How the rainbow came to shine at the sky

Once upon a time the gods wandered upon upon the earth and lived among the people. Taranis, the thunderer, the god who made the earth fertile with his rain and spring thunderstorms, was riding around in his chariot and checked if everything was in order. On his tour he rested in a wide valley. The air was sweet, the fields were green – Taranis was pleased.

Suddenly thunder was to be heard – and it wasn’t him! Surprised and a little bit irritated he looked around.

Far away, where the mountains stood against the sky, a huge brownish wave rose from the river’s bed. She roared downwards and took everything along the river with her. When she was gone she left a muddy swamp behind that reached far into the land. At the same time a hurricane started and the sky went black.

Taranis frowned. Where did that come from? And who dared to bring such chaos to his peacefully ordered world? He jumped into his chariot and headed through the hurricane towards the sky. From up there he would have a better view, and, what with being a storm god himself, the bad weather couldn’t really hurt him.

The flood had been wandered on and had destroyed other parts of land. Taranis saw that she originated up in the mountains, where snow and glaciers were melting too fast and filled rivers and lakes. And he saw, who had to be responsible for that, too. Up, where the humans didn’t have any fields, where not even small mountain huts stood, there was his old friend Cernunnos, and drummed with his feet on the ground so hard that the ground shook.

Taranis shook his head. Was it that time again? Cernunnos was the lord of the untamed nature, he always had been slightly chaotic and erratic. He ruled the underworld and her realms of death as well. And at the same time he was the one people prayed to for fruitfulness and wealth. This was true for the better part of the time, but sometimes Cernunnos showed his other side. Like many of the animals that surrounded him, he had times where he went through a transformation and renewed. And until the change was done the threatening parts of his person became stronger and he became a danger, being restless, unrestrained and destructive in his doings.

The thunder god nodded to himself. It was his job to help Cernunnos through his phase and keep his forces in check. He grabbed his thunderbolt and got on the way.

Cernunnos heard the thunder, when Taranis’s chariot came closer. He shape-shifted into a stag and escaped into the forest. Between the high pine trees it was difficult for Taranis to navigate his chariot. So he freed his horse, jumped on its back and pursued Cernunnos. He threw his thunderbolt, but Cernunnos already was too far away, and the thunderbolt missed his target.

Cernunnos thought he was safe. His antlers were itching badly, so he scraped on a big tree trunk. But Taranis was very persistent. He had followed the tracks and indeed found his prey.

Cernunnos shape-shifted again, now into a snake. This way, he thought, he might be able to fight better.

Taranis’s horse rose when the huge snake surrounded it. A few times the thunder god tried to hit his opponent, but every time Cernunnos was able to evade. Finally Taranis threw a thunderbolt again, but this time he went into the opposite direction immediately – and Cernunnos had done the same. Several times Taranis rode over his old friend’s mighty snake body with all his force. Cernunnos bended, but the horse’s hoofs had found their target and he was almost stunned.

With his last power reserves he peeled off his snakeskin and glided into a hole in the ground.

The hurricane faded and changed into a light rain. At the same time the sun showed himself behind a few clouds and sent some shy sunbeams down to earth.

Taranis took the snakeskin Cernunnos had left behind and held her triumphantly over his head. The scales were glittering in all colors, red, blue, green and golden. The thunder god threw the skin into the air, where she stayed and formed a big arch. Taranis watched his work and he liked what he saw.

Stay where you are until you have gathered your senses again!“, he called at Cernunnos. „There is no place for your chaos in this world.“

The rivers returned to their beds at last, and in many places they left unexpected treasures: In some places the ground was much more enriched with nutrients, in other places shipping wrecks with all their freight were all of a sudden accessible and a other places gold veins could be found where only stone had been before. So Cernunnos had proven to be the wealth-bringing god at last.

The snakeskin remained a the sky as a rainbow and a sign that order had been restored.

Taranis returned to the sky and he was as happy and pleased with the situation as can be.

This story is just that – a story and free creation on my part. Many cultures have this myth abouth the storm god fighting a snake or dragon or something similar. Thor against the Midgard snake, Perún against Veles – and with the Gauls probably Taranis against somebody unknown. To make Cernunnos his counterpart is my own version, and it works for me only because I wanted to show them as friends caring for each other basically rather than a fight for life or death, like a man taking home his drunken friend and making sure he finds his bed.

