Cernunnos: The Horned One and Keeper of Wild Magic

Cernunnos on the Gundestrup cauldron

Among the many deities of Celtic tradition, Cernunnos stands apart as a powerful symbol of wildness, fertility, and the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Often depicted with antlers, a torc, and animals at his side, Cernunnos is the Lord of the Wild Things, guardian of liminal spaces, and the heartbeat of the untamed forest.

What He Symbolizes

• Fertility & Renewal – His antlers mirror the stag’s cycle of shedding and regrowth, teaching us that endings are never final; they seed new beginnings.

• Abundance & Wealth – Images of Cernunnos often show him holding torcs or coins, a reminder that prosperity comes not only through material goods but through harmony with the natural world.

• Animals & Nature – As the protector of beasts both great and small, he connects us with our instinctual selves and reminds us of our place in the web of life.

• Liminal Power – Seated cross-legged, often with a serpent nearby, Cernunnos embodies the thresholds between life and death, wild and civilized, human and animal.

Working With His Magic

To call upon Cernunnos in your practice:

• Create a simple altar with antlers, pine cones, oak leaves, or images of stags and serpents.

• Offerings can include bread, honey, mead, or coins placed at the base of a tree.

• Meditation in nature — especially forests or wild places — is a direct way to align with his energy.

• Ritual work with Cernunnos often centers on reclaiming primal power, grounding, and releasing fear of change.

Cernunnos reminds us that we are part of nature’s rhythm — not separate from it. By honoring him, we honor the wild within ourselves and embrace the cycle of growth, letting go, and renewal.

References & Image Credit

The most famous depictions of Cernunnos can be found on the Gundestrup Cauldron (2nd–1st century BCE) and the Pillar of the Boatmen (1st century CE, Paris). Images and more information can be viewed on Wikipedia’s Cernunnos page