Celtic Gods and Deities

Branwen

Branwen embodies the gentleness of womanhood and carries out her duties with care. She encourages everyone who approaches her to embrace the love that can be found in all things. The romance of life encompasses the beauty, love and innocence in all that is seen and unseen. She is protected by life itself and the energies that wrap around and protect her. Following her failed marriage, she took a vow of chastity and servitude, and no man was ever allowed to lay eyes on her or be in her presence from that day forward.

She stands at the edge of the forest, her red hair shimmering in the glow of the new dawn. Her willowy frame is waiting to embrace life, encouraged by her own strength, character, nobility, majesty, and morality, when she will step forward and embrace fresh opportunity with love and passion as only she knows how.

To women left alone because of the savagery of war, she is a refuge; for the children, she is Mum. Creating havens and sanctuaries along the Welsh, Cornish, and Devon coasts, she brings peace, calm, and hope to those in need, the unfortunate victims of war.

She restores innocence with whispers of hope that will only be heard by those that need love; she is embraced by all that understand, surrounded by the murmurs of starlings, and protected by nature's beauty. She gives her love unconditionally.

Branwen is a Welsh deity forced into an arranged marriage to a king in Ireland; she was abused and escaped by training a starling to take a message to her brother Bran. He rescued her, and she spent the rest of her days hidden from the eyes of men and creating sanctuaries, nunneries, along the west coasts of Britain. (See: Birch)

Cailleach - Brighde

Cailleach, sometimes pronounced as Kar-li-arhc, a modern version of this name would be Colleen or Carly, is revered as the wise woman of Samhain, a time steeped in tradition and rich with mystical significance. She makes her grand entrance during this ancient festival, marking the onset of winter with an air of authority and wisdom that captivates all who celebrate. Her reign extends until Imbolc, a time when the Celtic world transitions towards warmth and renewal. As winter begins to wane, Brighde (Bridey) will take over and encourage all things to prosper in the warmer climate. Cailleach has been known to linger with the colder weather, with her presence felt as late as Beltane before retiring to her caves in the mountains of the North.

Cailleach is often depicted clad in a striking grey hooded cape that billows around her like clouds gathering for a storm. With each purposeful stride she takes while wielding her staff, she is said to create mountains that freeze into ice beneath her feet, an enchanting image that evokes both awe and respect for her power over the harshness of winter. Her appearance is strikingly ethereal; with flowing white hair cascading down her shoulders, pale skin reminiscent of freshly fallen snow, and piercing blue eyes that seem to hold centuries of wisdom within their depths, she embodies the archetype of the winterborne crone or hag.

This portrayal serves not just as a representation of age but also as an embodiment of resilience and strength inherent in nature’s cycles. Cailleach's presence reminds us that while winter may seem bleak at times, it is also a period for reflection and rest before the vibrant rebirth heralded by spring. In this way, she stands not merely as a figure from folklore but as an enduring symbol of life's cyclical nature, an essential reminder that change is inevitable and necessary for growth. Embracing Cailleach's essence allows us to appreciate both the beauty found in stillness and the promise held within each season's transition.

It is Cailleach who skilfully creates the paths for the deer, guiding them towards new pastures that are abundant with fresh food and providing them with essential shelter to protect them from the harshness of winter. This ancient goddess, often associated with nature’s fierce and raw elements, plays a critical role in ensuring the survival of these creatures during the coldest months of the year. Using her staff or hammer, she will forge paths through mountains, create coves within a rock face, and break the ice that covers lakes to ensure the animals under her care are loved, protected and can prosper even under the harshest of conditions.

Alongside her, the Holly Queen concedes to the Oak King, who makes his appearance at the Winter Solstice; he signals the start of longer days. The White Woman of the Woods, who comes from the birch forests, she who embodies wisdom and nurturing care for the stag, the deer and the sacred white eilidh. Druantia is the queen of the dryads who resides in the fir tree. Together, they stand ever-vigilant against nature's more brutal forces during winter's grip, reminding us that even in our darkest times, there exists a harmonious balance that supports life. Their watchful presence ensures that animals thrive and serves as a poignant symbol of hope and renewal amidst desolation.

Brighde first appears at Imbolc, where she is celebrated for bringing the dawn of a new day and for ushering in the wind from the East to replace the North wind. Cailleach concedes her hold gracefully, allowing Brighde to birth the lambs and the domestic animals within the household. Brighde matures with the moons into Brigid, a poet, healer, and smith. Her animals age with her; the boar cub becomes Torc Triath, and the oxen are revered forever in the archives of history as Mag Fea and Mag Femin. They would forever keep Ireland in good health. As a smith, her skills enabled a whistle for all women to call to each other when alone in the night.

As Beltane passes, it is Brigid who leads the charge of the seasons. The Holly Queen at Summer Solstice once more takes her crown, bringing with her shorter days and longer nights. The harvest brings with it Lammas (Lam-mass) and the gathering of the seed. Lug (Lugh) brings the gathering of the fruits, and Lughnasadh (Lugh of the afternoon sun) (Lu-na-sah).

Just as the arrival of Venus introduced Brighde in early spring, the arrival of Venus in autumn will bring back Cailleach, a gentle reminder that youth matures in an ever-ending cycle of life.

Samhain, a time when the seeds and fruits have been gathered and the livestock brought in from the fields. Samhain is marked by a ritual of blessings for the new year and the knowledge that Cailleach will once again act as a guide and wise woman through winter. (See: Birch)

Cernunnos

Cernunnos is the Celtic deity engraved into the plates of the Gundestrop Cauldron. Cernunnos is often overlooked due to the scarcity of tangible proof available. Known as the horned god or wild man of the forest, it is said each horn contains a torc, that he wears a torc around his neck, and that he carries a torc in his right hand, with a serpent in his left.

Cernunnos is frequently disregarded owing to the limited availability of concrete evidence. The circumstantial evidence can be found as far away as Northern France, Italy, Denmark, and Britain.

Cernunnos underscores his connection to nature and the cycles of life by symbolically representing fertility, wealth, and the power of the wilderness. Cernunnos embodies the spirit of the forest, serving as a protector of animals and a deity of abundance, revered by those who sought harmony with the natural world.

The Cernunnii are a tribe of half-human and half-deer with Cernunnos as their leader. It is suggested that members of the tribe ventured across the northern hemisphere, establishing themselves as community leaders.

The torc represents authority, immortality, and social standing. It is typically worn as lifetime jewellery, donned in childhood, and seldom removed. This icon can be found in cultures across the world. The serpent is known in many cultures as the harbinger of change, fertility, and renewed beginnings. (See: Birch)

Gwennefoedd

Gwennefoedd is sometimes seen with red hair, sometimes with blonde, always with a wheel of the seasons, always with birds and frequently carrying bushels of leeks (Samhain) or daffodils (Imbolc). Sometimes accompanied by an earth-tied red dragon.

Gwennefoedd is likely to be found in the mists of dawn or dusk with Venus making an entrance in the east. She embodies love, fertility and fecundity, warm hearts, harmony and equilibrium. She embraces change and encourages new beginnings and transformation. She can be seen low on the horizon, her wheel spinning the clouds that transform the twilight.

Freya traverses the land at Imbolc, bestowing fertility upon the fields with love and affection to all living beings. Gwener was born under the light of Venus through the crescent moon on Freya's day. Nefoedd signifies originating from the heavens. Gwennefoedd is the Celtic goddess venerated at Imbolc when Venus manifests through the crescent moon.(See: Birch)