So you're interested in Wicca, or some other forms of Paganism, but now you're a little worried because some well-meaning friend or family member has cautioned you that Pagans don't believe in God. Oh no! What's a new Pagan to do? What's the deal here, anyways you say?
Did You Know many Wiccans and other Pagans are polytheistic, and honor more than one divine being.
Some see all deities as one, and may refer to The God or The Goddess, while others may worship specific gods or goddesses.Some people practice witchcraft in the framework of a Christian belief system, and honor the Christian god.The deal is that most Pagans, including Wiccans, see “god” as more of a job title than a proper name. They don’t worship the Christian gods or satanism it's more a christian beliefs—at least in general, more on that in a minute—but that doesn’t mean they don’t accept the existence of deity it's up to the pagan and what ever path one seeks in life.As for me i am not into Christians bibles but that's just me lets go on.
Various Wiccan and Pagan traditions honor different gods. Some see all deities as one, and may refer to The God or The Goddess. Others may worship specific gods or goddesses—Cernunnos, Brighid, Isis, Apollo, etc.—from their own tradition. Because there are so many different forms of Pagan belief, there are nearly as many gods and goddesses to believe in. What god or goddess do Pagans worship? Well, it depends on the Pagan in question humm lets think about that.
Many Pagans, including but not limited to Wiccans, are willing to accept the presence of the divine in all things. Because Wicca and other forms of Paganism place a good deal of emphasis on the idea that experiencing the divine is something for everyone, not just select members of the clergy, it's possible for a Wiccan or Pagan to find something sacred within the mundane. For example, the whisper of wind through the trees or the roar of the ocean can both be considered divine. Not only that, many Pagans feel that the divine lives within each of us. It's rare to find a Pagan or Wiccan who sees the gods as judgmental or punishing. Instead, most view the gods as beings that are meant to be walked beside, hand in hand, and honored.Do keep in mind that there are also a number of people who practice magic within a Christian framework—these are people who self identify as Christian witches. Often—although not always—they continue to honor the Christian god. Some also incorporate the Virgin Mary as a goddess, or at least someone who should be venerated. Still others honor the various saints. But regardless, that's still Christianity-based,and not Paganism-based.
What about Wicca, precisely? One can be a witch or just born a witch without being Wiccan. Wicca itself is a specific religion. Those who follow it honor the deities of their particular tradition of Wicca. By the rules of Christianity, it's a monotheistic religion, while Wicca is polytheistic. These make them two very distinct and very different religions. So, by the very definition of the words, one could not be a Christian Wiccan any more than one could be a Hindu Muslim or a Jewish Mormon.
But going back to the original question, regarding whether Wiccans and other Pagans believe in God, there are many paths of Paganism, with Wicca being just one of them. Many of these belief systems are polytheistic. Some Pagan paths are based on a concept that all gods are one. There are also some Pagans who follow an earth- or nature-based belief system outside of the concept of deity completely. As if that wasn't confusing enough, there are plenty of people who consider themselves Pagans, in that they recognize and honor nature as divine and sacred, but do not work with any deity as all.
So, the bottom line? Do Pagans believe in god? In general, many of us do believe in the divine, in some way, shape, or form. Do we believe in the same god as our Christian friends and family members? Not usually, but like all of the other questions about Paganism, you're going to encounter people who simply do what works best for them.
Wicca is a modern-day, nature-based pagan religion. Though rituals and practices vary among people who identify as Wiccan, most observations include the festival celebrations of solstices and equinoxes, the honoring of a male god and a female goddess, and the incorporation of herbalism and other natural objects into rituals. Wiccans practice their religion according to an ethical code, and many believe in reincarnation.
WHAT IS WICCA?Wicca is considered a modern interpretation of pre-Christian traditions, though some involved claim a direct line to ancient practices. It may be practiced by individuals or members of groups (sometimes known as covens).
Wicca also has some commonalities with Druidism in its environmental component, and is considered the inspiration of the goddess movement in spirituality.
