1. The Mysteries of Cernunnos
The Horned God of the Hunt is a mystery to many, he appears as a middle aged man bearing stag antlers atop his head. Some say he was a man who killed a stag of another god. This, god, in its anger then affixed antlers to his head and cursed him to forever watch over the animals of the wilds. Others state that he is actually an animal given humanity and that he only honours those who honour the animals of the forest in turn, feeling more kin for them then to us.
He is said to be very close to a few animals in particular. Obviously the Stag, but also the ram-horned serpent, the bull, dogs and rats. He is known to be majestic and powerful as the animals, yet Just and Fair as mankind. His form and nature is the beautiful combination of the two forms of life, man and animal.
As one of the most secluded and mysterious gods, Cernunnos is best known through his actions, not through his history. But if the Druids have anything they can add with certainty then it will be included here.
2. Spiritual Concepts
~ 2.1 Cernunnos and Hunting
Hunting harkens back to a time before writing, when all knowledge was passed down by word and song. Before we had farms or other methods to feed people society was fed entirely by Hunters and Gatherers. The latter was about knowledge of what was safe to eat and during which phases of the seasons the food would grow. The former, Hunting, was as much ritual as necessity. Each hunter had to have a reverence for nature in all its beautiful and savage form. It became itself a form of worship and piety to Cernunnos.
Nature is the elements, that is known to many. Life begins with fertility and birth. But life is also in the delicate balance of all living things. The Circle of Life. A rabbit eats the grass, the rabbit is killed by a wolf, the wolf brought down by man, who dies and becomes grass. More-so sometimes the wolf may get the man... Hunters accept their place in this balance of life and death every time they venture out into the wilds. We strive to become part of it and thus we are both predator and prey alike. This has become even more valid in modern times when many animals have become enslaved to Celtia for food and resources. They are no longer wild or free.
Practises arose from these times, in many different forms. Asking for blessings for hunts, for venturing into the domain of Cernunnos, has shifted many times. Originally it was in spirit, then this grew to blood sacrifices from the animals of a previous hunt. Currently the sacrifice of a slave animal is used to balance out the taking of a free animal from the wilds.
A concept from ages past is that of Shape-Shifting, taking on the aspects of that which you kill. Challenging a bear was said to be the highest of hunts, hard to kill, yet in its death it would imbue the hunter with its own strength and savagery. Those who hunted the quick to run deer, would themselves become light of foot. You keep what you kill, both body and spirit.
~ 2.2 Other Divinities and Death
Just because a Hunter lives for Cernunnos does not mean that the other gods are meaningless or forgotten. A Hunter will often have to pray to Lugda for insight when creating his weapons, or to Dagda for a fertile supply of prey for the year, to Arawn for departed comrades and so on. Many will have personal gods or patron family gods.
I know of no history between Cernunnos and the other gods that would interfere with hunters honouring him and others and if there is such a history I ask for it to be known.
3. Practise
~ 3.1 Ethics
The Ethics of Hunters can vary dramatically from person to person. To those that emulate the care of a mother hen for its young, to those that focus on the ferocity of a bear or the divine flight of bird and its lofty ideals. Cernunnos asks for respect of the wilds, not for pacifism, rage or some balance of the two.
If there is any ethical morality of the hunters it is something Lugh Ui Breton once uttered. "An it harm none, do what ye will." It states that we are free to live and act as we will as long as it does not harm. Harm other people, harm the gods or harm the delicate balance of the circle of life. Conversely it also means that any harm you do cause, you should expect it to be returned. If the Hunters kill too much game then the animals will not breed for the next generation. If you strike a man in anger he will return the blow.
~ 3.2 Initiation
Practitioners are considered true Hunters and followers of Cernunnos when they complete their Initiation which follows the transition from city dweller to part of the Circle of Life. This will nominally take a year. A practitioner must learn the ways of the hunt, of the animals, and of the crafting of his own tools. When all their clothes are from that which they have killed, when their weapons have been crafted from the forest itself, when they have learned the rituals and knowledge needed, they will be fully connected to the divine and to the honour of Cernunnos may take the title of Hunter.
