gaulishgods – Gaulish Paganism

Article by U̯ailogenos Cattâcos (Joe Cato)

Rûnou̯elîti̯â is a divination system/tool that is similar to and inspired by Norse and Germanic Runes and Insular Celtic Ogham, but designed to be used within a Gaulish Polytheistic (Galatibessus) framework. It is intended to be used with small tiles or something similar, and drawn or cast much the same as reading Runes.

(A set of Rûnâs on round, wooden discs that I made)

(A nicer set on wooden tiles made to match my system gifted to me by Branos Carnutodrûidon)

It is not a reconstruction of any known historical divination tool/method. It is merely a modern innovation based on a very hypothetical could-have-been given the existence of similar concepts found among the cultures that neighored the Gauls, and the established tendency of the Gauls to exchange products and ideas with their neighboring cultures, as well as the tendency of modern Gaulish Polytheists to interact with modern adherents to the Polytheisms of those same groups.

The name was created by combining the following Gaulish words:

rûnâ (secret, mystery)

and

u̯elîtus (to see)

So I have translated it as “secret-seeing”.

The Gaulish word rûnâ descended from the Proto-Celtic rūnā and is linguistically related to the Old Norse rún and Old English rūn (ancestor of the Modern English rune) which both descend from Proto-Germanic rūnō. P-C rūnā and P-G rūnō may have descended independently from Proto-Indo-European *rewHn- (ultimately from *rewH- [to roar; grumble; murmur; mumble; whisper]), or rūnō may have been borrowed from rūnā.

It uses the 15 characters of the Lugano alphabet (also commonly referred to as the North Italic or Lepontic alphabet)* needed to write the Gaulish language, adapted from the Lepontic alphabet, which generally uses 18 characters, adjusted to reflect the few sound differences between the two languages. It differs from other, similar Gaulish divination systems in this respect as my version uses the fewest letters, and uses a set of letters specifically tailored to Gaulish rather than just using the Lepontic alphabet.

A note on that:

(*The Lugano/North Italic alphabet variations were derived from the Etruscan alphabet, which itself was ultimately derived from the Phoenician alphabet, as were those of Hebrew and other Semitic languages. It was borrowed in various forms from the Etruscans to write Northern Italic languages as well as the Celtic languages Lepontic and, to an admittedly lesser extent, Gaulish. An early Western Greek alphabet called Euboean served as the link between the Phoenecian and Etruscan alphabets, and was also the common ancestor of the more familiar Greek as well as Latin alphabets. And variations used for Lepontic and Gaulish probably provided the basis for the Germanic Runic alphabets. I think this provides a fascinating link between the Semitic, Tyrsenian, and Indo-European language families.)

The meanings for each Rûnâ (letter) were derived by comparing the assigned meanings of their closest equivalents within the Grammatomancy (divination using letters) systems of the Gauls closest Indo-European neighbors: Elder Futhark (Fuþark), Anglo-Saxon Futhorc (Fuþorc), Gaelic Ogham, and the Greek Oracle divination systems. I also borrowed plant associations for each rûnâ from its Ogham counterpart. Lastly, I offered possible Dêu̯os/Dêu̯â (god/goddess) associations for each Rûnâ, though these are certainly only possible suggestions. There are many possible Dêu̯oi (deities) one could associate with each Rûnâ, and these connections could vary based on the individual’s relationship with a particular Dêu̯os or Dêu̯â.

Endless thanks and praise to Rosmertâ, the Goddess of Fate & Propjecy, and Carnonos (more commonly known as Cernunnos), God of Liminality & Opener of the door between our world and the Otherworld, for inspiration and guidance throughout this work.

Brâton Tê, Rosmertâ!

Brâton Tê, Carnone!

The Rûnâs:

Names, phonetic values, and divinatory meanings of the Rûnâs

Arespon – a message (a, â)
communication, receiving a message or messages, insight, foresight, clear vision,
truth, wisdom, success in negotiations and transactions.