There is great diversity among individuals and groups that practice a Wiccan religion, but many are duotheistic, worshiping both a female goddess and a male god (sometimes referred to as a Mother Goddess and a Horned God.
Other Wiccan practices are atheist, pantheist, polytheist or respectful of gods and goddesses as archetypal symbols rather than as actual or supernatural beings. Rituals in Wicca often include holidays centered around phases of the moon; solar equinoxes and solstices; elements such as fire, water, earth and air; and initiation ceremonies.)
Other Wiccan practices are atheist, pantheist, polytheist or respectful of gods and goddesses as archetypal symbols rather than as actual or supernatural beings. Rituals in Wicca often include holidays centered around phases of the moon; solar equinoxes and solstices; elements such as fire, water, earth and air; and initiation ceremonies.
Ana or Danu/Dana – The Primordial Celtic Goddess of Nature
Aengus (or Aonghus) – meaning ‘true vigor’, was the son of the Dagda and river goddess Bionn. He was the Celtic deity of love, youth, and even poetic inspiration. In Irish folklore, to cover up his illicit affair and consequent pregnancy of Bionn, the Dagda (who was the leader of the Celtic gods and could magically control the weather) made the sun stand still for nine months, which resulted in Aengus being birthed in just a single day.
In any case, Aengus turned out to be a lively man with a charming (if somewhat whimsical) character who always had four birds hovering and chirping around his head. It was said that Aengus has his dwelling around Newgrange after he had tricked his father Dagda into giving him the possession of the Brú na Bóinne – the spiritual abode of the chieftain of the Tuatha De Danann.
But his status in ancient Ireland as a patron of young lovers was borne by his own love for Caer Ibormeith, a girl who was seen in a dream by the god. Aengus was then able to find her and marry her after instantly recognizing his muse as one of the swans (since Caer turned into a swan every alternate year).
As for the historical side of affairs, Aengus, with its epithet Mac Óg (‘young son’), was possibly linked with Maponos, one of the Celtic gods of youth, venerated in both ancient Britain and Gaul.
Lugus / Lugh – The Courageous Celtic Warrior God
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Though rarely mentioned in inscriptions, Lugos or Lugus (as known in Gaul) or his cognates Lugh Lámhfhada (Lugh of the Long Arm) in Gaelic Irish and Lleu Llaw Gyffes (Lleu of the Skillful Hand) in Welsh, was an important deity among the Celtic gods and goddesses.
Often revered as the resplendent sun god, Lugus or Lugh was also perceived as a dashing (and often youthful) warrior responsible for slaying Balor – the one-eyed chief of the Formorii, the old adversaries of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
The heroic act achieved by a precise slingshot into Balor’s eye heralded the ascendance of the Tuatha Dé Danann as the dominant tribe of gods in Ireland (over the Formorii, who were portrayed with darker characteristics). Interestingly enough, in spite of being the champion of the Tuath Dé, in the narrative sense, Lugh himself descended from the one-eyed (or one-limbed) Formorii, with Balor being his maternal grandfather.
Also known as the Samildánach (Skilled in All the Arts), Lugh (or Lug) was additionally associated with thunderstorms, ravens, and even lynxes. And befitting his status as one of the preeminent Celtic gods, he was often portrayed with his armor, helmet, and invincible spear Gae Assail.
In the mythical narrative, Lugh was perceived as the divine father of Cú Chulainn, the most famous of Irish heroes, whose character and feats bore similarities to both Greek Heracles (Hercules) and Persian Rostam.
As for history, due to the Roman cultural trait of interpretatio Romana, Lugus was possibly perceived as the Gallic equivalent of the Roman god Mercury – and as such, the ancient settlement of Lugdunum (modern Lyon) had its place-name derived from the Celtic god – meaning “fort of Lugus”. Quite intriguingly, the very term ‘leprechaun’ is also possibly derived from Luchorpain or “little stopping Lugh” – a blanket term used for the fairy in Gaelic.
