You’re so welcome! You aren’t the first person to tell me this and that’s why I keep doing it. If it matters to one of you guys and helps you feel better then I’m doing the right thing. Have a lovely day, Nonny. ^_^
In honor of Pride month, let’s remember that Cernunnos is NOT a god of sexuality and masculinity. He was never historically associated with those things.
Historically he was the god of liminality, a mediator between realms, a traveler, a merchant.
His name was appropriated from the Gauls by Wiccans who falsely conflated him with Pan, who does represent sexuality and masculinity.
If if you want a sexual, masculine horned god, you want Pan.
Signed,
Your local non-binary asexual, worshipper of Cernunnos, who is Tired of seeing him portrayed in a sexual manner when that was never one of his attributes to begin with
The reason I mentioned my sexuality in this post in the first place is that, as an asexual person, overt depictions of sexuality make me a little uncomfortable. So I avoid places and discussions and tags where I know there will be explicit sexual content.
But when I am minding my own business trying to worship a god who has no sexual connotations whatsoever, I get inundated with sexual content.
And how about a little consent? I do not consent to seeing sexual content when I look for information on a god of the crossroads. I do not consent to seeing explicit porn when I look for information about a god of liminality.
It’s terribly jarring and uncomfortable it is to come across these images when you work with a deity in a Father-Figure type of way and truthfully I don’t need that in my life. No thanks.
This all hits home in a very big way for me. My friends, whom I love dearly, like to joke about it at times and I admit that I do play into it and find it kind of funny. Ultimately, though, I’m just so tired to seeing these overtly sexual images when looking for legitimate info or artwork.
tell me what your gods feel like. let me feel them too.
Cernunnos feels like the day in autumn when the cold first starts to ache in your bones. He is insistent; He may come without warning or He may approach you so gradually that when He finally comes to you it feels as if He has always been there.
Cernunnos is age, He is the earth cradling the bones of those who died thousands of years ago. He is the First Ancestor, He who was before the rest.
He is the thrill of fear that shoots up your spine when you find yourself lost in an unfamiliar space; He is the light that guides you safely home.
He is the smell of the damp earth; He is the shadow that flickers before your eyes as you lie, half asleep, not knowing whether you see true or false.
Here’s the most intact depiction of Cernunnos that exists, the Gundestrup Cauldron:
Note
the symbols associated with him – the antlers, snake, torc, deer, cow,
and dogs. TheBloodyBones does a great job of breaking down what those
symbols mean in the context of Gaulish society in that second link. Note
the symbols that are not present, such as a penis.
Yes,
cultures can change. The biggest change the Gaulish culture has gone
through is that they’re dead. So they can’t defend against the
misinformation neo-pagans have been spreading in the last century or so.
But before the Gaulish people were wiped out by the Romans, they
did share their religion. The Romans were familiar with Cernunnos, they
considered him equivalent to their Dis Pater, also sometimes drawing
paralells between Apollo, Mercury, and Pluto as well. None of those are
gods of sexuality either.
The examples of cultural
appropriation that were mentioned in the argument are indeed huge problems in the
neo-pagan community. I completely agree with that. But I didn’t
bring those up because that’s not what I’m talking about in the first
place. I’m talking about the fact that Wiccans took the name Cernunnos
to use for their masculine god of sexuality, and by them making that
connection, it is now nearly impossible to find accurate information on
the Gaulish god Cernunnos because most sources use the Wiccan’s
portrayal of him.
I never once said that we have to worship
exactly as the ancent people did. I certainly don’t have the resources
to construct a Nemeton in the middle of the forest to worship exactly as
the Gauls did. What I am advocating for is for the basic definition
of Cernunnos to be correct – meaning he should never be called the god
of masculinity, sexuality, animals, forests, hunting, or fertility. His
basic definition should be a god of liminality.
Nothing can change the fact that Cernunnos was never considered a
god of sexuality before the Wiccans came along and decided with no
factual basis that he should be.
