Horns of Power - by Sorita D'Este (Paperback)

About the Book

This unique anthology brings together the work of more than twenty people, including dedicated scholars and modern day mystics, who through their written and artistic contributions illustrate some of the many manifestations of the Horned God.

Book 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.

Review Quotes

"This is an absolutely fascinating anthology about the Horned God in His many guises (all over the world, and through time) and different people's experiences with Him. It also features a small section about Horned Goddesses, which is very nice. The academic essays are very informative, and the personal essays are heartwarming and inspiring - full of humor, wit, passion, and information. There are even hymns and a few guided meditations!" http: //thefaeryromanticlibrarian.blogspot.co.uk

"The Horned God that I love, the one that has fascinated me all of my life is Cernunnos, the Lord of the Forest and the Wild Animals. For me, one of the best stories in the book was A Quest For Horns by Stephen Blake, and not only because he mentions Robin of Sherwood which still remains a favourite of mine! " Merissa Sheppard, Goodreads Reviewer

"This books is amazing. I read and fell in love with the poetry, the well researched and referenced articles, the amazing artwork. This book is so good I'm purchasing a physical copy to have as reference for myself. In a Craft that discusses balance this book is a well needed tome that speaks to balance; giving the God his due as much as the Goddess has." Aisha Oaktree, Goodreads Reviewer