Bacchant Rambling

Apollon

Divine Grannus

Asclepius

Divine healer

Telesphorus

Divine bringer of recovery

natural soap {chamamile, lavender - everything with a calming scent fits hestia best}

bamboo toothbrush & hairbrush/comb

glass jar everywhere {make a random jar your little "offering jar", or use a little one as a candle holder}

reusable period products like pads, cups or underwear

library card {public spaces like that are very hestia-codded}

damaged clothes as rags

reusable grocery bags

reusable tea strainer instead of paper bags {i think every hestia worshiper is addicted to tea}

He was known in many lands with stories of fate, skills, sovereignty, and greatness. In Ireland, he was called Lugh Lámfada, in Wales, he was Lleu Llaw Gyffes, and in continental Europe, he was praised as Lugus or the plural Lugoves.

In this post, I'm going to explore and analyze some ideas about the domains of this marvelous god(s).

Oaths and Destiny

Destiny and the power of words are big topics in the stories of Lugh and Lleu where we can find narratives such as the god's destiny being prophesied before birth, him speaking in a magical crane-like stance, him reciting the names of future kings, him being repeatedly cursed by his mother, him being healed by magical incantations, and so on.

Reading those stories made me think about the concept of destiny, and one of the main opinions that I ended up with is that instead of trying to explicitly and easily prophesy our fates, we can just let ourselves be guided by our hearts and intuitions trusting and hoping that we are aligned with the true purpose of our lives; To me, this is a big part of Lugus' domain, he's intimately connected to Tonceton (destiny), he sees our potential and the most outstanding possible outcomes in our fates, he knows what we must do in our lifetimes to reach said outcomes even if we have to go through adversities to do so, and when we finally reap the rewards of our efforts, he’ll be there and celebrate with us in glory and pride.

The etymology of his name is still debated, but one theory connects it to oaths or vows, concepts that many people take for granted nowadays, but in the past, the act of speaking oaths was sacred and not something to be taken lightly. Since I resonate with that sentiment, I’ve come to understand that when someone makes an oath, they're getting in touch with the power of Tonceton, they become shapers of fate, to some extent; declaring to themselves, to the gods, and to everyone who listens that their words will become a reality and that they will do everything in their power to make that happen. Lugus, as the ruler and guardian of oaths, hallows our words and allows us to wield their sacred power; therefore, we must always be rational and realistic when we speak them, because if we deliberately break them, we will bring dishonor upon ourselves, thereby dishonoring him, the gods, and the people who witnessed us making the oath.

Excellence in Every Skill

Skillfulness is one of the most characteristic aspects of Lugh and Lleu, their brilliant minds and "skilled hand" excel not only in the arts, but also in other domains like healing, battle, magic, and others; in addition, one inscription in Hispania was dedicated to the Lugoves by a guild of shoemakers, people whose profession depended on the mastery of their craft. But, it's clear in the mythology that the god isn't born with his skills, even if he's destined to have them, instead, we see him being fostered by various other gods who, in all likelihood, taught him most of what he knew and mastered later on; that's not to say that he wasn't innovative, frankly, it's hard to imagine a god who's "skilled in all the arts" not being an inventor and innovator, but it's good to mention that, according to the stories, his domain can encompass not only the possession of skills, but also the learning and mastering processes from which they result.

Eminence is rooted in various concepts, one of them being talent, and Lugus, in my opinion, is a true exemplar of this; he embodies mastery, guiding and blessing us from the beginning of the learning process, through the constant and dedicated practice, to the rewarding state of skillfulness; though, it's important to note that learning, practicing, and mastering are permanent actions, since there's always something new to learn, unless you're Lugus, who, in my view, has already mastered every skill that is, or ever was, or ever will be.

I acknowledge the fact that every art, field and discipline can have its own patron gods, and when I fall under any of those patronages I like to praise them accordingly, after all, Lugh learned from other gods too; but looking at the bigger picture, and thinking about the role of my passions and skills in my personal development, I come to understand Lugus' domain more clearly: He's the god of skillfulness because he's the god of greatness and eminence, he links those concepts in our lives, helping us develop our skills so that we become the best version of ourselves and live the life that we’re destined to live.