Mórrígan – The Mysterious Celtic Goddess of Fate
Mórrígan or Morrigan (also known as Morrígu) was perceived as a mysterious and rather ominous female deity among the Irish Celtic gods and goddesses, associated with both war and fate. In modern Irish, her name Mór-Ríoghain roughly translates to the ‘phantom queen’.
Befitting this cryptic epithet, in Celtic mythology, Morrigan was capable of shapeshifting (who usually transformed into a crow – the badb) and foretelling doom, while also inciting men into a war frenzy. This suggests how Morrigan was possibly perceived as a war goddess.In contrast to these seemingly chaotic and ‘war-mongering’ attributes, Morrigan was possibly also venerated as a Celtic goddess of sovereignty who acted as the symbolic guardian of the land and its people.
Goddess Morrigan was often associated with other war goddesses like Macha, Badb, and Nemain. To that end, sometimes she was presented as a composite figure of the trinity (who were also collectively portrayed as a group of beautiful women having the ability to transform into balefully screeching crows over battlefields).
And talking of the narrative in Celtic myth, Morrigan was romantically linked with the aforementioned Dagda (and had a tryst with the chieftain of gods on Samhain). Consequently, she magically aided him against the war with the "Formorii.
On the other hand, a nascent sinister aspect of the goddess is revealed when Morrigan settled in triumph on the shoulder of the dying hero Cú Chulainn – after the hero unknowingly wounded the goddess in her shapeshifted form. In essence, her characterizations and prophetic powers are often associated with the premonitions of a warrior’s violent death, thus suggesting a link to the folkloric Banshees – derived from bean sidhe (‘woman of the fairies’).
''Brigid'' – The ‘Triple’ Celtic Goddess of Healing on contrast to the brooding aspects of Morrigan, Brigid, in pre-Christianity in Ireland yes i have livied in ireland,Brigid was regarded as the Celtic goddess of healing, spring season, fertility, and even smithcraft. In the mythical narrative, she is the daughter of the Dagda and thus a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Curiously enough, in Lebor Gabála Érenn (The Book of the Taking of Ireland – collection of poems compiled in the 11th century AD), she is mentioned to have quite a few domesticated animals. Ranging from oxen, the king of boars, to sheep, these critters used to cry out as a warning to the fertility goddess.Beyond the narrative, it is the history of Brigid as one of the major Celtic gods in Ireland that fascinates many aficionados. To that end, continuing the tradition of the Indo-European dawn goddess, Brigid was possibly sometimes venerated in her three aspects – the healer, the poet, and the smith. In essence, she may have been a triple deity (the composite of three entities).Lets go on
Furthermore, her eminence (in at least Ireland) stems from the possibility that pre-Christian Brigid was syncretized in medieval times with the Catholic Saint Brigid of Kildare. This incredible form of syncretism hints at how the early medieval Christian monks played their part in adapting to the changing religious landscape of the realm by retaining a few of the older native pagan elements like Celtic myths.
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Belenus''
Belenus (also known as 'Belenos', Bel, and Beli Mawr) was one of the most ancient and most widely worshiped ancient Celtic gods, venerated in Continental Europe, Britain, and Ireland. Known by his epithet ‘Fair Shining One’, Belenus was the quintessential sun god in Celtic mythology
He was also associated with the horse and the wheel – and their composites tended to portray him as the effulgent Sun God gloriously riding across the sky in his horse-drawn chariot (much like the Indian god Surya). Other representations depict Belenus as only riding his horse while throwing thunderbolts and using the wheel as his shield.
Now given his eminence in ancient times, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the Roman identified him with one of their own syncretic Greco-Roman deities – Apollo, the archetype of the youthful god of light.
Thus over time, Belenus was also venerated as the Celtic healing god, alluding to the regenerative aspects of Apollo. Consequently, healing shrines dedicated to the dual entities were found across western Europe, including the one at Sainte-Sabine in Burgundy and even others as far away as Inveresk in Scotland.