It’s true that there are pillars that show a god who could be identified as Taranis/Jupiter, who is riding down a gigantic snake. True as well is that Cernunnos can bee seen as an ambivalent god. Ceisiwr Serith has written a good analysis of this theme. There are stories that connect Cernunnos via the antlers with a stag shape. But there is nothing about Cernunnos being able to shape-shift into a snake. He only holds a snake in his hand. I used elements of the slavic version for this part.

It was important for me that Cernunnos didn’t result in the ultimate bad boy. Instead chaos simply is a part of his personality from time to time. So one can still worship and respect him, and he can still be a friend of Taranis.

Regarding the rainbow – well, the Norse have their Bifröst, and I imagined that such a symbol must have been of some importance to the Gauls as well.

Midsummer ritual 2018: Gaulish hearthculture

Beginning and purpose

This is the longest day,

and I am bathing in your light, sun,

getting caressed by your warm rays.

With each pore I take in your energy

and store it for the time

when your light and warmth have lost their strength.

Now you are at the height of your power,

but the wheel turns eternally and so

in the climax we anticipate the end,

and in life we anticipate death.

Song: Song for Summer Solstice – Libby Roderick (or something similar)

Purification

(William Ashton, SDF, March Equinox 2014)

[Warm hands over the flame, then touch the waters of the well, saying:]

May I be pure that I may pass through the Sacred…

[Again, warm hands over the flame, then touch the waters of the well, saying:]

May I pass through the Sacred that I may attain the Holy…

[For a final time, warm hands over the flame, then touch the waters of the well, saying:]

May I attain the Holy that I may be blessed in ALL things.

[After speaking aloud these words, take several moments to experience the feeling of purification. Breathe deep.]

By the power of the waters, by the power of the fire:

This grove may be pure and sacred ground!

Mother Earth

On the field in front of my house the grain is swaying slightly in the wind,

just as if you were shaking your golden and brown hair for me.

In this time, when the sun’s power reaches its peak,

you offer us a steady place.

Mother Earth,

a moment to breathe between sowing and harvesting.

In this ritual please offer me the certainty

to find my footing,

just like you do all the time.

This is my gift for you, Earth Mother: …. (offering)

Recreating the cosmos

Who are we? From whence do we come? What is the story of our people?

Not hard…

A great misty cloud had gathered together in the void

Swirling and spiraling; spiraling and swirling Drawing ever-in upon itself.

At its center radiance shone forth

And drove outward the surrounding cloud

Gathering the waters together here below.

And so it was that the stuff of creation drew apart

To form the Fire Above And the Waters Below.

The Solar Fire warmed the Cauldron of Creation

And stroked upon its waters with thunderbolts And begat upon it Life.

And the Life begat the Creatures

And the Creatures begat the Ancestors

And the Ancestors begat Us– the Living People.

Upright like you, Great Tree

We bear upon us the mark of Creation

Then, now, and for all time.

Rooted in the ancestral waters of the World Below,

Spanning this Middle-World of form

And reaching ever-upward to embrace the

Fire Above.

Earrach of Pittsburgh

Sacred well, flow in me (offering)

Sacred fire, burn in me (offering)

Sacred tree, grow in me (offering)

Hüter der Tore anrufen und Tore öffnen

I call out to Cernunnos, the one in between,

the one who keeps apart what needs to be kept apart

and the one who brings together what need to come together.

Wild One, I bring this offering before you

and ask you to help me:

Be at my side and support my magic when I am opening the gates now!

Let the candle be the sacred fire, gate to the heavens, gate to the gods and goddesses!

Let the cauldron be the sacred well, gate to the underworld, gate to the ancestors!

And let the tree be the world tree, gate to the world around me, gate to the spirits!

Through and with your magic: May these gates now open!

Kindreds anrufen

I call out to the Kindreds now.

I stand at the sacred center, before the Well, and honor my Ancestors!

You who have lived here before me. You whose blood runs through my veins. You who are my inspiration. You who are close to my heart and mind: Be welcome at my fire! I invite you to be part of this ritual. Teach me your knowledge and take my gifts for you in return.