One and Many

There are some references in Irish literature to the belief that Lugh was the lone survivor of triplets; furthermore, inscriptions in Hispania and Gaul mention the Lugoves (or other variants with different spellings) more than the singular form. This triplism or multiplicity has been interpreted in various ways: some think it represents the multiplicity of skills or the multifaceted nature of Lugus, some see it as a way to amplify his power, others have connected it to Georges Dumézil's trifunctional hypothesis, just to name a few. Any of those ideas can make sense in my view; I like to think that Lugus is a multi-spirited god, which not only intensifies his power but also makes him able to relate and adapt to any role. I praise and call upon him for guidance, inspiration and blessings in relation to my own personal path and destiny, to reach a level of personal fulfillment in connection with my ideals and passions; but I understand that "personal fulfillment" can look very different for each person, and that's where I think the multiplicity of the Lugoves can be contextualized, praising them makes me think in a more general way and consider the concept of excellence not only in itself, but also its diversity of forms.

Sovereignty and Renown

In mythology, we see Lugh being highly admired and respected for his beauty, wisdom, leadership, strength, and skills. These traits, and many more, convinced the other gods that he was the king that they needed, and the savior that they were waiting for to free them from tyranny, moreover, there's also the story where he recites the names of all the future kings of Ireland while the goddess of sovereignty pours ale in the name of each ruler; Lleu is likewise described as having all the good traits of a well-respected ruler; but it's clear that their rulership is not based on personal greed, but rather they represent the kind of rulership where the community AND the land are the main priorities.

I already touched lightly upon the subject of eminence, which I think is one of the most fundamental aspects of Lugus' domain, but it's worth mentioning that I'm not talking about a selfish kind of eminence, it's not about self-centered fame; it's about reputation and personal excellence that exists in a wider context, and it's supported by passion, truth, fairness, and good deeds. Lugus helps us find our most authentic selves; he gives us the guidance and the means that we need to reach our highest potential and achieve personal greatness that serves not only our hearts and spirits, but also the people and the world around us.

Concluding remarks

Lugus is a god of many blessings: he teaches us the power of words and the sacredness of oaths, he ignites our passions and skills, he gives us eminence and reputation, but overall, he helps us fulfill our truest destinies.

In the stories, he was the ultimate hero, and if you welcome him into your life, he'll help you become the hero of your own story.

Some sources to check out

https://www.academia.edu/7242277/Further_to_tongu_do_dia_toinges_mo_thuath_Mi_a_dyngaf_dynged_it_and_c

http://www.deomercurio.be/en/mercurio.html#:~:text=Mercury%20and%20Lugus,we%20know%3A%20Mercury.

https://nouiogalatis.org/2025/11/26/a-reflection-on-lugus-ogmios-and-ianolaba-in-bng/

https://www.maryjones.us/jce/lugh.html

Source bc i have a feeling i’m gonna get shit for this

So today I was reading Ancient Fire: An Introduction to Gaulish Celtic Polytheism by Segomâros Widugeni when it struck me just how many of the sources were the type of thing that wouldn't necessarily come up on a regular search, particularly some out-of-print books, a lot of which are actually available on the Internet Archive! I took some time to take note of each listed source, and tried to see if I could find the right place to request them from (in the case of a handful of articles and theses), find PDF links where they did already exist, basically whatever I could! Some books are available to buy, most secondhand, and while most are available on Amazon, I won't be linking those here. I'd encourage anyone shopping to consider an alternative option if they can! Now, I haven't read through all of these, but the moment I found at least one of them seems to be impossible to find, I was reminded of the dangers of dying media. So I wanted to put these together so anyone could use them. Not every resource listed is in English. Anyway, on to the list~

Cernunnos: Looking a Different Way

By Ceisiwr Serith

https://ceisiwrserith.com/therest/Cernunnos/cernunnospaper.htm

Cernunnos Origin and Transformation of A Celtic Divinity

By Phyllis Fray Bober

https://www.scribd.com/document/460345187/cernunnos-origin-and-transformation-of-a-celtic-divinity-phyllis-fray-bober

Basic Celtic Deity Types

by Alexei Kondratiev

https://naomh-na-tursan.livejournal.com/5752.html

Deep Ancestors: Practicing the Religion of the Proto-Indo-Europeans

Book by Ceisiwr Serith

https://www.scribd.com/document/362472999/Deep-Ancestors-Practicing-the-Religion-of-the-Proto-Indo-Europeans

The Gods of the Celts and the Indo-Europeans

Book by Garrett S. Olmsted

https://www.academia.edu/38135817/The_Gods_of_the_Celts_and_the_Indo_Europeans_revised_2019_

Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend

Book by Miranda Aldhouse-Green

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/dictionary-of-celtic-myth-and-legend_miranda-aldhouse-green/543335/#edition=5215209&idiq=16154030

The Book of The Great Queen: The Many Faces of the Morrigan from Ancient Legends to Modern Devotions

Book by Morpheus Ravenna Further

to tongu do dia toinges mo thuath [“Mi a dyngaf dynged it”], &c.