“I’m talking about the fact that Wiccans took the name Cernunnos to use for their masculine god of sexuality, and by them making that connection, it is now nearly impossible to find accurate information on the Gaulish god Cernunnos because most sources use the Wiccan’s portrayal of him.”
“What I am advocating for is for the basic definition of Cernunnos to be correct – meaning he should never be called the god of masculinity, sexuality, animals, forests, hunting, or fertility. His basic definition should be a god of liminality.”
If you weren’t already you’ll need to keep water on the bit to keep it cool and keep it from burning out.
……I did not know to do this…..thank you
You’re welcome. I usually use a clean sponge and squeeze it gently above or beside the bit. You’ll figure out the way that works best for you once you start doing it, though. ^_^
Thank you so much! That’s so sweet! 🙂 And tbh, it’s why I started it back in the day. I felt soooo alone as someone who really identified as Southern in addition to bein a Polytheist and Queer. I figured I couldn’t actually be the only one…and here we are 🙂
Aries:Understanding the world through the palms of your hands. Touching everything that is tangible. Internal temper-tantrums that make your blood run hot. Struggling to contain your emotions; being outraged one minute, and playful the next. A secret adrenaline junkie.
Being addicted to doing things the hard way. Becoming passionate about new ideas too easily. Becoming passionate about new people too easily. Falling in love quickly and roughly. Looking through eyes that watch the world burn, manic and breathless. You are the infinitely relight-able fuse at the end of a firework, or a bomb.
Taurus: A slave to familiarity. Possessing a dragon hoard consisting of antiques, or the things in which you treasure most. Speaking before you think. The lavish romantic; lover of good times and calm surroundings. The pursuit of pleasure. Slow to forget, slower to forgive. Unfamiliar with compromise. The Aphrodite of love, and the Dionysus of luxury. A social butterfly, yet undoubtedly loyal. A distaste for messy emotional outbursts; being naturally self-contained. Guided by the firm, steady hand of desire. You are the lady and the lord, peaceable and regal and charming in all things.
Gemini:Feeling with your mind, being frustrated with emotions you can’t logically understand. The uncontrollable urge to interact with others, needing intellectual stimulation in order to function. Studying a billion different subjects in one day. A lover of literature, or just simply the words of people. Distancing yourself from emotion, never really knowing how you ‘feel’ about an issue. Always the Devil’s advocate. Constantly trying new things; needing change to keep both of your personalities happy. You are the mental immigrant, comfortable only when you’re foreign.
Cancer:Omnipotent in regards to emotions. Fearing change, and hating superficiality. The unexpected jokester. Moods that change faster than the weather. The emotional hoarder; fears throwing away anything at all. Falling into their own pain like a well and drowning themselves in it. Adopting all types of people into your ‘family’. Their own worst enemy. Offense taken towards indifference. The passive-aggressive problem avoider who leaves a trail of crumbs for their partner. You are the sea witch, who has the depth of the entire world contained inside of her, threatening to spill out.
Leo: Praying to the stars to make you one of them. Wanting to burst from a lack of affection, or attention. Hands that flail dramatically while telling a story. Needing confirmation that somebody really does love you, and feeling terribly vulnerable because of it. Wanting to shout your love, and hatred, from the hilltops- like an actor in a bad movie. Smiles that make people believe in heaven. Being painfully defensive when someone hurts your pride. Acting kingly or queenly when a situation gets uncomfortable. You are the physical embodiment of the sun, come down from the sky to bring light to Earth.
Virgo:Secretly enjoying the little things that you’re appreciated for. The woman who hides behind the fan to avoid unwanted attention. Routines biggest cheerleader. The best counselor you will ever encounter. The fine eye that takes a sledgehammer to their own self-esteem. The original skeptic. Raised eyebrows at those who put their faith blindly. A face of apathy, and a mind of curiosity. Surrounding yourself with invisible barriers, hoping that somebody finds a way through them. You are the analyst, struck the hardest by your own discerning eye.