– Fuþark equivalent: Ansuz (ᚨ)
– Fuþorc equivalent: Ōs (ᚩ)
– Ogham equivalent: Ailm (ᚐ)
– Greek equivalent: Alpha (Α/α)
– Dêu̯oi: Ogmios (eloquence), Rosmertâ and the Mâtronâs (Fate)
– Plant: Pine

Epos – horse (e, ê)
movement, change (especially swift or abrupt change), rebirth, creative solutions, determination, overcoming fear and doubt, teamwork/partnership, alliance, righteous union, marriage, offspring

– Fuþark equivalent: Ehwaz (ᛖ)
– Fuþorc equivalent: Eoh (ᛖ)
– Ogham equivalent: (ᚓ)
– Greek equivalent: Epsilon (Ε/ε)
– Dêu̯oi: Eponâ
– Plant: Poplar or Aspen

I̯agis – ice (i, î, i̯)
patience, waiting, standstill, turning inward for clarity, reflection, accepting the
inevitable, death and rebirth, new starts, losing and regaining through hard work

– Fuþark equivalent: Isaz (ᛁ)
– Fuþorc equivalent: Īs (ᛁ)
– Ogham equivalent: Iodhadh (ᚔ)
– Greek equivalent: Iota (ᛁ/ι)
– Dêu̯oi: Artiû
– Plant: Yew

Cradion – heart (c)
Grânos – grain (g)
artistry, creativity, passion, love, sex, strength, inspiration, courage, endurance,
gifts/profits/successful harvest/fruitful outcome

– Fuþark equivalent: Kenaz (ᚲ)
Gebō (ᚷ)
– Fuþorc equivalent: Cēn (ᚳ)
Gyfu (ᚷ)
– Ogham equivalent: Coll (ᚉ)
Gort (ᚌ)
– Greek equivalent: Kappa (Κ/κ)
Gamma (Γ/γ)
– Dêu̯oi: Lugus as god of arts/skills and warrior
– Plant: Hazel or Ivy

Locos – lake (l)
prophecy/divination/revelation, intuition, imagination, creativity, artistic passion, vitality/life energy,
flow/change/growth/renewal (water associations), success, mysteries, the deep, the hidden, the unknown, the Underworld, the fickleness and unpredictably of Nature and Fate, look deeper

– Fuþark equivalent: Laguz (ᛚ)
– Fuþorc equivalent: Lagu (ᛚ)
– Ogham equivalent: Luis (ᚌ)
– Greek equivalent: Lambda (Λ/λ)
– Dêu̯oi: Rosmertâ and the Mâtronâs (Prophecy and Fate), Sucellos and Nantosṷeltâ (the Underworld),
possibly
– Dêu̯oi associated with water
– Plant: Rowan

Mî – me (m)
the self, receiving help from others, exchange, friends and family, forethought, vision, psychic sense, positive change through labor, toil, and examination of life lessons, awareness of how your actions affect others.

– Fuþark equivalent: Mannaz (ᛗ)
– Fuþorc equivalent: Mann (ᛗ)
– Ogham equivalent: Muin (ᚋ)
– Greek equivalent: Mu (Μ/μ)
– Dêu̯oi: yourself (not a Dêu̯os/Dêu̯â obviously but as worshipper and supplicant and your relationship to the Dêu̯oi), and ancestors
– Plant: Vine

Nertos – strength (n)
need, desire, responsibility, hardship (delay, restriction, resistance, poverty, strife, conflict), will to overcome, self-reliance, taking action, the coming solution to the need/desire or hardship, don’t let fear keep you from accepting the truth, truth is a gift from the gods and can be hard to accept but leads to growth,

– Fuþark equivalent: Naudiz (ᚾ)
– Fuþorc equivalent: Nȳd (ᚾ)
– Ogham equivalent: Nuin (ᚅ)
– Greek equivalent: Nu (Ν/ν)
– Dêu̯oi: Ogmios or any deity associated with strength
– Plant: Ash

Orbion – inheritance, heritage (o, ô)
inheritance, home, hearth, family, heritage, material possessions, property, increase of possessions, “reaping what you sow”/achieving reward through effort and planning, knowing the proper time to reap the rewards of efforts as attempting to gain the benefits too soon may cause a loss of the benefits