The Initiation itself will begin on the New Moon, when the night is darkest. All Initiates will be led deep into the forest where they must then use the skills learn to survive until the Full Moon. They must find their own water and game, living off the land. This will last between 13-15 days as the phases of the moon do. When they appear back at the Camp they will be judged on the prey they bring back and any spiritual experiences that occurred while alone in the Wilds.
~ 3.3 Rituals
In the camp of the Cult of Cernunnos there will be kept a room for rituals. Most of our worship will be in the forests, we are believers in doing, not of mystical pondering. But before we leave for each hunt we would have to ask for blessings. Other acts of our religion will also need to be begun or concluded with a tradition ritual, thus one room shall be kept for such.
The rituals are about opening oneself to the wild, ones awareness shall unfold like a flower into the cosmos when one accepts their place. The room will contain a alter, sacrificial knife, bowl and other Druidic necessities that they will provide for our personal supplication. Only things of nature may enter the ritual room, if a Hunter has not yet crafted his own clothing, weapons or tools then he must enter skyclad. To ask for blessings from Cernunnos while clad in clothes of animal slaves not made my your own hands would be the height of rudeness. Once rituals are finished the room is cleaned instantly before being closed and locked. None will enter until another ritual need occur.
~ 3.4 Hunting
The main method of making yourself one with nature will be in the act of hunting, once opened up from the initial ritual a Hunter will venture out to track his prey. He must use his wits and guile to find them. Sometimes running constantly sometimes staying still for hours. The best hunters tell of the moment when they truly connect with the forests and become one with it when hunting. It is in this state that true worship of Cernunnos is possible.
~ 3.5 Organization
To begin with one will join as an initiate. Practitioners must learn the ways of hunting before they can be considered a Hunter themselves. Any age may join and orphans may also be accepted into the Camp to be raised into the life. Once a true hunter their is little in the way of official formality, though some Hunters may gather together under certain honoured spirit animals, such as bears and boars. The Ui Breton clan has taken their own spirit animal the stag for their colours and emblem.
When a true currency is produced the camp community will be able to support itself by selling its kills, by offering quicker training or by throwing Grand Hunts. But for now it shall be subsidised by the moneys of my family. All of my fathers wealth, all my families saving shall be poured into this venture.
As no current Hunter is known to be a true Oracle for Cernunnos, we will have to find one. To become a true religious cult under the Celtic Pantheon we will subjugate ourselves to the Druids. In particular the High Druid, so that he may bestow upon the most worthy Hunter a title indicating that they speak for Cernunnos. With authority in place, this title will then be passed down to a chosen successor, if the owner of the title dies without choosing a successor then the cult will once again call on the High Druid to seek guidance for us.
~ 3.6 Death Rites
Hunters will be buried under a Tree Marker, to return to the circle of life as part of the trees of the forest that will nurture the wild life. My father was buried under a golden oak and I wish to be buried under the same type of tree when my time comes.
4. History
Much listed here is already practised by the Hunters. It is not so much a religious creation as writing down that which already is and asking for acknowledgement from the Druids.
By setting up a small rural community we will also be away from the constant clashing of ideologies of the city folk. Recognition is needed.
5. Demographics
We wish to set up this camp to the East of the City. But many wish to have the option of one day owning the land we hunt in and would like to have an agreement that the land could one day be bought or bargained from its current owner before proceeding. If this cannot be finalised then my family has recently come into a forest of our own that could be used.
Worshipers of Cernunnos will mainly come from Hunting families who will do nothing else but Hunt their whole lives. However, once the community is set up it will be easier to train new people in the art of hunting. Hopefully we can help start a renewal in this aspect of Celtia so that Hunting can become a part of many lives, even those who live mainly in the city will be welcome in the forests if they can learn to harness their own strength while respecting their prey.
6. Future
Once we have recognition and the community set up we will examine our relationship with Cernunnos more closely. Finding new ways to honour him.
The new weapons of this age will be examined for their use in hunting. We may try to use bronze tips for spears but only if the process of smelting and forging is easy enough for people to master individually. For the most part we see a lot of promise in archery. Bows can be created entirely from the wilds and can allow a hunter to target his prey from an even longer distance then spears.
While slave animals are of lesser value spiritually then free wild ones, their nature and uses should be examined. The hunters will look into whether domesticated birds can carry messages or if domesticated large animals may become beasts of burden. Although I am told the likely hood of enslaving a bear for this cause is very small.
