Horns of Power: Manifestations of the Horned God - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1905297173 ISBN 13: 9781905297177

Publisher: Avalonia, 2008

Synopsis

The raw, ancient and primordial force symbolised by horns has long had associations with mystery, magick and power. Our ancestors often envisaged their gods as anthropomorphic beings who encapsulated this wild essence. Today the gods of the bull, the ram, the goat and the stag still hold tremendous power and are invoked at rituals by a new priesthood who continue to seek the wildness of nature and the inspiration that it holds. These deities transcend the safe and known boundaries of human structure, sometimes even luring us across the threshold of the known into the unknown worlds beyond.

This unique anthology brings together the work of more than twenty people, including that of dedicated scholars and modern day mystics. Through their written and artistic contributions they illustrate some of the many manifestations of the Horned God. A true cornucopia of both insightful and well researched essays takes us from the well known Celtic Cernunnos and the legend of Herne the Hunter, to the goat-footed Greek Pan, the lesser known Slavic Veles and Egyptian Khnum. Horned serpents, unicorns, the tale of the Battle of the Bulls in the Irish Táin Bó Cúailnge, the Welsh Gwyn Ap Nudd and the faery Puck are all also considered.

Then a wild hunt as we journey with the mystics who share their own experiences of the gods of the wildwood and untamed beasts. Each story is as different as the person who experienced it - and each illustrating in its own unique way a Horned God who is wild, unpredictable, loving - and at heart a trickster. For those who wish to dare a bit more than others, visionary meditation journeys to explore the mysteries of Cernunnos and Gwyn Ap Nudd are included.

Horns of power would of course be nothing without the horns of beauty of the feminine divine, and in the final section of this anthology the reader is presented with works exploring horned goddesses, such as the lunar horned Hekate, Selene and Artemis and the antlered Elen. Whether through the mysteries of their existence, the vast scope of their influence or the endurance of their survival through to the modern day, each contribution provides a window into the wonders and mystery of the enduring magick of the horned gods.

About this title

About the Author:

Sorita d'Este is an esoteric researcher, author and Priestess who manifests her knowledge and passion for the Mysteries through her work.   She is best known for her research and work related to the Goddess Hekate, as well as for her ability to push at the boundaries of esoteric research and practice through her workshops, lectures and writing. Her areas of expertise include Celtic mythology and history, British and European Folklore and the magical and religious practices the Greco-Egyptian world.  Horns of Power was the result of her work within the contemporary Pagan and alternative spiritual communities and brings together the work of a variety of people - some of them academics and scholars, others simply individuals with a passion for the subject they wrote on.  When this project was started back in 2007 there were very few books on the subject of the Horned God and very few people willing and able to write or share their experiences about these beings - but things are changing, and the balance is being restored between the mysteries of the Moon and Earth, and the wild passion of the Horned God. 

Review:

As it is this anthology is a brave attempt ... to bring Himself back into neo-pagan conciousness - The Cauldron
It has certainly led me off in a few interesting directions -Music for Torching
well worth a read and discussing here further - Celtic Myth Podshow
The experiences are both unique and universal, appealing to one and all - Mike Gleason

About this edition

• Publisher: Avalonia
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1905297173
• ISBN 13: 9781905297177
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 204
• Editor: D'Este Sorita, Rankine David, Kim Huggens