by Jason Mankey
In many ways, horned deity is largely responsible for Witchcraft as we know it today.281 Without those images of Witches cavorting with the Devil from five hundred years ago, today’s Craft would look very different. While most of us reject the idea that we work with the Christian Satan, the imagery and lore of that period is still intrinsically tied to our modern-day practice. I think there’s real power in acknowledging the Horned God as the Witchfather, because in his various guises, the Horned One is truly the father of the Modern Craft. In almost every incarnation of Witchcraft over the last thousand years, the Horned God has been there, sitting comfortably somewhere in the circle, or just outside of it, helping to inspire us once again and give us the tools to grow our personal practices.
When I think of my flesh-and-blood father, I often think of the things he gave me growing up. He put a roof over my head and food in my belly, but he gave me more than just physical stuff. Through him I inherited a love of history and myth, and he taught me how to be a mostly decent human being too. I know that not all of us have this sort of relationship with our father, and for those of you who do not, I feel your pain; my mother left my brother and me when I was in the first grade. But in the Witchfather, we are celebrating the ideal, a figure who makes us a better Witch and imparts to us the wisdom to accomplish our goals in life.
In the Ritual to Meet the Horned God in Chapter Three, we gave gifts to the Horned God. Tonight in this ritual, we take gifts given to us freely by the Witchfather. We take all of the wisdom and experiences given to us by the Horned God in his many guises and apply them directly to our Craft. In many ways, this rite is the culmination of everything we’ve touched on in these pages.
Most Traditional Witchcraft books suggest conducting every ritual in a liminal space, such as a graveyard or a crossroads, but for those of us who live in cities, such things are not just impractical but are often impossible. If you can find such a place, fantastic! But if you can’t, an empty room in your home will work just fine. You won’t need much in terms of tools and materials for this ritual, but you will need a stang. A stang need not be elaborate; a pitchfork will work (available at most hardware stores), as will a regular walking stick. If both of those are out of reach, a fallen tree branch is also acceptable. If you can’t come up with one of those three items, it’s best to wait to do this ritual until you obtain one of them.
Ritual Supplies
For this ritual you will need:
Ritual tools for setting up your sacred space
Cakes and ale (both for you and as a libation) and, if indoors, a libation bowl
A stang, along with a way to place your stang straight up into the air (If you are doing your ritual outside, the ground is the obvious choice here. If you are doing the ritual indoors, I find that a bucket full of rocks works surprisingly well.)
A small dish of water, if holding your ritual indoors
6–8 candles, if your ritual is indoors (Set up your candles in such a way as to indicate a path of some sort. Tealight candles are an easy and safe choice here.)
I suggest performing this ritual in a way that utilizes the techniques found in Traditional Witchcraft. If you are unfamiliar with how Traditional Witches create sacred space, there are numerous examples online as well as several books I personally recommend in the bibliography. (My favorites include those by Gemma Gary, Kelden, and Tara-Love Maguire and Christopher Orapello, as well as my book Witch’s Wheel of the Year.) If you are uncomfortable with those techniques, you don’t have to use them, but I do suggest getting out of your own comfort zone now and then.
If you are doing this ritual indoors, set up your stang and candles before the rite begins. The six to eight candles should be set up in such a way as to symbolize a path. Don’t light them when you set them up, but have them on the floor where you want them before the rite starts. If you are doing this ritual outside, this step involving the candles is probably unnecessary, but it can be done if you choose. The stang should be set up in the center of your working space.
The Ritual
Start the ritual by leaving your house and going on a walk just after the sun has begun to set. As you walk, breathe in the fresh air and listen to the sounds that surround you. Even in the densest cityscape, there’s still a bit of the natural world around, whether it’s the chirping of a bird or the touch of the wind. Whatever bit of nature you can sense, take a moment to truly appreciate it.
Your pre-ritual walk does not have to be a major undertaking, but spend some time outdoors thinking about all you’ve experienced with the Horned God. Imagine him as Pan, wild and free. Picture him as Herne, seeking and finding retribution. Find yourself in the tendrils of the Green Man or experiencing joy in the ecstasy of Dionysus. As your muscles tense and relax as you walk, reflect on Cernunnos running through the woods on the hunt, living in that liminal space between life and death. Finally think about what it is you wish to receive from the Horned God. What else can he give you to make your life more complete and fulfilling as a Witch?
If you are doing your ritual outdoors, reflect on these ideas as you walk to your ritual spot. If you are performing this ritual indoors, light the candles to symbolize your path. As you light the candles, thank the Horned God for the illumination he has provided:
These many days and years, I have walked the path of the Witch. Side by side with me has walked the Horned One, lighting my way. Great Horned Lord, show me the way forward so that I might know your greater mysteries and receive your gifts.
If you are doing this ritual outside, simply be aware of the path you have walked, and say the words above as you approach your ritual space.