By John Koch

https://www.academia.edu/7242277/Further_to_tongu_do_dia_toinges_mo_thuath_Mi_a_dyngaf_dynged_it_and_c

Goddesses in Celtic Religion Cult and Mythology: A Comparative Study of Ancient Ireland, Britain and Gaul

By Noémie Beck

http://theses.univ-lyon2.fr/documents/lyon2/2009/beck_n#p=0&a=title

The Integration of Mercury and Lugus: Myth and History in Late Iron Age and Early Roman Gaul

By Krista Ovist

https://archives.library.wales/index.php/integration-of-mercury-and-lugus

Lady with a Mead Cup: Ritual, Prophecy, and Lordship in the European Warband from La Tène to the Viking Age

Book by Michael J. Enright

How to Kill a Dragon: Aspects of Indo-European Poetics

Book by Calvert Watkins

https://ia801404.us.archive.org/view_archive.php?archive=/7/items/twain-mark-a-connecticut-yankee-in-king-arthurs-court/1-ptry.zip&file=How%20to%20Kill%20a%20Dragon%20-%20Aspects%20of%20Indo%20European%20Poetics.pdf

The Celtic Gauls: Gods, Rites and Sanctuaries

Book by Jean-Louis Brunaux

The Apple Branch: A Path to Celtic Ritual

Book by Alexei Kondratiev

https://archive.org/details/applebranchpatht0000kond

Oxford Dictionary of Celtic Mythology

Book by James Mackillop

https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofcelt0000mack

The female deities of the Celtic religion: worship and mythology: a comparative study of ancient Ireland, Great Britain and Gaul

By Noémie Beck

https://theses.fr/2009LYO20084

Celtic Curses

Book by Bernard Mees

https://www.academia.edu/1012094/Celtic_Curses_Woodbridge_Boydell_2009

Guide to Irish Mythology

Book by Daragh Smyth

https://archive.org/details/guidetoirishmyth00smyt

The Sacred Isle

Book by Dáithí Ó hÓgáin

https://archive.org/details/sacredislebelief0000ohog

The Matronae and Matres: Breathing New Life into an Old Religion

By River Devora

http://polytheist.com/the-web-of-blessings/2015/08/12/the-matronae-and-matres-breathing-new-life-into-an-old-religion/

Interpretatio Romana and Matronae Iconography

By River Devora

http://polytheist.com/the-web-of-blessings/2015/08/31/interpretatio-romana-and-matronae-iconography/#:~:text=The%20overlay%20of%20interpretatio%20Romana,and%20plaques%20and%20glean%20valuable

Celtic chiefdom, Celtic state: the evolution of complex social systems in prehistoric Europe

By Arnold, Bettina and Gibson, D. Blair

https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/3086499

*butacos, *wossos, *geistlos, *ambactos. Celtic Socioeconomic Organisation in the European Iron Age. Studia Celtica 40, 2006: 23-41

By Raimund Karl

https://www.academia.edu/245239/_butacos_wossos_geistlos_ambactos_Celtic_Socioeconomic_Organisation_in_the_European_Iron_Age_Studia_Celtica_40_2006_23_41

The Ancient Celts

Book by Barry Cunliffe

https://archive.org/details/ancientcelts00cunl_0

Sengoidelc: Old Irish for Beginners

Book by David Stifter

https://archive.org/details/sengoidelcoldiri0000stif

Greek Kελτóς and Γαλάτης, Latin Gallus ‘Gaul’

By Kim McCone

https://spr.harrassowitz-library.com/article/spr/2006/1/6

Celtic Heritage: Ancient Tradition in Ireland and Wales

Book by Alwyn and Brinley Rees

https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.36494

Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism

By Erynn Rowan Laurie, Kathryn Price NicDhàna, Aedh Rua Ó Mórríghan, Kym Lambert ní Dhoireann and John Machate, ed. by Erynn Rowan Laurie

https://web.archive.org/web/20080418025755/http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usma&c=trads&id=6645

Which witch is which? : a concise guide to Wiccan and Neo-Pagan paths and traditions

Book Compiled and Edited by Patricia Telesco

Sources for the Three Realms

By Annie Loughlin - original source link is dead, need help to locate!

