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Cernunnos
Cernunnos,
also Cernowain, Herne the Hunter.
He was known in all Celtic areas in one form of another.
He is the God of all wild things, crossroads, fertility, re-incarnation,
virility, warriors, woodland, open spaces. The animals sacred
to Cernunnos are the bull, stag, ram and horned serpents. Ancient
Celtic images show him seated cross-legged, with antlers/horns
growing from his head. He is usually naked with a torc around
his neck (although on the Gundestrup cauldron he is shown wearing
typical Celtic trousers and shirt).
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by Celtwitch |
He is partner to the Earth Mother
and, in a never ending cycle of birth, death and re-birth, joins with Her, impregnates Her and dies, only to be re-born.
The Christian church demonized Cernunnos by turning him into a representation of their devil. He came to be associated in people's minds with all that was negative and evil. Anyone who believed in him and called upon him was immediately condemned as a devil-worshipper and burnt or hung. Celtic Pagans have never recognised a devil figure - indeed the very notion of something so negative is completely against everything Cernunnos stands for.
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