Once you have settled into your working area, do whatever setup is required. (This could mean unpacking your cakes and ale, setting up your stang if you are outdoors, and/or cleansing and purifying your ritual space.) Once everything is to your satisfaction, build your sacred space in whatever way works best for you. When that is done, call to the Witchfather to attend your rite:
Great Horned God, tonight I call to you as the Witchfather. I invoke you as the Keeper of Secrets, the Guardian of the Mysteries, and the Father of Witches. Long have I followed you, and tonight I seek your final gifts. Bless me as a Witch so that I might further my Craft and walk where only the bravest tread. May I receive a glimpse of you this night and the blessings that may come only to those who seek you out. So mote it be! Hail and welcome!
In Traditional Witchcraft, the stang is used as an altar and as a way to alter one’s consciousness. In this ritual, we are using it to shift our perception so that we might more easily catch a glimpse of the Witchfather. To use the stang in this way, you’ll want to stand about five to six feet away from it and begin circling around it in a clockwise direction while chanting, “Io Io Evohe” (pronounced “Yo Yo Eee-voh-hay”). While you move and chant, you should stare directly at the stang while letting your eyes lose focus.
(If you choose to do this ritual with a group, the traditional way to dance around the stang is to form a ring of Witches, with everyone’s right hand pointing inward toward the stang. Everyone’s left arm should be extended straight out in front of them, with their left hand resting on the left shoulder of the person in front of them. This is one version of a technique known as “treading the mill.”)
How long should this part of the ritual last? Ideally until your consciousness has shifted and you catch a glimpse of something holy and sacred. In my experience, you’ll probably be dizzy by the time this happens, your dizziness helping to induce a shift in your perception. What will the Witchfather look like when you look upon him? For some, his face appears as a skull, while others see a more traditional Horned God figure. Higher powers appear to us in different ways, providing every Witch with the image that best resonates with them.
After you have seen the Witchfather, end the movement and chanting around the stang and prepare to receive his gifts. Unfortunat
ely, it’s unlikely that he’s going to stay in your line of sight and walk up to you and present you with a bunch of presents. But you should feel his energy radiating around you, and his presence should be noticeable. In my experience, it often feels like the air around me has gotten thick, even though there’s no moisture in the air.
With the Witchfather’s energy in your ritual space, reach downward and touch the ground. Feel the heartbeat of the earth, and begin to draw that energy up into your body while saying:
From the Witchfather I accept this gift of power. May I wield the power of the Witch effectively, forcefully, and for the good of myself and those around me. So mote it be!
As you say these words, you should feel the earth’s power radiating through your body, energizing your magickal self.
Look up at the sky and observe the moon. If you are indoors, move to a spot near a window and observe the moon in the night sky. (No windows? Simply look up, project your consciousness upward, and feel the moon’s power.) Let the light of the moon shine down upon you, its energy filling up your being. Imagine the light coming into your body and making you glow. The moon’s energy is like a flame that stirs within us, making us sure of ourselves and confident in our abilities. Accept this gift of courage by saying:
From the Witchfather I accept this gift of courage. I shall be true to myself and to my will. I will live as a Witch without fear or shame, embracing my place in this world and my role within it. So mote it be!
If you are outside, touch the grass underneath you. It should be slick with dew. (If you live in an especially dry area of the world, you can do this part of the ritual by simply thinking about the importance of water or bringing a little bit of your own.) Concentrate on the feeling of the water in your hand, and marvel at how it came to be there. If you are indoors, touch the water in the bowl upon your altar and feel it on your palm. Think for a moment of how water shapes the world, carving magnificent spaces such as the Grand Canyon and rearranging the world’s shorelines. Water makes changes large and small, depending on the situation, but the change is always there, like a stream slowly carving its way through rock.
See yourself like the water, using your power as a Witch to confront and vanquish all obstacles in your way, even the largest ones. With time, effort, and determination, we can transform our lives and those of the people around us. Feel the power of the water slowly enter your body, and accept this gift of the Witchfather:
From the Witchfather I accept this gift of determination. May I let nothing stand in my path that is undesirable. May I accomplish all that I set out to do on this the path of the Witch. Make me steadfast in my loves, my goals, and my magick. So mote it be!
Stand still for a moment and feel the air around you. Is it still, or is there a subtle breeze blowing? Even indoors you should be able to feel the air move around you, even if that movement is slight. Stand still until you feel it, and let it wash over you. Breathe deeply and notice your breath; feel your lungs expand as they take in air. As you exhale, reflect on your voice and the words that escape your mouth. As Witches, we don’t have to play nice all the time, but we should be decent folk, working toward the betterment of the world. Take a deep breath and thank the Witchfather for this last gift:
From the Witchfather I accept this gift of decency. With the knowledge granted to me, I shall use my skills and energy for the betterment of this world. May my judgments be sound and my will ever true. So mote it be!
Feel the energies that you have received from the Witchfather moving through you now. Picture yourself going forward as a strong and powerful Witch, able to overcome anything this life throws at you. That doesn’t mean that life will be easy from here on out, but only that you have the ability to overcome those challenges.
