Cernunnos | The Horned God of Ancient Europe

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Welcome to The Wisdom of Odin! I’m Jacob Toddson, and I created this channel to explore ancient wisdom and spiritual practices from around the world. My journey began with Norse Paganism, and now I travel globally, uncovering knowledge on historical religions, shamanism, plant medicines, and various spiritual paths. Together, we explore how these ancient teachings can inspire and guide us toward a more balanced and meaningful future.

On this channel, I aim to foster unity and understanding across spiritual traditions, beyond boundaries of race, sexuality, gender, or politics. You’ll find an inclusive, open-minded space free from divisive content, drama, and bias. Join me as we discover and share the timeless wisdom that can heal and uplift us all.

[jeannedomek]

I am Native American and also a practicing witch. I have Cernunos on my alter. Whenever I have done ceremony, he leaves a sign of his presence. I get a flock of turkeys, or coyotes or deer in my yard. I let them visit and enjoy their visits and take my dogs out latter. Thank you for your videos.

[martemacdougall]

One thing not mentioned here, is the fact that this depiction is
FACING INWARDS!
This, to me, is the Hermit,
the Shaman, the Wise Green Man of the Forest. Indeed the bridge between two worlds, , harnessing both the underworld (snake) and the Divine (Gold Circle) and FIRMLY grasping onto both of them as both are important. The horns often represent leadership and kingly status, as well as fierce masculinity. 🦌🐍
Fabulous channel. I studied the Book of Kells, now housed in Trinity College in Dublin, and was fortunate to receive a "copy" which I treasure. Thank you for this today. ✨️

[Lore-M-Ipsum-yew]

The cauldron depiction of Cernunnos reminds me of the depictions of Lord Shiva. He is often adorned with serpents as if they were jewelry, around his wrists and arms like bracelets, around his neck like a necklace. They represent our reactive, reptilian, impulsive, limbic nature and having them as jewelry shows that they have been integrated as opposed to being out of control and something we struggle with as when we often start on our path. In the Cernunnos depiction, the torque is a symbol of power and the serpent grasped in the hand indicate the same sentiment to me. The integration ( or maybe "control of") of the reptilian mind, responding instead of reacting.
Also, Lord Shiva is often depicted as sitting up on the hide of a tiger showing that he has mastered the "worst" that physical life can throw at him. Humans take their place in the power structure of life (depicted by a wild tiger). They don't shrink from it and hide in fear from danger.
Cernunnos being horned and off to the side of the animals hints at shamanic roots and retreating and separating from the chaos of the city to return to the balance and wisdom that nature brings. The hindus call that stage of life, "Vanaprastha" (forest dweller).
I'm not saying that Cernunnos was the same as Lord Shiva but I do think that these similar internal truths were "bubbling up" and manifesting and may actually have been part of the body of wisdom passed down from shamanic times. Given of what we know of shamanic "Soul Retrieval", it is not a stretch to say that the teachings were associated with other aspects of psychological health and balance.
Lore🍃

[lenagreen]

Thank you for showing us the beautiful Cernunos Cauldron. Your historical pagan leason is wonderful. I worship Cernunos as the God of the wild places. I also love the aspects of the horned god gifted to my husband! ❤

[LesleeArtz-rz]

Thank you so much for sharing!! I may not ever see it in person but without written history this is all we have to decipher what their ideas and thoughts were back then.😊

[ChelleLlewes]

Thank you for a most thoughtful nutshell on Cernunnos. When I was first introduced to him, I thought of him as Essence of the Wild, and then got distracted by other deities forgot to explore any further. It seems to me that he is shared among three distinctly different cultures, and how unusual is that? Other deities shared by different cultures change their names for each culture, but Cernunnos did not, and I find that fascinating.

[molotulo]

My mother was a member of the Double Day Book Club for so many years. Every month she bought a book, yet, because she was an avid knitter, she never read any. Her hands always had knitting needles or a crochet hook in them. I asked her once why she bought all these books, and she would respond, " Some day I'm going to read them all." She never read any! She died in 2006 of kidney failure. She was a severely crippled woman and had a giant tumor on her face she never had removed. My mother was a great person. She suffered her whole life, and she never complained. All people do today is complain. She was kind of hideous to look at because of her crippled posture and tumored face. But she was the most beautiful woman i ever knew. One of the books she bought is Celtic Myths and Mankind. Heros of the Dawn. "

[molotulo]

I have been subscribed to your channel since your early days. You have developed wonderfully. You do great work.

[thisweirdkidbummer]

I’m pagan and I’ve been working with cernunnos for about 5 years. I only have my experiences to go off of so take everything here with a grain of salt. It’s my belief that he is absolutely the bridge between the wild and civilization. I recently figured it out while I was doing trance work. While working with him I’ve noticed there is great emphasis on getting to know your body(how it moves, functions, what it needs, ) and the world around you and how to be in harmony with it. Im very happy you are doing a video on him and happy about the traction he is getting recently!

[ClaudiaConiglione]

thankyou for this video and for your thoughts

[thewaywardpoet]

Awesome interpretation, sir! I never thought of Cernunnos as a bridge between society and nature until now. I always just sort of saw him as a pure nature deity (largely, I'll admit, due to his antlers or horns). And I understand your feelings regarding the Gundestrup Cauldron. I've not yet seen it in person, but I can feel its energy through the screen, if that makes sense. It's an exemplary piece. Whoever the silversmith was, he must have been highly respected and sought after. I am in awe.

[topg]

Cernunnos resembles the Hindu God Lord Shiva quite a lot esp. in his Pashupati (Lord of the Animals) form, you can see this in the famous 'Pashupati Seal' of SSVC (IVC) which looks like a mirror image to the one found in the cauldron you showed, common themes include both being associated with animals, adorning snakes, having horns, sitting in a Yogic position, etc. What makes this even more fascinating is that India and Ireland are on opposite ends of the IE sphere, yet still sharing so much similarities showing us how the old IE culture used to be, greetings from India!

[kandelgoat]

Excellent conclusion towards the end regarding His symbology. I am also tortured by my lack of an authentic sweet roll now.

[chrisgherman]

Really enjoyed this video. I tend to agree in large extent that Cernunnos is the holder of opposites and contradictions, especially within the masculine. He has been a major influence for me the past few years as an example of a healthy, wild, life-affirming masculinity able to hold contradictions and stay steady blending in to the landscape and not dominating it. He is the shift in the masculine we need today.

[adventurecreations]

I'm a metalsmith. The cauldron is incredible work. Beautiful

[MsJantine]

Jacob your thoughts in this video are for me inspiring. Thank you.

[zannaB]

Would you please do a piece on Cernunnos and the Wild Hunt? I would like to learn more about that. Thanks

[watermunteconomie]

Finally a video of the God i daily dedicate a portion of my prayer to, I do this when for example i look at the clock and see 14:14 hours.

[jackrogers]

I love the perspectives that you have on these topics. You are always so informative and passionate about what you discuss and it can be felt through your videos. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts, perspective, and wisdom with us!

[Asbjørn-cq]

One of my most favourite places to go and yes, sweet rolls are delicious . That was a great video.