[Make your offerings to your Ancestors]

Ancestors, accept my offering! *

I stand at the sacred center, before the Tree, and honor the Nature Kin!

Nature Spirits, kin of fur, feather, shell, and scales. Kin of growing things, spirits of the household and dwellers in hidden shadows: Be welcome at my fire! I invite you to be part of this ritual. Teach me your knowledge and take my gifts for you in return.

[Make your offerings to your Nature Kin]

Nature Kin, accept my offering! *

I stand at the sacred center, before the Fire, and honor my Gods!

Shining ones, you who shaped the cosmos! You who still keep it together: Be welcome at my fire! I invite you to be part of this ritual. Teach me your knowledge and take my gifts for you in return.

[Make your offerings to your Gods]

Shining Gods, accept my offering!

Main sacrifice

Song: See me (link: )http://werkelwald.de/song-see-me-sehet-mich/

Deity of the occasion

I call to Taranis, the Shining One!

And the thunder rolls.

I call to Taranis, who rules the sky!

And the thunder rolls.

I call to Taranis, who brings the rain!

And the thunder rolls.

I call to you:

Bringer of the cosmic order,

keeper of continuity!

Without you the sky would literally fall down on our heads!

You keep the chaos away,

and you push the wheel of the year,

the process of death and renewal,

of living and dying,

von spring, summer, autumn and winter!

Your lightenting may be my fire, Taranis,

and I invite you:

Share my fire with me,

and share your knowledge with me!

Teach me what you have to give

and take in return what I have to give!

Offering: Story of How the rainbow…., incense

Omen

I have spoken of you, so that your names live on. Now it’s time for me to be quiet and listen to your words and messages. Please. Kindreds, what do you want to tell me?

(draw omen)

Asking for the blessings

Kindreds, I ask you for your blessings: Look at this chalice before me. I have filled it with (…), but you, Kindreds, may fill it from your cornucopia of abundance, from your well of wisdom, from your cauldrom of inspiration. Fill it with your blessings so that I am blessed with prosperity, wisdom and health.

Blessing of the waters

(hold chalice up high)

The blessings of the gods! AWEN

(hold chalice up at breasts high)

The blessings of the spirits! AWEN

(hold chalice down to the earth)

The blessings of the ancestors! AWEN

(hold chalice up high again)

See the waters of life!

Accepting the blessings

I received your blessings, Kindreds! May they overflow in me to nourish those that cross my path. May their spark jump over to those I meet so that I will become a blessing for others.

Thanking and good bye

Kindreds,

I thank you for coming and participating in my ritual.

I invite you to stay if you want and leave if you must. My respect and love will be with you as your blessings are with me!

Taranis, I thank you, too. Roll your wheel and take good care of the rains in the next weeks!

Closing the gates

Cernunnos, my gate keeper,

thank you for your good work as a mediator and facilitator. I ask you one more time to assist me in the closing of the gates:

Let tha sacred fire become a candle flame again!

Let the sacred well become a cauldron again!

Let the world tree become a simple tree again!

Let everything be as it was before, except for the magic that happened today!

Through and with your magic: May the gates close now!

Thanking the Earth Mother

A deep breath,

Mother Earth,

and all senses are filled with your gifts.

You are my steady ground in a time when everything is off balance,

in ritual and every time.

I thank you

and return to your what I didn’t need.

Take it a a sign of my love and gratefulness.

Ritual beenden

My ritual comes to an end.

I recreated the cosmos and stood in its center.

I have celebrated the sun at the height of his (?) power, the bounty of life, the warmth and the light.

I have honored Taranis, the keeper of this bounty.

My relationship with the kindreds has been reaffirmed and strengthened.

Now I will leave, not alone, but as a part of the big picture.

The sacred well dried out, but it is still flowing in me.

The sacred fire has burned down, but it in me the spark is still alive.

The world tree might tremble, but I am deeply rooted in this world.

This ritual is over. Amen/Esti*!

* Esti: Gaulish for Amen

For once I first have an English version of my work ready. You’ll get the German version of this soon.

 

Gottheit der Woche 35: Poseidon

Aud den Tiefen des Meeres steigst du empor,

Poseidon,

unbeständig wie deine Heimat,

mal stürmisch und gefährlich,

dann wieder Nahrung und Arbeit spendend!

