The Dreaming of Cernnunos
Deep in the shadows, the Old God lies in slumber, enveloped by the damp, earthy embrace of the forest floor. He awaits the moment we sink our roots into the ground and claim our connection to the wild.
The Guardian of the Wildwood
At the heart of the Grove of All Worlds, Cernnunos sits in tranquility beneath a venerable Oak. His essence interlinks the realms of Earth, Sea, and Sky, entwined with the interstitial worlds beyond. He and the Great Tree, with sprawling branches reaching out to the cosmos, represent an inseparable unity. The massive trunk stands as the backbone of the ancient woodland, serving as the nucleus around which life and disparate realities revolve. Beneath the soil, a labyrinth of roots delves into the hidden depths of the Underworld, while above, celestial movements of the Sun, Moon, and Stars weave an everlasting tapestry around him. Every rustle of leaves contributes to the symphony reverberating through the vibrant Green world, glimmering in bright golds and ethereal mist. Soft moss blankets the earth below him, caressing the dark, fertile soil, while nearby lies the Cauldron from which the Five Rivers cascade.
From within the stillness of the forest, ancestral figures emerge, fluttering wings and gliding shadows, the first beings—the oldest of creatures—gathering under his watchful eyes: the Blackbird, custodian of the gateway; the Stag of Seven Tines, steward of time; the Ancient Owl, the wise crone of night; the Eagle, sovereign of the sky and gaze of the Sun; and the Salmon, the most ancient and the wisest, leaping forth from the convergence of the Five Springs. He embraces and blesses them as they pay tribute to Cernnunos with his brown-hued skin and radiant, curled hair; the god whose gaze ignites like a constellation of stars, whose being resonates with the essence of primordial waters teeming with enigmas. His form, stripped bare and phallus raised, is adorned with a crown of antlers ablaze in emerald light, entwined with ivy. In one hand, he clutches the golden Torq, symbolizing his nobility and a sacred promise; in the other, the horned serpent, representing his potent, divine sexuality that honors the Goddess. In the heart of Cernnunos’ sacred forest, he and his progeny fashion the very fabric of the worlds.
Birth of Cernnunos
Cernnunos emerges as a deity of nature and fertility, manifesting in various forms and bearing numerous names across cultures through time. Predominantly recognized in his Celtic representation as the untamed Horned God of Animals and the leaf-clad Green Man, guardian of the verdant realm, he bears a legacy that reaches even further back. Cernnunos thrived even as humanity was taking its first steps. Prehistoric people painted his likeness in caves and etched his essence into cliffs, stones, and even within the Earth itself. They endeavored to connect with him and tap into his power by adorning themselves with animal skins and skulls, feathers and bones, embodying the spirit through ecstatic dance. Yet, his existence predates humanity by millennia. During the age of dinosaurs, in the lush, damp landscapes of swamps and subtropical forests, Cernnunos became synonymous with the evolution of life itself, embodying its diversity and chaos. Even before, during the time of First Earth, he awaited birth in the womb of the All Mother, Anu, prepared to catalyze the unending cycle of existence.
The Diverse Aspects of Cernnunos
Cernnunos is depicted as the Horned God and the protector of animals, often assumed to take a human or humanoid form, crowned with antlers. While he bears a human visage, his energy and purpose transcend humanity. He governs over animals and embodies the principles of hunting and harvesting. Though frequently associated with the natural kingdom and our primordial instincts, Cernnunos embodies the essence of trees, forests, and plant life in his connection to the Earth as the Green Man. His branching antlers signify the expansive canopies of the forest, reflecting both his animal nature and the foliage he protects. In his role as master of the sacrificial hunt, he illustrates the cycle of life, showcasing that loss nourishes new existence.
In his Underworld guise, Cernnunos becomes the Dark Man, residing in the mysterious confines beneath the hill. He is the guardian who comforts the souls of the deceased as they traverse to the Summerlands of the Otherworld. This aspect of him, as the master of the Wild Hunt, chases malevolent souls in a protectorate role that doesn’t conform to traditional morality, but rather preserves the sanctity of the land and its spirits.
In the Greek tradition, Pan represents another facet of the Horned God, exuding a vibrant celebration of unfettered male energy in its truest form. While often portrayed as mischievous and astute, he wields a frightening edge, invoking primal fears tied to nature’s savage cycles. He is both liberator and guardian, capable of invoking uncontrollable terror among those infringing upon his domain.
Revived within the Elizabethan context, Cernnunos reemerges as Herne the Hunter within Shakespeare’s works, a sentinel of Windsor Forest. As guardian during turbulent times, he symbolizes the balance of untainted masculine essence within nature.
Cernnunos and the Sacred Rhythm of the Year
Cernnunos embodies the Green Man during the vibrant spring and summer months, where he heralds the light half of the year. In spring, he is the youthful son of the Goddess, representing rebirth and growth. With the arrival of summer, he flourishes as the Green Man, alive with life and vitality, in harmony with the Green Lady Goddess. Conversely, autumn marks the season of sacrifice, where he embodies the wounded god, embarking on an odyssey to the Underworld. In death, his flesh nourishes the Earth, leading to the resurgence of life as new seeds are birthed from his decay, heralding another cycle of light.
The Journey to Find Cernnunos
The journey to Cernnunos unfolds through the natural world—venturing into untamed spaces and developing a profound understanding of growth, abundance, decay, rest, and rebirth. Equally, this journey includes quests into the Otherworld, exploring the Middleworld forest under his guardianship. This is an experience that blends the actual and the symbolic, leading wanderers beyond the confines of civilization and deeper into the heart of the Wildwood. This exploration often entails moving toward the periphery, a return to the sacred center. Upon entering Cernnunos’ forest, the seeker embraces a unique journey, guided by instincts rather than familiar paths. The atmosphere shifts, instilling a sense of timelessness, where intuition reigns supreme. The wisdom of the body transcends the conscious mind, leading explorers to their destination.
The Path of Cernnunos
Embarking on the path of Cernnunos aligns closely with the calling of a shaman or a seeker yearning for communion with the land. One cannot discuss Cernnunos without acknowledging Anu or Don, the All Mother who granted him life. Their connection is one of primal forces birthed before time and the gods, establishing a foundational relationship as the First Mother and First Father. His profound energy intermingles with her essence, pervading all aspects of life. As the primary architect of both life and death, he embodies the cosmic dance of existence—ever perennial and self-originating. His essence reflects a tripartite nature, just as Anu embodies her own triadic form. He is Cernnunos: Father, Son, and Wild Spirit.
Cernnunos Chant
Cern-nu-noh-oh-oh-oh-os
Stag Horned Hunter, Hunted One
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Cer-nu-noh-oh-oh-oh-os
Greenwood Lord of Life and Death
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Cern-nu-noh-oh-oh-oh-os
Herne and Pan and Every Man
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