Dictionnaire de la Langue Gauloise

Book by Xavier Delmarre

https://archive.org/details/dictionnairedelal00dela (referred to as “Essential for Gaulish Language study)

The Settling of the Manor of Tara

By R.I. Best

https://www.ucd.ie/tlh/trans/rib.eriu.4.001.t.text.html

The court of law in Iron Age ‚Celtic’ societies. In R. Karl & J. Leskovar (eds.), Interpretierte Eisenzeiten 3. Fallstudien, Methoden, Theorie. Tagungsbeiträge der 3. Linzer Gespräche zur interpretativen Eisenzeitarchäologie. Studien zur Kulturgeschichte von Oberösterreich Folge 22, Linz: Oberösterreichisches Landesmuseum 2009: 135-60.

By Raimund Karl

https://www.academia.edu/245221/The_court_of_law_in_Iron_Age_Celtic_societies_In_R_Karl_and_J_Leskovar_eds_Interpretierte_Eisenzeiten_3_Fallstudien_Methoden_Theorie_Tagungsbeitr%C3%A4ge_der_3_Linzer_Gespr%C3%A4che_zur_interpretativen_Eisenzeitarch%C3%A4ologie_Studien_zur_Kulturgeschichte_von_Ober%C3%B6sterreich_Folge_22_Linz_Ober%C3%B6sterreichisches_Landesmuseum_2009_135_60

Matasović Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

By Ranko Matasović

https://archive.org/details/matasovic-etymological-dictionary-of-proto-celtic

Hammer of the Gods: Anglo-Saxon Paganism in Modern Times Second Edition

Book by Swain Wodening

https://archive.org/details/hammerofgodsangl0000swai

Various Works by Christopher Scott Thompson - recommended re: honor in Gaulish society

https://cateransociety.wordpress.com/books/

A Handbook of the Scottish Gaelic World

Book by Michael Newton and Michael Steven Newton

Celtic Values

By Alexei Kondratiev

http://dagdacelt.freehostia.com/values.html

European paganism : the realities of cult from antiquity to the Middle Ages

By Ken Dowden

https://archive.org/details/europeanpaganism0000dowd

A Definitive Reconstructed Text of the Coligny Calendar

By Garrett Olmsted

https://www.academia.edu/62011364/A_Definitive_Reconstructed_Text_of_the_Coligny_Calendar

New Calendar of Gaulish Polytheism

By Jess via Nemeton Nigromanitcos

https://thebloodybones.wordpress.com/2015/07/10/new-calendar-of-gaulish-polytheism/#more-265

Calendar of Feast-Days of Deities

Via the blog Deo Mercutio

https://deomercurio.wordpress.com/calendar-of-feast-days-of-deities/

Altkeltische Sozialstrukturen

By Raimund Karl

https://homepage.univie.ac.at/Raimund.Karl/Sozialstrukturen.pdf

La Langue Gauloise

Book by Pierre-Yves Lambert

https://www.scribd.com/document/782869557/Lambert-1994-La-langue-gauloise-description-linguistique-commentaire-d-inscriptions-choisies

Death, War, and Sacrifice: Studies in Ideology & Practice

Book by Bruce Lincoln

The Gods of the Celts

Book by Miranda Aldhouse-Green

https://archive.org/details/godsofceltsar00mira

War Goddess The Morrigan And Her Germano Celtic Counterparts

Book by Angelique Gulermovich Epstein

https://archive.org/details/WarGoddessTheMorriganAndHerGermanoCelticCounterparts

Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss/Slaby

- Database of “almost all inscriptions ever recorded”

https://db.edcs.eu/epigr/hinweise/hinweis-en.html

A website on Gallo-Roman religion:

http://www.deomercurio.be/en/

A scholarly website with information on Epona:

Suleuiâs

The Suleuiâs are divine figures who seem to have been fairly popular in ancient Gaulish religion, at least in the Gallo-Roman era, which is where the evidence of their worship comes from, though I don’t think it’s far-fetched to believe that their popularity predates the arrival of Roman influence.