Vom Land kamst du einst,

als Herr der Pferde,

doch mit der räumlichen Veränderung

kam auch neue Verantwortung.

Unbezähmbarer,

unberechenbarer,

nicht zu bändigender Poseidon!

Bruder von Zeus und Hades, Teil der großen Drei,

machtvoller Gott des Meeres,

das das Land umgibt!

Tritt an meinem Feuer, aus freiem Willen,

lass die Flammen sich in deinem Dreizack spiegeln

und lass mich an deinem Wissen teilhaben.

Nimm dafür meine Gaben und meinen Respekt entgegen!

 

In English:

You rise from the depths of the ocean,

Poseidon,

inconsistent like your home,

once stormy and dangerous,

then again spending nourishment and work!

Once you came from the land, as the lord of horses,

but with territorial changes your responisbilities changed, too.

Dautnless,

capricious,

untamable Poseidon!

Brother of Zeus and Hades, one of the great Three,

mighty god of the sea that surrounds the land!

Come to my fire, by your own free will,

let the flames mirror themselves in your trident

and share your knowledge with me

as I share my offerings and respect with you.

Gottheit der Woche 37: Goibniu

Drei seid ihr,

Götter des Handwerks,

doch du stichst besonders hervor,

Goibniu,

Waffenschmied auf der einen Seite,

der seine Leute mit Speeren versorgt, die den Sieg herbeiführen sollen!

Lebensspender auf der anderen Seite,

als Brauer und Bewahrer des Tranks, der Alter und Tod fernhält!

Als Ruadan dich listenreich erstechen will,

kehrst du nach deinem Bad im Kessel der Heilung erstarkt zurück.

Goibniu,

Leuchtender,

vom Feuer deiner Schmiede zum Feuer in meinem Nemeton:

Sei mir willkommen!

Ich bitte dich:

Teile dein Wissen mit mir und nimm im Gegenzug meine Gaben an!

 

In English:

You are three, divine masters of their trades,

but it is you that shines most,

Goibniu,

armourer on on hand.

who delivers spears to his people to bring victory!

Provider of life on the other hand,

as the brewer and keeper of the sacred drink that holds off age and death!

When Ruadan wanted to kill you

you returned with renewed strength from you bath in in cauldron of healing.

Goibniu,

Shining One,

from the fire in your forge to the fire in my nemeton:

Be welcome here!

I ask you:

Share your knowledge with me and take my offerings in return.

Gottheit der Woche 40: Arianrhod

Zwischen den Wolken am Himmel

leuchtet der Mond, hell und klar,

und hüllt das Land in seinen silbernen Schimmer.

Was sein Licht bedeckt,

dessen Schicksal webst du in das Netz des Lebens.

Zwischen Tag und Nacht treibst du in der Dämmerung

das Rad des Lebens voran.

Wir bewegen uns in deiner Spirale.

Wir tanzen auf deinen Wegen,

und nehmen dabei unser Schicksal selbst in die Hand.

Lass dein Licht auf mich leuchten, Arianrhod,

und erfülle mich mit deinem Wissen.

Spinne einen Faden von dir zu mir

und nimm dafür meine Geschenke an.

 

In English:

Between the clouds up at the sky

the moon is shining, bright and clear,

cloaking the land into a silvery shimmer.

What his/her light covers,

whose fate you are weaving into the web of life.

Between day and night,

in dusk you are rolling life’s wheel along.

We are moving in your spiral,

we are dancing on your ways,

and while doing so

we are taking our fate into our own hands.

Let you light shine upon me, Arianrhod,

and fill me with your knowledge.

Spin a thread from you to me,

and take my presents in return.

Gottheit der Woche 34: Sucellus

Ich rufe Sucellus,

den Gott des Weins!

Huxelrebe und Riesling

gedeihen unter deiner Obhut,

Beaujolais und Muskateller

verwandeln sich in köstliche Getränke.

Fassmacher,

Hammerträger,

Gefährte von Nantosuelta,

ich grüße dich

und heiße dich an meinem Feuer willkommen.

Wenn dies auch kein Weinanbaugebiet ist,

so wissen wir deine Gaben hier doch zu schätzen!