In fact, the cult of Belenus was so strong in some parts of the continent that the god was regarded as the patron deity of Aquileia (the ancient Roman city situated at the ‘head’ of the Adriatic sea) as well as the national god of Noricum (comprising parts of modern-day Austria and Slovenia).
Even in our modern context, the legacy of Belenus (or Bel) survives through the continued festival of Beltane (‘Fires of Bel’) which was originally celebrated to signify the healing powers of the spring sun. Interestingly enough, the familiar Welsh name ‘Llywelyn’ also comes from two Celtic sun gods, since it is derived from Lugubelinos – the composite of Lugus (or Lleu in Welsh) and Belenos (or Belyn in Welsh).
Toutatis – The Guardian God of Gauls
Source: Yorkshire Museum/ Wikimedia Commons
From the Gaelic scope, we move on to ancient Gaul and their Celtic gods. To that end, in our modern context, Toutatis is made famous by the Asterix comics catchphrase ‘By Toutatis!’. And while not much is known about the mythological scope, Toutatis (or Teutates) was probably quite an important Celtic deity, with his very name roughly translating to ‘God of the People’.
In the Ist century Roman poet Lucan mentioned Teutates as one of the three major Celtic gods (along with Esus and Taranis) And by the aforementioned trait of interpretatio Romana, Toutatis was seen as the equivalent of both Mars and Mercury. To that end, a Romano-Celtic healing god Lenus (or Lenus Mars) was possibly seen as the benevolent extension of Toutatis.
On the macabre side of affairs, later Roman commentators mentioned how victims were sacrificed in the god’s name by plunging their heads into a vat of unknown liquid (possibly ale). Interestingly enough, Toutatis possibly also had his Irish counterpart in the form of Tuathal Techtmar, the legendary conqueror of Ireland – whose name originally referred to the eponymous deity Teuto-valos (‘Ruler of people’).
Camulos – The Gallic God of War
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Camulos – envisioned as a Celtic warrior. Artwork by Trollskog-Studio (DeviantArt)
Rather than being counted among the core Celtic gods, Camulos was possibly more of a Romano-Celtic deity, often associated with Mars (or Greek Ares), and thus was perceived as a Gallic god of war. However, his origins lie as the tribal god of the Remi, a Belgic tribe that dominated north-eastern Gaul (comprising modern-day Belgium and parts of both Netherlands and Germany).
In any case, Camulos was regarded as one of the important ancient Celtic gods (or Romano-Celtic deities) in Britain, judging by his name being given to several places in the region, including Camulodunum, the ancient Roman name for Colchester in Essex, England. And while, initially, he was just worshipped on stones where wreaths of oak were placed, later characterizations portrayed Camulos as having horns of ram on his head.
Taranis – The Gallic God of Thunder
Taranis was widely known as one of the major gods of Gaul during Roman times His origins probably harked back to far older (and ancient) Celtic traditions. As we mentioned before, according to Lucan, Taranis formed a triad of Celtic gods (along with Toutatis and Esus) As such, he was regarded as the god of thunder, thus drawing obvious comparisons to Roman Jupiter (and Greek Zeus).
Yes i have been to many places on this earth.
Even in the visual scale, the god was portrayed with a lightning bolt, thus bearing more similarity to Zeus. However, literally, on the other hand, Taranis was also depicted with a solar wheel – one of the most prevalent symbols found on Celtic artifacts, which suggests his eminence in the related pantheon.
Furthermore, Taranis was associated with fire, be it the fire of the sky or the fire of the air. This had led to some disturbing allegations by ancient Roman authors, including Strabo and Julius Caesar, who described sacrificial victims being burned inside ‘wicker man’ constructs to appease the deity.
In any case, interestingly enough, the very name Taranis (as mentioned by Lucan) is unattested when it comes to historical inscriptions, though related forms like Tanarus and Taranucno- have been identified by archaeologists. And talking of archaeology, the cult of Taranis probably carried and venerated small votive wheels known as Rouelles that symbolized the solar shape.
