Cernunnos

[Anubis RainHawk]

I have been looking all over for info on Cernunnos, but it seems that there isn't very much out there. A follower of Cernunnos that I know told me that it is likely that most of the myths about Him have been lost. Is this true? If not, where can I find myths about Him?

I was also wondering if there were any traditional prayers or invocations to Him. I've read the Cernunnos invocation by the Farrars, but that doesn't really appeal to me very much. If anyone knew of any kind of mantras to get in touch with Cernunnos, it would also be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Anubis RainHawk

[Nantonos]

I have been looking all over for info on Cernunnos, but it seems that there isn't very much out there.
There is, but i depends on what you are looking for and how much you know already and how much depth you want to get into.

A follower of Cernunnos that I know told me that it is likely that most of the myths about Him have been lost. Is this true? If not, where can I find myths about Him?

Myths are not the only source of information about a deity, nor the most reliable. For some deities, such as mediaeval Irish and Welsh ones, myths (stories written down with more or less distortion by non-believers who had no actual experience of that deity, as folklore or curious stories) can be analysed to try and get at the original religious impulse behind the myth.

For other pantheons, the myths were written by believers (eg Greek mythology) and is much closer to the source.

For Cernunnos, we don't have written myths. We have other, more direct, sources of evidence though , such as sculptures that were made at the time that Cernnnos was worshipped. These are our main source of information.

I was also wondering if there were any traditional prayers or invocations to Him.

Not that survive, no.

I've read the Cernunnos invocation by the Farrars, but that doesn't really appeal to me very much. If anyone knew of any kind of mantras to get in touch with Cernunnos, it would also be greatly appreciated.

My advice would be to meditate on pictures f the sculptures, and try to get a reproduction casting of one, or even to visit one if you happen to be in the area.

[Theres]

Not that survive, no.
i believe this is because Cernunnos exists mainly as an archetype only.
the Romans tended to name all the horned gods they encountered 'Cernunnos', whether that was Their local name or not. therefore this name is somewhat of a catch-all for the many similar horned deities found throughout Celtic Europe.
you can find Him, but you'll have to research the names He was known as by His worshippers to do so.

imo.

[Nantonos]

i believe this is because Cernunnos exists mainly as an archetype only.
the Romans tended to name all the horned gods they encountered 'Cernunnos', whether that was Their local name or not.

No, they did not! For a start, Cernunnos is a Celtic name, not a Roman one. For another, Jupiter Amnon was called, well, Jupiter Amnon not Cernunnos ;-) Why do you state that they called all horned gods Cernunnos?

[IndigoOwl]

There's some general information here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cernunnos

[Nantonos]

There's some general information here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cernunnos

Yeaah, its not a bad article. Mostly accurate, a few small errors, better than most stuff you see on the web.

[Darakash]

My wife (Darakash) shared with me your post and as Cernnunos is my patron I thought I would send you a reply.

Here is a good link to get you started. http://members.aol.com/wiccawheel/cern99.html

One of the challenges you face in finding info about him is that he is a god of the common people thus scholars paid minor attention to him. Try to cross reference Herne as some the earliest references to him can be found there. Also keep in mind that during the dark times (now) he is resting. If you do not mind me asking...is there a particular reason you are trying to get in touch with him? Lastly I have found that when I seek him out he usually apprears on his schedule not mine (while driving, during sex etc.)

You can email me directly if you would like at scynergee@yahoo.com or scynergee@netscape.net.

Blessed Be
Cynergee

[ancestral_lee]

riiiight.... so we have a sculpture with a name and a a few other sculptures of similar looking guys.

so someone remind me how exactly we know they represent the same guy or how we know they represent a god at all?

other than the inscribed 'Kernnuno' we have NOTHING else.

for all we know they may well represent totally different tribal gods whom the tribes happen to envisage with antlers too.

the thing is, my suggestion holds as much weight as any others and is possibly backed up by the fact that pan-celtic gods are rare and that deities tend to be localised in general.

[Seren_]

riiiight.... so we have a sculpture with a name and a a few other sculptures of similar looking guys.

so someone remind me how exactly we know they represent the same guy or how we know they represent a god at all?

other than the inscribed 'Kernnuno' we have NOTHING else.

for all we know they may well represent totally different tribal gods whom the tribes happen to envisage with antlers too.

the thing is, my suggestion holds as much weight as any others and is possibly backed up by the fact that pan-celtic gods are rare and that deities tend to be localised in general.

As Nantonos pointed out a while back, there are now four inscriptions known to be associated with Cernunnos, which he kindly described in this thread (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showpost.php?p=1206591&postcount=26).

[oakowl]

I have been looking all over for info on Cernunnos, but it seems that there isn't very much out there. A follower of Cernunnos that I know told me that it is likely that most of the myths about Him have been lost. Is this true? If not, where can I find myths about Him?

I was also wondering if there were any traditional prayers or invocations to Him. I've read the Cernunnos invocation by the Farrars, but that doesn't really appeal to me very much. If anyone knew of any kind of mantras to get in touch with Cernunnos, it would also be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Anubis RainHawk
Here is a fine prayer to Cernunnos from "A book of Pagan Prayer" by Ceisiwr Serith.
Cernunnos, lord sitter in the doorway,
god of equilibrium,terrible,merciful;
you who hold the opposites apart,
you in who all opposites unite,
my prayer goes to you to open the passage, to clear the threshhold, to make the way clear.

Also there is this mantra.
Cernunnos,Lord,guide my way.

Bright Blessings!

[raven grimassi]

For a start, Cernunnos is a Celtic name, not a Roman one.

It is interesting to note that Celtic scholar James MacKillop (Oxford University) states that Cernunnos is a Latin name (Dictionary of Celtic Mythology - Oxford University Press, 1998).
Any thoughts?

Best regards - Raven

[Nantonos]

It is interesting to note that Celtic scholar James MacKillop (Oxford University) states that Cernunnos is a Latin name (Dictionary of Celtic Mythology - Oxford University Press, 1998).

I would be interested to hear more about that claim - can you quote a sentence or two around that?

Its not Latin, at all, its Gaulish.

[Anubis RainHawk]

Would you say that Cernunnos is more solar, lunar, or both? I read that he was aligned with the planet of Mercury. Would you agree?

[StormVixen]

ive got kate wests CD called... um... i cant remember! but theres a song on it called cernunnos... it goes...

cernunnos horned one
cernunnos god of the sun
hern the hunted and hunter
stag god of the earth...

well i like it!

[Viseux]

He calls to me...

My Alter weeps because it lacks his image...

I see him in my mind...

In wooded areas...

I wander...

I see his face...

I hear his voice...

He calls to me.

[Nantonos]

Would you say that Cernunnos is more solar, lunar, or both? I read that he was aligned with the planet of Mercury. Would you agree?

There is no evidence that the Gaulish Celts had any sort of astronomical or astrological system, modern 'Celtic Astrology" books notwithstanding.

However, they were certainly aware of the Roman deities who gave their names to the planets - and adopted and altered them in the Gallo-Roman period. For example, the 'Celtic Mars' is rather different to the classical Roman Mars.

On the well known altar from Reims, which was the capital of Gallica Belgica, a large Cernunnos is flanked by smaller figures of Mercury and Apollo. One could thus say that the function of Cernunnos was seen as related to, or perhaps presiding over, the functions of (Gallic) Mercury (trade, etc) and (Gallic) Apollo (healing, prediminantly).