Ich bitte dich:

Nimm Platz in dieser Runde und teile deine Gaben mit mir:

Die Freude über gut getane Arbeit,

die Freude am gelungenen Werk!

Ich teile diesen Becher Wein mit dir

als Zeichen meiner Anerkennung!

 

 

In English:

I call to Sucellus,

god of wine!

Huxelrebe and Riesling

grow under your caring hand,

Beaujolais and Muskateller

transform into delicious beverages.

Cellarman,

carrier of the hammer,

partner of Nantosuelta,

I greet you

and welcome you at my fire.

Although this isn’t a wine-growing district

we hold your gifts in high regard.

I ask you:

Take a seat and share your gifts with me:

the joy abouth a work well-done,

the joy about a perfect creation!

I will share this cup of wine with you

as a sign of my respect.

Gottheit der Woche 42: Svarog

Himmelsgötter gibt es viele,

aber nur einer hat es geschafft,

nach Vollendung seiner Arbeit das Szepter weiterzugeben

und eine neue Generation ans Ruder zu lassen,

ohne Kampf, ohne Hass.

Svarog,

Himmelsvater,

Leuchtender,

Schöpfer von Erde, Sonne und Feuer,

für diese einzigartig Leistung kann man dich nur bewundern.

Du standest in deiner Schmiede

und gabst dem Kosmos seine Gestalt

und den Dingen ihre Ordnung.

Und dann ziehst du dich zurück

und überlässt es anderen Göttern,

dein Werk weiterzuführen.

Wie selbstbewusst musst du sein,

wie sehr in dir ruhen,

dass du es nicht nötig hast,

um deine Macht zu kämpfen!

Svarog,

ich heiße dich an meinem Feuer willkommen!

Bade mich in den Strahlen deines Himmelslichts,

und lass so ein wenig von deinem Wissen auf mich übergehen!

Meine Gaben für dich liegen bereit!

 

In English:

There a many gods of the sky,

but only one was able

to pass the sceptre/scepter to the next generation

after finishing his work,

without a fight, without hatred.

Svarog,

Skyfather,

Shining One,

creator of earth, sun and fire,

we stand in awe

in front of this exceptional deed.

You were there in your smithy,

shaping the cosmos

ordering everything.

And then  you retire,

and let other gods

continue with your work.

How self-assured does one have to be,

how balanced,

that you don’t feel the need

to fight for your power!

Svarog,

I welcome you at my fire!

Bathe me in the rays of your heavenly light

and let me absorb a little bit of your knowledge that way.

My gifts for you are prepared.

Gottheit der Woche 32: Tyr

Ich grüße dich, Tyr,

einarmiger Ase!

In deinem Dilemma möchte ich nicht stecken.

Um die kosmische Ordnung zu bewahren und Ragnarök zu verhindern,

musst du,

der doch der Gott des Rechts und des Thingfriedens ist,

selbst das Recht brechen

und das Versprechen, das du dem Fenriswolf gegeben hast, nicht einhalten.

Wie du dich auch entscheidest:

Du kannst es nicht allen recht machen.

Irgendwem wirst du zwangsläufig auf die Zehen treten.

Vor diesem Problem stehe auch ich des Öfteren,

und habe daher umso mehr Respekt für deinen Mut

und deine konsequente Haltung!

Lehre mich, Himmelskrieger, ein wenig von deinem Wesen,

wenn du dich an mein Feuer setzt

und meine Gaben annimmst!

 

In English:

Greetings, Tyr,

one-armed Aesir!

I don’t want to be in your place,

don’t want to hold the wolf by the ears instead of you.

To secure the cosmic order and prevent Ragnarök,

you, the god of justice and thing peace,

had to break the law yourself and

not fullfill the promise you gave the Fenriswolf.

However you would decide:

You couldn’t satisfy all sides.

You had to step on someone’s toes for sure.

That is a problem that I encounter, too, every now and then,

and that is why my respect for your courage and consequence grow every time.

Teach me, sky warrior, a bit of your way of life,

when you sit down at my fire

and take my offerings!

Gottheit der Woche 29: Sif

Von grün zu gelb zu goldbraun

wechselt das Feld im Laufe des Jahres seine Farbe.