Cernunnos – The Lord of the Wild Things
Source: Pinterest
Cernunnos is arguably the most visually impressive and rather portentous of ancient Celtic gods. The very term ‘Cernunnos’ is actually the conventional name given to the deity ‘Horned One’. So, as the horned god of Celtic polytheism, Cernunnos is often associated with horned animals, forests, fertility, and even wealth. His very depiction mirrors such attributes, with the conspicuous antlers of the stag on his head and the poetic epithets like the ‘Lord of the Wild Things’.
As for history, there is only single known evidence for the full name Cernunnos, and it comes from the Pillar of the Boatmen carved by the Gaulish sailors in circa 14 AD. Considered one of the important reliefs of the Gallo-Roman religion, the pillar additionally depicts other Roman deities like Jupiter and Vulcan. Interestingly enough, Julius Caesar possibly linked Cernunnos to the Dis Pater – the god of the Roman underworld.
However, the visual representations of the horned deity (as one of the Celtic gods) predate such inscriptions and names by centuries. To that end, one of the apt examples would pertain to an antlered human figure featured in a 7th-4th century BC dated petroglyph in Cisalpine Gaul.
Other related horned figures were worshipped by the Celtiberians – based in what is now modern-day Spain and Portugal. And the most well-known depiction of Cernunnos can be found on the Gundestrup Cauldron
In most ancient mythical narratives, we rarely come across divine entities that are solely associated with language. Well, Ogmios, as one of the ancient Celtic gods, goes against this ‘trend’ since he was simply considered the god of eloquence.
2nd century Hellenized Syrian satirist and rhetorician Lucian of Samosata mentioned how Ogmios was like the older version of Hercules in appearance, with both wearing lion skins and carrying clubs and bows. However, Ogmios does one better on the ‘bling’ factor by having long chains (made of amber and gold) attached to his tongue (inside his smiling mouth) that connect him with his group of followers.
Essentially, the visual scope symbolically represented how the Celtic god had the power of eloquence and persuasion to bind his followers to him. Ogmios’ later Irish equivalent Ogma also plays a crucial role in the Gaelic myths. Regarded as the son of Dagda, and thus a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, Ogma is credited as being the inventor of Ogham – the earliest system of writing in Ireland.
Given the epithet of the ‘Lord of Knowledge’, Ogam was also portrayed as a capable warrior who went to slay the Fomorian king Indech and claim a magical sword that could recount his heroic deeds. In another version, he dies along with his enemy Indech in single combat.
Grannus – The Gallic God of Hot Springs
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Stone fascia of the Roman-British shrine of ‘Minerva Aquae Sulis’ at Bath displaying the resplendent head of Apollo Grannus.
In another fascinating example of Gallo-Roman syncretism, Grannus was perceived as one of the (originally) Celtic gods of healing, who was later associated with Apollo and often venerated as a composite deity of Apollo-Grannus in the Roman world. To that end, Grannus was typically linked to the hot springs (or healing springs). And he was often a god worshipped in conjunction with Sirona – a Celtic healing goddess.
Unsurprisingly, his cult centers were often focused on areas with thermal and mineral springs, with the most famous one pertaining to Aquae Granni, which was later known as Aachen – the royal center of the later Carolingian Empire under Charlemagne. And it should be noted that Grannus was also regarded as a solar deity, thus symbolically linking his powers to that of the healing rays of the sun.
Epona – The Protector Goddess of Horses
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Rhiannon. Source: Sacred Wicca Lugus / Lugh – The Courageous Celtic Warrior God
Beyond syncretism, there were also sole Celtic gods worshipped in the pantheon of the ancient Gallo-Roman religion and even Rome itself. Epona belonged to the rare second category Mórrígan – The Mysterious Celtic Goddess of Fate Brigid – The ‘Triple’ Celtic Goddess of Healing, Belenus – The Effulgent Sun God Toutatis – The Guardian God of Gauls
Camulos – The Gallic God of War-Taranis – The Gallic God of Thunder-Cernunnos – The Lord of the Wild Things,Ogmios or Ogma – The Gallic God of Eloquence-Grannus – The Gallic God of Hot Springs-Epona – The Protector Goddess of Horses
Regarded as the female deity and protector of horses, donkeys, and mules (etymologically, the word ‘Epona’ is derived from Proto-Celtic *ekwos – meaning horse), the Celtic horse goddess was also possibly associated with fertility – given the visual cues of the patera, cornucopia, and foals in some of her extant sculptures.
