use to do so (used either symbolically, as offerings, or to bring us to a certain state of consciousness) is a personal thing. My perspective leans towards what would have been natural and at hand to earlier peoples who's culture evolved along with Cernunnos in addition to what's seasonal (some depictions in Gaul have him with what appear to be holes for removable horns). I wouldn't nix anything like sandalwood if were meaningful and helped. I make a blended incense that has frankincense in it at times though I'm an Irish Recon. Where do you get peridot as a suggestion?

Something that has always given me pause is that in some images he is depicted feeding snakes something from a bowl on his lap. This one from Sommerecourt from _Symbol and Image in Celtic Religious Art_ (http://books.google.com/books?id=km66Nu4d-34C&pg=PA71&lpg=PA71&dq=sommerecourt+cernunnos&source=bl&ots=NVFyXGidlo&sig=q92mxZQn6dO7jyLYtIGE1WP4DeM&hl=en&ei=G47XSfyCIqaclQfUnY3VDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#PPA71,M1) depicts active worship with offerings and the removable horns. Now just what was he feeding the snakes? ;) Was it beer, some kind of grain mash, fruits, berries? Hmm. Sorry I can't be of more help but this has always intrigued me.

There are some discussions that may offer more ideas and links on Cernunnos in the Gods and Goddesses forum listed here on the resource thread (http://mysticwicks.com/showpost.php?p=2194328&postcount=7).

[Pagan Mantis]

Unfortunately, the only site that had anything in regards to offerings was Pagan News. I take everything on that site with a grain of salt. Thank you very much for the links!

[_Banbha_]

You're welcome. :smile:

[Nitefalle]

I have found anything that you feel is particularly "earthy" to be a good way to help tap into his energies. For some reason, I get copper - dunno if it's because it's a metal, or the color but he seems to like it. I offer pennies or crystals. Scents like patchouli or pine would probably work well, too. I tried what you are doing as well, a few years ago, asking around as to what might work best and checking sites, but in the end I just had to attempt it on my own during ritual and he came through very strongly and has ever since. I think it's just a trial / error thing, really. Even if all the sites and everyone you speak to agree on the best way to contact him, it still might not work for you. *shrugs* Such is the way of the gods.

[Deerwoman]

As he's believed to be a god of the underworld - I would attempt to contact him by offering libations of ale or mead and a nice meal with some roasted meat. For our Pagan ancestors, offering food and libations was common practice after invoking or summoning the gods. Feasting with the gods was also common practice.

A good book on the subject is H.R. Ellis Davidson's Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe.

[Seren_]

Something that has always given me pause is that in some images he is depicted feeding snakes something from a bowl on his lap. This one from Sommerecourt from _Symbol and Image in Celtic Religious Art_ (http://books.google.com/books?id=km66Nu4d-34C&pg=PA71&lpg=PA71&dq=sommerecourt+cernunnos&source=bl&ots=NVFyXGidlo&sig=q92mxZQn6dO7jyLYtIGE1WP4DeM&hl=en&ei=G47XSfyCIqaclQfUnY3VDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#PPA71,M1) depicts active worship with offerings and the removable horns. Now just what was he feeding the snakes? ;) Was it beer, some kind of grain mash, fruits, berries? Hmm. Sorry I can't be of more help but this has always intrigued me.


Thanks to you I had to buy that book :razz: But I really enjoyed it, so that's OK ;)

Another book with some good stuff on Cernunnos is Webster's The British Celts and their Gods under Rome (the first chapter was a bit shite, but once he gets into the archaeology it's much better).

I'm not sure that it will offer much on specific offerings, but I think another good avenue to follow is reading up on ritual practice in general. Brunaux's The Celtic Gauls: Gods, Rites and Sanctuaries is good for that, and I have Ton Derks' Gods, Templs and Religious Practices: Transformation of Religious Ideas and Values in Roman Gaul on order, I've heard good things about it. That should give an idea of practices and the sorts of offerings that were made in general - I think beer, wine, fruits and grains would be particularly apt for a god like Cernunnos.

[sleepycat]

I believe that the God/dess chooses their own. Attempting to contact Deity that has no interest in you is a waste of time.

Having said that, there is a ritual written by Francis De'Venny for an individual to contact Hern. It is recorded in The Witches God by the Farrars. I don't know if it's available online. The ritual is very basic. The aspirant recites the Song of Amergin as a hypnotic, repeating it 'till he reaches trance, and using the first line as a closant, repeating it seven times.

Be sure you have people around you to break you out of trance, if need be.

Journey Well and Bravely

[lightdragon]

I believe that the God/dess chooses their own. Attempting to contact Deity that has no interest in you is a waste of time.



this i agree with . Especially with Celtic deities.

[Ben Gruagach]

Another recent book you might find useful is "Horns of Power: Manifestations of the Horned God" edited by Sorita d'Este, David Rankine, and Kim Huggens.

[StormVixen]

imo
Cernunnos is best contacted by spending time in the woods or other wilderness, as far away from modern civilization as possible... there is no need to bribe him with offerings bought from a shop or imported from distant lands, instead, make something from things you find around you, blend some on the spot freestyle incence (let your senses guide you), or prepare him some food or drink... just do what comes naturally to you and dedicate it to him...

eta... copper... i cant get enough of... im sure its something to do with him...

here is an example

[Nuadu]

You know I would recommend something far less Celtic for learning about Cernunnos/Horned Gods. If anyone interested I recommend Ronald Hutton The Triumph of the Moon.