Ich stehe am Rand und beobachte,

wie ein leichter Wind dein Haar zum Beben bringt,

Sif,

Wellenkämme in einem Getreidemeer.

Göttin der reichen Ernte,

deren goldene Pracht den Menschen so wichtig war,

dass sie eine Geschichte darüber erzählten,

ich grüße dich und heiße dich an meinem Feuer willkommen.

Bald beginnt die Ernte,

wird das Getreide gemäht

und das erste Brot daraus gebacken.

Deine Gaben sorgen dafür,

dass sich Krieger in Bauern verwandeln,

dass aus Kampf und Tod ein friedlicher Wettbewerb wird,

dass statt Ruhm und Ehre das Wohlergehen der Familie im Vordergrund steht.

Gemeinsam mit deinem Mann wachst du über diese Zeit.

Ich bitte dich, goldhaarige Götting:

Lehre mich, meine persönliche Ernte einzufahren,

mit dem Fokus auf dem Wohlergehen meiner Familie

und meinen eigenen Zielen.

Hab im Gegenzug Anteil an meiner Ernte,

und nimm meine Gaben für dich an!

 

In English:

Green, yellow, golden brown,

the field is changing its colors as the wheel of the year is turning.

I stand at its border and watch

as a small breeze makes your hair shiver,

Sif,

crests in an ocean of corn.

Goddess of the abundant harvest,

whose golden hair was so important to the people

that they created an own story for it,

I greet you and welcome you at my fire.

Soon the ahrvest will start,

the corn will be mowed

and the first bread will be baked from it.

Your gifts make warriors change into farmers,

change war and death into a peaceful competition,

make the responsibility for the well-being of the family more important that fame and honor.

You and your husband preside over this time.

I ask you, golden haired goddess:

Teach me to bring my own harvest in,

with the focus on my family and my own goals.

Let me share parts of my harvest with you in return.

Gottheit der Woche 33: Esus

Ich grüße den Mann mit der Axt,

der Pfleger der Ordnung,

den Gott, der die wilden Triebe beschneidet, dem Baum seine Form gibt.

Esus, ich bitte dich:

Teile deinen Mut, Grenzen zu setzen, mit mir,

deine Mäßigkeit, nicht zu sehr einzugreifen,

und die verbesserte Fruchtbarkeit und Produktivität, die daraus hervorgeht.

 

Ich grüße den Mann mit der Weitsicht,

einer Vision von der Zukunft,

einer Ahnung davon, was werden kann, den sehenden Gott.

Esus, ich bitte dich:

Teile deine Visionen mit mir,

deine Weisheit

und die Disziplin und Ausdauer, die erforderlich ist, um dabei einen klaren Kopf zu behalten.

 

Ich grüße den Gefährten des Stiers und der Kraniche,

den, der um seinen Platz im Kosmos weiß.

den, der zu sich und seinen Überzeugungen steht.

Esus, ich bitte dich:

Teile dein Gefühl der Pflichterfüllung gegenüber Göttern und Menschen mit mir,

deine Integrität und nicht zuletzt:

Nimm meine Gastfreundschaft an,

hier zwischen Quelle, Feuer und Baum!

Dieses Geschenk möchte ich dir machen.

 

Manche sehen in Teutates den Gärtner. Für mich ist diese Rolle eher Esus zugedacht, wie ihr an diesem Text sehen könnt.

 

In English:

I call out to the man with the axe,

the caretake of order,

the god who cuts the wild sprouts and shapes the tree.

Esus, I ask you:

Share your courage to set boundaries with me,

your temperance to to cut too much

and the optimized poructvity and fertility that stems from your work.

 

I call out to the man with the far-sightedness,

a vision of future,

a hint of what can be, the seeing god.

Esus, I ask you:

Share your visions with me,

your wisdom

and the discipline and perseverance that is necessary to keep a clear mind.

 

I call out to the companion of the bull and the cranes,

the one, who knows about his place in the cosmic picture,

that one who stands true to his opinions.

Esus, I ask you:

Share your sense of duty and piety against the gods and humankind with me,

your integrity and not at least:

Accept my hospitality,

here, between fire, well and tree,

and the gifts I have for you!

 

Some see Teutates as the divine gardener. As you can see from this text that role is more like a job for Esus in my opinion.