Libra:Inevitably becoming the mediator in all conversations. Deep-seated desires to mold your life into the perfect balance of both Yin and Yang. Debating an issue for so long that everybody around you groans. A refined, attractive aura that makes you seem doubly gracious. The war for peace. Falling in love so, so young. Always feeling fickle. Having to have the last word. Finding your own strength through other people. Feeling so intensely vulnerable because of your uncertainties. You are the gentle judge, who will not cede when staring into the eyes of unfairness.
Scorpio:Not accepting any gray areas in life, living in a world of black and white. Emotions so intense that your teeth chatter, even while your face remains stoic. Living a secret life as a private investigator. Feeling raw when you fall in love, because of how deeply it cuts you. Being horribly satisfied with your obsessions. Internally burning down everything you once knew in order to be reborn. A phoenix in your own right. Looking into the mirror in order to confront your own demons, seeing dirty words stamped onto your forehead. You are a white flag on fire, spitting in the face of surrender.
Sagittarius:Mr. Brightside and the lover of open space to roam. Feeling gagged by routine, like a dentist has her hands down your throat. Throwing yourself off of the cliff towards possibility; getting taken advantage of. That deep-seated desire to leave an impression on people, like goose pimples after a gust of cold air. Being a little too honest. Experiencing highs and lows that make you seem like you’re more than one person. Naturally enthused. Always searching for something. You are the mistress of experience, bold and wild and feeding off of the knowledge of the unexpected.
Capricorn:Seeming to be cool and steady, even when you feel like screaming. Possessing a deep, undeniable need for security- in all areas of life. Dreaming of building kingdoms with your bare hands. Being embarrassed, but pleased when somebody compliments you. Being too hard on yourself, and experiencing black moods because of it. Hiding your sensitivity behind biting, but nonetheless amusing sarcasm. Wanting to feel worthwhile in the world. Having a deep desire, and drive, to make something of yourself. You are the Titan Cronus, learning the lesson of the finiteness of mortality.
Aquarius:Growing up and just feeling ‘different’. Loving all things messy, except emotions. Rejecting negative emotions because you hate feeling jealous, or fearful. Compassion through philosophy. The starry-eyed professor, mad scientist, or general genius. Becoming so immersed into your own goals that you forget your reasons for said goals. Attracting all types in the eccentric crowds. Lovingly charming; struggling early on to find the medium between humor and offense. You are the electric shock of innovation upon society, bold and sharp and drastic as hell.
Pisces: The unrivaled mental space cadet. Intuition resembling psychic affinity. Caring for others so deeply, that their emotions make you feel like you’re underwater. Seeing pieces of yourself inside of everybody else. Being so excited for the future, you lose the present. Empathizing with everyone. Having secret worlds to retreat to, when reality is too awful. The natural performer. Being slightly jealous of mermaids/men. Loving everybody just a little bit. Having your heart broken more than once a day. You are the holy ghost, filled with divine love for all, and longing even more so.
Something you likely won’t read in mosts texts covering colors and their magical associations: Blue is cited quite often in folklore from along the mountainous areas and in the South as being highly protective against wicked powers and spirits. Some examples:
In the South, porch ceilings are painted haint blue. The name itself is a reference to its purpose. It is used to deter spirits which are restless or ill-meaning. Cobalt bottles hung in trees are also though to trap evil spirits.
In the Appalachian mountain range, blue glass kept on windowsills will do the same as the haint blue ceilings. To drink from a cobalt bottle is said to cure a toothache.
In the Ozarks, it’s thought to be best to marry in blue. There’s also belief of whomever having blue eyes or wearing blue clothes to be true and without suspicion of infidelity.
And though the eye bit from the last may be questionable, it carries the same idea as the rest. Blue drives out ill people, powers, and spirits.
At least in coastal South Carolina, “haint blue” is sometimes used on front doors as well as porch ceilings, and I believe the concept is from certain West African folk traditions, although I could be wrong on that. (I grew up in the Charleston area.)
Haint blue does come from a specific group of people out of West Africa who were taken by the slave trade to the US, but I’m not sure of any cases of it being used directly in West Africa. I could be wrong though, so anyone who knows feel free to jump in.
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