For me it is the definative book for horned gods because Ronald Hutton explains its current popularity and its origins. Even if youre not into Cernunnos I still recommend it for anyone into Neo Paganism. Its essentially a history of High Magic and Cernunnos is inextricably linked that.

[Nokturnel]

I believe that the God/dess chooses their own. Attempting to contact Deity that has no interest in you is a waste of time.

First let me say that I do agree with this!

However, I don't see any harm in trying but if you don't get the results you want through attempting then you may want to decide if it's worth your time to continue trying.

I'm going to share my story with you about Cernunnos. Cernunnos is my Patron God. He chose me a while ago but I didn't listen very well. He came to me in a dream and at that time had never heard of nor seen any God like him. I had to do my fair share of research to find a "horned God" luckily when you type that in on Google, Cernunnos comes up fairly quickly. When I read the description, my dream image fit perfectly. Before I'd seen Cernunnos in the forest, I had seen a buck (while he is typically associated with the stag, a male deer had appeared to me instead) and the buck ran past me as though to grab my attention. I followed the buck and came upon a figure, male, naked, and standing between the trees. He had long, wild hair, with a full beard, and a full (very large) set of antlers. He talked to me but I can't for the life of me remember what he said to me. When I woke up I made a point to research to find out what or who this was. To my shock this was an actual God. Considering I'd been practicing Paganism for more than a few years at this point with no contact from a God or Goddess, this was amazing and I was excited! When I tried to ask about Cernunnos in a forum I was quickly put down and told "only Celtic Pagans with ancestry can be chosen by Cernunnos!" This elitist view left me feeling very upset and crushed. My research of Cernunnos tapered off quite a bit after that. Then slowly, it stopped. About 6 months, if not a little longer, after that occurrence I had another dream of him. In this dream he practically hit me over the head! (In a sense.) He told me that I was his and he'd chosen me. He was reassuring me. Till this day I follow him. I can't make extravagant offerings to him but I think of him daily and burn incense for him daily.

Earthy scents are perfect for Cernunnos. Think of forest smells, pine would be a great scent for him even though he's tied to Oak.

http://sacredcirclescoven.com/Cernunnos.htm

That site has a great idea about creating your own Cernunnos incense! Obviously you can change it to fit what you feel Cernunnos is connected with. Go with intuition.

Cernunnos is also connected to the animals, mostly with the stag/deer and the snake. Sometimes Cernunnos is depicted not only with a stag but with a snake that has antlers.

I'm talking way too much and my long story probably wasn't needed at all!

[Twig]

Hey everyone, just a quick question here. So, I've researched the crap out of Cernunnos and have found relatively little along the lines of contacting him. Aside from sandalwood, I don't have peridot. Are there any suggestions? I'm going to try meditating using sandalwood incense as an offering and see if that gets me anywhere. Any suggestions would be lovely!

Yes, just meditate as you will, with full belief, and he will be with you. Just as Andrasta is with me.

As for dieties choosing their own that is true but, I find they will attend and and take note of your curiosity...usually with very good results.

Peace,
Twig

[thought_on_a_wind]

Me? feel the beat and vibration of his spirit, let it encapsulate you, know that he will come, not as a command but because you are answering his call. The spirit is the strongest part of all this, not simply some rocks or herbs, meditate on what you feel is
Cernnunos and he will arrive... At his choosing, not to say that that is any slower of a time than anything else.

[skilly-nilly]

Something that has always given me pause is that in some images he is depicted feeding snakes something from a bowl on his lap. This one from Sommerecourt from _Symbol and Image in Celtic Religious Art_ (http://books.google.com/books?id=km66Nu4d-34C&pg=PA71&lpg=PA71&dq=sommerecourt+cernunnos&source=bl&ots=NVFyXGidlo&sig=q92mxZQn6dO7jyLYtIGE1WP4DeM&hl=en&ei=G47XSfyCIqaclQfUnY3VDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#PPA71,M1) depicts active worship with offerings and the removable horns. Now just what was he feeding the snakes? ;) Was it beer, some kind of grain mash, fruits, berries? Hmm. Sorry I can't be of more help but this has always intrigued me.


What an interesting image/idea!! Viewed as a Forest God, snakes make so much sense; my perception is that much of the life of the forest/wild/nature hibernates for the winter as snakes do.




I believe that the God/dess chooses their own. Attempting to contact Deity that has no interest in you is a waste of time.


Although I agree, there's nothing to say that the God doesn't have an interest. I have found that the Gods I am familiar with (so Irish ones although I'm not making any argument that it's just Irish ones) prefer some effort towards communication made on the part of the person to start off with.




imo
Cernunnos is best contacted by spending time in the woods or other wilderness, as far away from modern civilization as possible...

This I totally agree with. :boing:

Although I don't think you have to go very far. To me, the places where Nature breaks through the veneer of 'civilization' are just as powerful and far more accessible than "wilderness". So meditation in a vacant lot can be just as meaningful as trekking.

One of the very best offerings is picking up trash.

I also have remade my yard into wild space (which may or may not be something you can do) but I also do Guerrilla Gardening-- I throw native wild-flower seeds into available spaces. That's an offering anyone can perform.

Edited to add-- what a beautiful vine construct!! Thanks for posting the photo.