Place your hands over your cakes and ale, and ask the Witchfather to bless them:
I ask the Witchfather to bless this food and drink. May these gifts remind me of your bounty and the abundance in this world. With thanks, I accept your blessings. So mote it be!
Eat your cakes and ale and enjoy the energies still resonating in your ritual space.
When you are done eating and drinking, be sure to leave a libation for the Horned One. If you are outdoors, your libations can be poured and placed directly on the earth. If you are indoors, you should place them in your libation bowl and then move them outdoors at the end of your rite. As you share your libation, say goodbye to the Horned God:
As you have given unto me, so I give unto you. Witchfather, accept my offering for your gifts this night. Long may we walk with each other. I thank you for your presence at my rite this night and look forward to growing closer to you in the days and years ahead. So mote it be!
Take down your sacred space in the way that is most comfortable to you. If you are outside, pack up your belongings and visualize the path that brought you to your space. If you are indoors, stand before the candles you have lit symbolizing the road that you have traveled. As you stand in front of the pathway, feel the Witchfather’s hand upon your shoulder leading the way. Say:
Great Horned God, you have shared with me your light and wisdom, and now I walk forward secure in my path as a Witch. May the blessings of the Witchfather be upon me until the end of my days. This rite has ended, but the journey is only beginning. So mote it be!
Blow out the candles in front of you and walk through the darkness confident in your abilities as a Witch. If you are outdoors, walk with your stang in front of you confidently into the night.
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281. I feel like there are some Hekate followers out there who are going to really disagree with that statement, but I think it’s historically accurate.
Epilogue
Some Final Thoughts
The history of the Horned God is not linear. It does not easily move from point A to point B in a traceable and logical manner. Instead, the story of the Horned God jumps around from place to place and era to era, and continues to do so. The Horned God as we understand him today was assembled from a variety of pieces, and I’m not sure those pieces all fit together as securely as we might like, but once they are all assembled, they create something extraordinary.
Modern Witchcraft would not exist today without the Horned One. The writings of Margaret Murray one hundred years ago helped inspire a new generation of Witches, and at the heart of those writings was a deity who loved joy, sex, and the wilds of nature. Those feelings helped fuel the Witchcraft revival that took off in the 1950s, and are still a part of the Craft today. There are sun gods, moon gods, ocean gods, river gods, and sky gods, but the heartbeat of Modern Witchcraft has always worn horns and/or antlers.
One of my mantras in life is Pan is not Cernunnos, because history tells us that they are both unique deities separated by both time and geography. But even with that said, it still feels like there might be something there connecting the two. Both were gods of hunting, for instance, and both enjoyed the benefits of more urban areas, Pan with his love of wine and Cernunnos with his ever-present torc. One does not make a torc while living in isolation, and crafting wine takes the combined efforts of many people. Cernunnos and Pan are very different deities, but because of my own experiences, I simply cannot discount the idea that they might be part of a greater whole.
As we’ve grown as a society, we’ve come to understand that gender is not simply a matter of “male” and “female,” and that there are many identities on the gender spectrum. The fact that Elen of the Ways has emerged and taken her place next to other horned Witch deities during this time can’t be a coincidence. The existence of female versions of Pan, Cernunnos, and the Green Man in antiquity suggests that the “Horned God” has always reflected all of humanity. The Horned God represents all different kinds of Witches. There’s a way for every Witch to see themselves in the mysteries of the Horned One.
Herne is now a presence in Witch r
ituals around the globe, all while he still runs wild and free through Windsor Forest. The Green Man looks down at us from old church walls, yet he lives in the bushes and trees just outside our front door. The Dread Lord of Shadows stands at the gates of death and rebirth, yet I also see his fingerprints in my garden and on the branches of the trees that surround my street. The Horned One exists in all of these places simultaneously; he lives between worlds and is a part of our world.
On centuries-old woodcuts, Witches from long ago dance with a shadowy figure that artists have always tried to make look menacing and evil; but instead, that figure nearly always appears joyous and welcoming. Even when people have tried to intentionally distort the significance of the Horned God, they have rarely succeeded. Various forces over the centuries have fought to suppress the light of wisdom and knowledge, but that light always shines through, often carried forward by the Horned One.
We all interact differently with deity. The Horned God that I know may not be exactly the same Horned God that you work with, and that’s okay. I’ve always thought it was the epitome of hubris for any human to think that they alone truly understand the nature of deity. The gods were around before us and will be around after us; they do not operate in the same way that human beings do. In that sense, it’s possible that there are many different horned gods, with each of us interacting with the one that’s best for us.
My Horned God will always be a combination of many different beings, and our understanding of him has been shaped by multiple writers and artists. My Horned God is a very real being made up of Pan, Cernunnos, Dionysus, Herne, Elen, the Green Man, Lucifer, and dozens more. He is a being with many names and many faces. I honor that being as a collective and as individual parts of a greater whole. I also know that he is all of those things and more, and none of those things and less, depending on who is working with him.