Academic research

Noémie Beck and Viducus Brigantici did great academic analyses on the subject of the Suleviae, but for this post I’ll just list some of the main points:

Their name is thought to be translated as ‘Those who steer or lead well’, ‘good guides’ or ‘good rulers’

They were connected and sometimes combined with the Matres/Matronae

They were given Roman epithets such as Junones and Domesticae

Their name was also found in the singular form on inscriptions as Suleuiâ (who was once identified with the goddess Minerva)

They were associated with specific people (individuals or groups) as well as places (like the home or even the mountains)

Personal Thoughts

I see the Suleuiâs, in terms of their nature, as being similar to the Hellenic Daimones, a sort of middle point between goddesses and spirits. The Materês brought us into existence, they’re responsible for every birth as well as our destinies (I’ll talk more about them in the future), and in my mind, they’re the ones who attach the Suleuiâs to every individual: superior beings who are, at the same time, extensions of ourselves. They guide us as we navigate the destinies that the mother goddesses shape for us; they intimately know us, our past, our present and our future fates; they know the true purpose of our lives and they support us so that we fulfill said purpose, giving us counsel, protection, and guidance.

I associate them with the concept of the ‘higher mind’, which is the one responsible for our instincts and our dreams, but it’s also the part of our minds that connects to transcendent divinity.

So, I see the Suleuiâs as the ones behind our gut feelings, our sudden moments of unexplained wisdom, but also as the bridge between us and the divine, guiding us to the gods when we seek or call upon them as well as guiding them to us when they approach us. The Gods are powerful, and in my opinion, never completely intelligible, embodying things beyond our comprehension, so when we connect to them in meditation or ritual, or even when we’re just thinking about them, that almost ineffable greatness comes to us and it’s shaped and contextualized by our minds so that we reach at least some level of understanding, and that shaping part is, to me, the domain of our Suleuiâs.

They know us, they know what we’re feeling, they know what we’re thinking, they know what we’re living, they care for us, they support us, they’re always with us, I’d even say that they’re a part of us… transcendent and divine.

Their main purpose is to guide us to our truest potential, but I’ll stop here before I get too Neoplatonic 😆

How I connect to my Suleuiâs

As I mentioned above, to me, my Suleuiâs are always with me and they’re an important part of my connection to the gods, to divinity, and to my own self and my destiny. I try to acknowledge them every time I get one of those gut feeling or aha! moments, when I have a dream or a vision that seems to be meaningful, also when I’m thinking about my goals, my future or my life in general.

Here are some religious practices that I dedicate to them:

They are praised in every ‘formal’ ritual I do

I have a symbolic hearth where I try to do a simple ritual every morning, and my Suleuiâs are the ones I primarily pray to, alongside the Deuoi as a collective

Every month, when the first light of the moon is seen in the sky (time of the Hellenic Noumenia), I hold a ritual centered on the home and hearth and, again, my Suleuiâs are the ones I primarily pray to as well as other gods with domestic associations

I do a monthly divination reading with them (in the same ritual mentioned above)

De-Wicca-fying the Hornèd God

What he is...

A Gaulish deity attested through archaeological iconography

A liminal figure who mediates between opposites (life/death, wild/civilized)

Associated with wealth, trade, and material riches

Chthonic in nature; linked with the underworld and ancestors

A psychopompic or threshold guardian deity

Often depicted with a torc, serpent, stag, and other dual symbols

A stand-alone god with a distinct identity

A god of crossroads, change, spirit work, and transitions

What he is not...

A pan-Celtic god worshiped across all Celtic cultures

A fertility god or virility symbol

A “Lord of the Animals” or forest guardian figure

A sky god or solar figure

A seasonal dying-reborn god like the Wiccan sacrificial consort

Depicted historically with an erect phallus or overt sexual imagery

An archetype or interchangeable “face” of a universal Horned God

"May the muses hear my voice And listen to my humble prayer In endless praise I shall rejoice So that their wisdom I may bear I call upon the voice that speaks Unto a mortal poet’s heart I find it in a sparkling creek Besides a bed of floral art Created by the goddesses Whose mother’s name is memory Their spirit that astonishes Within the words of poetry."

- Jacqueline Bartholomew

I decided to dedicate one evening to just drawing and participate in Draw In Your Style by @starweaverblog