| You have followed the path through a darkend wood and now find yourself on a hillside. Above you the sky is darkening, and a deep and powerful sound echoes in the distance; the Thunder... The clouds above swirl and take a distinctive form; the Wheel... You tremble, not in fright, but in excitement, for this is an ancient call... A sound that sings of glory and a wheel that ever turns in Truth, Honour and Love. Now is the time to kneel upon the Earth and give homage to He who is the thunder... TARANIS!  Who is Taranis?  The name "Taranis" derives from the Celtic (or Indo-European) root "taran" which literally means "thunder". Taranis was worshiped especially by the continental Celts, although there is widespread evidence of his pan-celtic worship as well. Also know as the "Thundering Lord", Taranis shares attributes with other European gods, most notably Thor and the Roman Jupiter. There is evidence that after the Roman assimilation of Celtic lands, he was worshiped as Jupiter-Taranis. Throughout continental Europe, there exists 7 altars to Taranis, all bearing inscriptions in Latin or Greek. His major associations include the Solar Wheel, the Seasons, Weather and, of course, Thunder.  Discovered in Austria, this shrine stone depicts Taranis holding a wheel and a club/spear. Ways to Honour Taranis There are many ways to honour and show devotion to Taranis. Below are just a few suggestions:
 This image of Taranis, from the Gundestrup cauldron (200 - 100 BCE), shows a figure holding a wheel. Riding the Wheel I first encountered a wheel image during a pathworking (guided meditation) 4 years ago, yet it wasn't until this past autumn that I made to spiritual connection to Taranis. I was at Pagan festival and had decided to take a walk in the misty rain through some nearby famers fields. I had been feeling disconnected from the Gods for sometime, and felt I needed to just clear my soul and perhaps find a new starting point. So I walked through the tall grass and rounded the base of a small hill, which I began to climb. Upon reaching the top, I stood there and looked out at the threatening clouds. I thought that perhaps it wasn't the best idea to be standing atop a hill in a thunderstorm, but maybe it was where I needed to be. My heart had guided me here, to find the path I was meant to walk. It was then that the sky above me broke and an amazingly loud roll of thunder echoed throughout the hills. I gasped in awe. The dark sky had turned a silvery colour and as I looked up and into the swirling clouds, I watched as a pattern formed. There in the sky, as raw and honest as the storm I was standing in, was a wheel. I fell to my knees and wept. So was my calling. It was then that I dedicated myself to Taranis, though now I feel it was HE who chose me. * Scout Le Pelerin ~ November 2002  Shrine to Taranis From windy hilltops and rolling glen, In the lightning flash I have seen the wheel turn. The sound of change echoes through the mist and rain, and I can feel your thunder pulsing in my very spirit. Taranis, it is to you that my path leads, to ever receive your blessings. May I always feel your strength in my body, your presence in my head, your light in my soul. So may it always be thus. written by Scout Le Pelerin Copyright 2001  Interested in connecting with other devotees, worshippers and followers of Taranis? Join the Dedicants of Taranis discussion group. CLICK HERE  Site Design - Scout Le Pelerin IE 5+ / Netscape 6+ recommended  Dedicants of Taranis - 2006 |