And talking of depictions, most of the dedicatory inscriptions to Epona (found by archaeologists) were made in Latin (as opposed to Celtic), thus suggesting her popularity in the Roman world.
In fact, with her aspect as the protector of horses, Epona was favored and venerated by the auxiliary cavalrymen of the Roman Empire, especially the renowned Imperial Horse Guards (Equites Singulares Augusti), who were the cavalry counterparts to the Praetorian Guards.
As for the other Celtic cultures, it has been argued in the academic circles that Epona possibly inspired the Welsh mythical/folkloric character of Rhiannon – the tenacious lady of the Otherworld.
Eriu (modern Irish – Eire), regarded as one of the Celtic gods among the Tuatha Dé Danann, has the distinction of having an entire nation named after her. To that end, the very term Ireland comes from ‘Eriu’ (as the realm was known in the olden times), and thus her modern name Eire is modified to suit the current pronunciation of Ireland. Essentially, Eriu serves as the modern personification of Ireland.
As for the mythological side of affairs, the Irish goddess Eriu in many ways symbolized the legacy of the Tuatha Dé Danann after they were defeated by the Milesians. In the related narrative, when the Milesians invaded Ireland from Galicia, Eriu and her two sisters Banba and Fotla went forth and greeted the newcomers.
As a courtesy, the Milesians promised to name the land after her. But unfortunately for the Tuatha Dé Danann, they were only given the underground to dwell in by the victorious Milesians. And this realm (underneath the Sidhe mounds) was perceived as the passage to the Celtic Otherworld. Thus, the Otherworld was associated with the supernatural, mystical world where fairies and gods lived.
Above So Below
Eriu/Eire – The Goddess of ‘Ireland’
Eriu (modern Irish – Eire), regarded as one of the Celtic gods among the Tuatha Dé Danann, has the distinction of having an entire nation named after her. To that end, the very term Ireland comes from ‘Eriu’ (as the realm was known in the olden times), and thus her modern name Eire is modified to suit the current pronunciation of Ireland. Essentially, Eriu serves as the modern personification of Ireland.
As for the mythological side of affairs, the Irish goddess= Eriu in many ways symbolized the legacy of the Tuatha or Dé Danann after they were defeated by the Milesians. In the related narrative, when the Milesians invaded Ireland from Galicia, Eriu and her two sisters Banba and Fotla went forth and greeted the newcomers.
For thousands of years, people have looked up at the moon and wondered about its divine significance. It should come as no surprise that many cultures throughout time have had lunar deities–that is, gods or goddesses associated with the power and energy of the moon.
If you're doing a moon-related ritual, in some traditions of Wicca and Paganism you may choose to call upon one of these deities for assistance.
Alignak or Inuit
Alignak is the god of both the moon and weather. He controls the tides, and presides over both earthquakes and eclipses. In some stories, he is also responsible for returning the souls of the dead to earth so that they may be reborn,and alignak may appear in harbors to protect fishermen in the old days from Sedna, the wrathful sea goddess..
Artemis in Greek greek is a beautiful place
Artemis is the Greek goddess of the hunt. Because her twin brother, Apollo, was associated with the Sun, Artemis gradually became connected to the moon in the post-Classical world. During the ancient Greek period, although Artemis was represented as a lunar goddess, she was never portrayed as the moon itself. took me a long time to write all this down Blah''Why i don't know''like people cares lol
'"my real name only two people here knows"
"Blessed it be as above so below as the body so the soul" by my pentacles that i wear water fire earth and air ruled by spirit as all should be as i speak so mote it be"
