Forms of the Horned God

I'd be interested in learning more as you can! :)

Cernunnos the Guide
The Lord of Beasts has taken many forms, but his most enigmatic is his guise as the Antlered God of the Gauls. The fact his image is scattered throughout places like Italy, France, and Britain. We can only make guesses about his stories and worship, but the symbolism he bears gives us an idea. Holding a pouch of coins, he is the lord and God of prosperity, bringing riches and fortune. Holding the torc, he is master of war and a king with high status. Holding the ram-horned snakes, he rules over the Underworld, and allows access to the spirits and powers of the dead. He was considered a God equivalent to Pluto, Hades, but Cernunnos holds position over fertility as well, sometimes depicted with an upright phallus. He is depicted with antlers, surrounded by grazing animals, showing him as God of Beasts. See any resemblances with him and Pan? He is what I call a guiding, or 'transitional' God, for he has a grip on this world and the Otherworld. He guides the departed to the Afterlife, giving him a trait with Hermes. It is as Cernunnos that the Horned God takes the role of giver and taker of life. In my workings with Cernunnos, he has a rather 'no nonsense' character, but does enjoy showing his sense of humor on occasions. Like Pan, he revels in pleasure, but for the most part, shows he takes his spheres of responsibility very seriously. He makes me acknowledge that even though I should live life, I must learn that one day death will take me and my loved ones, and that I shall not blame him or His work, but simply remember what was, and hope for what's next. Simply giving time of devotion and honor to him through prayer has proven to please him, but food of any kind can do for him. A bit of money offered to him does the job to. Cernunnos is seen as hunter and hunted, predator and prey. He will present moments of "do this to prove your bravery", or "you really need this, show me you deserve it". Though, he has that side that shows he does hold a good bond with his children. I have felt his encouragement in times of severe importance, and counsels for my worries and shames. He teaches secrets to those who are willing to hear, and shows the path of the Fae, to those ready to make that journey. This is what hasn't been forgotten in his latest home in Britain. Where the Church failed to eradicate Cernunnos, they turned him into a demoted ghost prowling the forests. Herne the Hunter, leader of the Wild Hunt, has been feared as an evil spirit, taking away the sinners to their early demise. He turned into Old Horny, they viewed him as Gynn Ap Nudd, and later, he became the name we all know now, the Devil. Now King of the Wicked, King of the Witches, he is forgotten for what he was for a long time from the general public, but there were those few that kept his worship alive. While this was a basic overview of Cernunnos, I'll have to move on to the next few glimpses of the Old God. Old Horny, the true God of the Witches...

Thought I might post/share this "poem" I made for Cernunnos.

Hunter and Hunted

Wolf and Deer

Master of the Wilds

Prey turned Predator

Predator turned Prey

With His teeth He smiles

His jaws beckoning one to stray

Too close

With His antlers He warns

Glistening in the moonlight

Daring

To give up the fight is to die

To refuse to fight is to die

To fight is to live

To be is to live

True freedom is to know you are Prey

True freedom is to know you are Predator

True freedom is to know you.

The poem is very lovely! Really captured the essence of what life is about.

Thank you, I thought so too. I find that Cernunnos mainly teaches me about life and what it really means to be alive and living.

Old Horny
It is clear the Inquisition of European "witches" took the lives of many people disliked by their neighbors, or society in general. Many of the people, most of them women, were accused of being witches, heretics, and enemies of the church when it was never the case at all. Paranoia, fear, and/or jealousy played up to much of the accusations. However, there were still those few that provided evidence of the real witchcraft of those times. Figures like Isobel Gowdie gave testimonies of the Devil himself giving her power. Now, we must take every testimony of these times with a pinch of salt, but the idea of the Devil as the King of Witches is something that could have been abundant in many parts, and so has brought forth many traditions and practices calling him as teacher and father. Names like Bucca, and Ole Puck referred to a fairylike creature who aided the witch in her craft. The creatures can be viewed more as weather or sea spirits, but still were considered powerful to the point of being godlike. These can be viewed as the names of the Horned God once again. The Devil himself is a representation of all that is untamed, feared, and free. Presented as an idea rather than an actual entity now a days, he is all the desire, knowledge, and power society strives to extinguish. This dark persona makes the domestic soul cringe, and his presence signals the reversal of all that is acceptable and safe. When seen as a deity, an entity, he bestows knowledge and power over certain things. He will take care of his own if and when they treat him right. In a more fearsome aspect, he is host of the Wild Hunt, chasing down any and all who cross his path. The Woodwise, Fae Folk, or demons accompany him in his hunt, or the Mighty Dead. The Lord of the Hunt has been referred to as Herne in some parts, or even Woden/Odin. Upon the Hunt, the Wild Host rides across the sky, in the woods, or through the roads at night, taking with them all who fall to their sight. Considering the different aspects talked about in this one, I will start writing about certain spells and rituals that call forth the powers and presence of the Horned Lord later on...

Very interesting. Thank you for sharing Ase.

So, do you feel Herne is another aspect of Woden/Odin? Or the reverse? Or is the Horned God the culmination of all of those beings.

All the beings mentioned culminate to form the Horned God in his entirety. Considering gods like Pan and Cernunnos coming from different cultures, each God and spirit should be taken into consideration as their own being. However, these beings share similarities that link them together. Not to mention different gods begin to merge when cultures clash, and that brings them under the guise of one being for a different reason all together. Odin and Herne are their separate deities, but make up the presence of the Horned God.

Ah, excellent.

I'm just going to add some more to this a bit. The first few rites will be all under the dedication of the great God Pan,further exploring his roles.
The General Devotion
Let an image of a goat stand before you, adorned with flowers and blessed with water. A holy oil be used to anoint the idol, should the practitioner have one. If no idol is present, paint or carve his image on whatever is accessible. If not possible, let the world be your idol, and the earth your temple. Begin the rite by song, hymns to the god's glories and powers. Walk around the object of worship deosil if possible. If not, sit before the idol with arms outstretched. State your intentions in performing this rite, and offer prayers as offering first. Prayers made by the practitioner are best, but I'll add some later on. Afterwards present the gift of bread, fruit, cake, or any other food in front of the idol. Bless the food thus:
"I here by hallow and purify this meal to the Horned One Pan,
Great Spirit of the Living Field
All-consuming Flame of Lust and Desire
Master Goat, Honored King
See this meal and take what you will"
Now present the drink in front of the idol and bless it thus:
"I here by hallow and purify this drink to the Horned One Pan
Great Spirit of the wild and tame
Long-forgotten God of the World
Master Goat, Honored King
See this drink and take what you will"
Lift your hands and say
"Great Pan Oh Great Pan
Of the Earth and all above and below
See these gifts presented before you
And take what you will
And afterwards let us partake of the rest"
Talk to him as you wait for a sign of the Lord's finishing of the meal. Then ask permission from Pan to finish the meal, and once done, commune with the Goat, giving him reverence and petitioning him with your needs and wants. End the rite by reciting:
"Master Satyr Hail!
Blessed are those who see your power
Blessed is you who shows your power
Thank you good Lord Pan for this communion with you
And may you forever keep us in your eyes"
The rite can be added on or modified depending on the situation. I add that the offering can be consumed as a sharing of the meal with the god, but one must still ask permission before partaking of the food.