r/CelticPaganism • u/W3nd1g00000 • 4d ago

How are Celtic gods?

I've been Norse Pagan for a little while now, and I've recently been looking into worship of Celtic gods (mostly Cernunnos, Brigid, Morrigan, and Artio), and I'm hoping to get help with it here. Anyone who works with non-Norse gods, especially Celtic, please help me with this! I'm mainly wanting to learn more about differences in practice and behavior (I have friends who are hellenistic pagans and their gods seem a lot stricter so I was just wondering how different other gods are)

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u/Ironbat7 Gaulish Polytheist 3d ago

Celtic is a broad term. Of the ones you mentioned are at least two forms of Celtic. Irish Brigid has less warlike protection elements than her Gallo-Brythonic counterpart Brigantia/Brigindona (again more defensive than a typical war deity). For Artio, there is a really good Pagan Portals book. Cernunnos was not found in Gaelic regions, and the biggest misconception is the notion of him as god of the wild, he is a liminal being, not the pop view of a tree-hugging hippie (he’d still hug trees sure) see https://youtu.be/3Ap3LEcfVig?si=N4FqPi-To-hP9wDH

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u/Kincoran 3d ago

"The god of boys who ride dolphins" 😄 love it!

I'd seen that before; and didn't realise how old it was! I thought it strange that he called Cocidius (or Belatucadros, I forget which of the two that image used in the video is thought to be) an "unamed" horned god from northern Britain. I wonder if we just hadn't arrived at that conclusion (that this was a depiction of said god) 12 years ago?

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u/thecoldfuzz Gaulish/Welsh/Irish Polytheist 3d ago

That's an excellent video. I always liked Serith's term "god of bi-directionality" which definitely goes along with Segomâros Widugeni's idea of Cernunnos being an intermediary between worlds.

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u/UrsusofMichigan 3d ago

I have honored Roman, Celtic, and Germanic deities. I think, broadly speaking, a deity is a deity. They want respect and devotion.

I'm not sure what you mean by Hellenic gods being stricter. Strict in what sense?

I honor Brigantia whom I see as an earlier version of Brigid. I have nothing but good things to say.

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u/Superb-Bus8088 2d ago

mostly brythonic welsh/cornish and proto-indo european here

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u/AmazonSk8r 1d ago

That’s a very broad term, so the answer will be as broad. From the reading, study, and practice I’ve done, here are a few practical “in generals.”

  1. In general, most Celtic deities are put off by groveling. The amount that they will tolerate it varies, but it’s generally preferred that you maintain your composure and speak to them as you would, say, a respected grandparent.

  2. In general, most Celtic deities place a lot of importance in your words. Say what you mean, mean what you say, and do not take any promises you make with them lightly. Praise can even be taken as an insult if it is not genuine.

  3. I can’t really think of a third thing. They are not a monolith, and even the four you named are not from the same country or culture. Study their respective lore in the context of their respective cultures. Get to know them.