– Fuþark equivalent: Ōþalan (ᛟ)
– Fuþorc equivalent: Oðal (ᛟ)
– Ogham equivalent: Onn (ᚑ)
– Greek equivalent: Omicron (Ο/ο)
Omega (Ω/ω)
– Dêu̯oi: hearth Dêu̯âs, ancestral Dêu̯oi, Dêu̯oi associated with abundance, especially Sucellos and Nantosṷeltâ due to Their roles as Ancestors as well as Their associations with abundance.
– Plant: Gorse

Pellon – a far away thing (p)
Brunnos – womb (b)
a secret, something unknown and potentially best left unknown for now, something lost, chance, danger, struggle, success through perseverance in the face of adversity, choosing what is beneficial, new beginnng/fresh starts

– Fuþark equivalent: Perþrō (ᛈ)
Berkanan (ᛒ)
– Fuþorc equivalent: Peorð (ᛈ)
Beorc (ᛒ)
– Ogham equivalent: Ceirt (ᚓ)
Beith (ᚁ)
– Greek equivalent: Pi (Π/π)
Beta (Β/β)
– Dêu̯oi: Rosmertâ and the Mâtronâs (Fate), (possibly Grannos by way of Greek association of Beta with Apollō)
– Plant: Apple or Birch

Đerâ – stars (Tau Gallicum (/ts/)
fate, chaos (trials, tribulation, conflict, destruction) that leads to catharsis and change/new beginnings, gains at a cost balancing of opposites, link between the spiritual and the earthly, regeneration, divine protection on this path, just as the moon and stars provide light to get through darkness this Rûnâ serves as a guide through stress/chaos/turmoil.

– Fuþark equivalent: Þurisaz (ᚦ)
– Fuþorc equivalent: Þorn (ᚦ) and Stān (ᛥ)
– Ogham equivalent: Straif (ᚎ)
– Greek equivalent: Theta (Θ/θ)
– Dêu̯oi: Ðîronâ (who provides light in the darkness), Carnonos (balancing of opposites and link between spiritual and earthly), Rosmertâ and the Mâtronâs (Fate), Eponâ (link between spiritual and earthly)
– Tau Gallicum is said to be descended from Greek Theta, so I used both /st/ as well as /th/ sounding letters from the comparative alphabets when determining my interpreted meanings for Đerâ.
– Plant: Blackthorn

Rotâ – wheel (r)
movement (physical, emotional, etc), travel, safe travel, rites of passage, moving away from old cycles, renewal, relocation, career change, move forward, remaining stagnant is living thoughtlessly, swift and timely action needed, logic and reason over emotions and passions

– Fuþark equivalent: Raidō (ᚱ)
– Fuþorc equivalent: Rād (ᚱ)
– Ogham equivalent: Ruis (ᚏ)
– Greek equivalent: Rho (Ρ/ρ)
– Dêu̯oi: Taranis because of wheel and cycle associations, Lugus (protector of travelers)
– Plant: Elder

Sâu̯elis – the Sun (s)
success, victory, health, energy, vitality (life-force), power, health, Solar deities, psychic powers, magic, connection between higher self and unconscious, purity/purification

– Fuþark equivalent: Sōwilō (ᛋ)
– Fuþorc equivalent: Sigel (ᛋ)
– Ogham equivalent: Saille (ᚄ)
– Greek equivalent: Sigma (Σ/σ)
– Dêu̯oi: Grannos (the sun and healing/health), Ðîronâ (healing/health), any other Dêu̯oi associated with health and healing, any Dêu̯oi associated with victory
– Plant: Willow

Treχamos – most powerful (t)
Dii̯os – day (d)
warrior symbol, courage, honor, integrity, victory, mastery over self, growth, endurance, authority, leadership, rules, law, justice, success in legal matters, success in competition, strength but more importantly knowing when, where, and how to apply it, breakthrough, awakening,awareness

– Fuþark equivalent: Tīwaz (ᛏ)
Dagaz (ᛞ)
– Fuþorc equivalent: Tir (ᛏ)
Dæg (ᛞ)
– Ogham equivalent: Tinne (ᚈ)
Duir (ᚇ )
– Greek equivalent: Tau (Τ)
Delta (Δ/δ)
– Dêu̯oi: Camulos, Caturîx, Catubodṷâ or other warrior Dêu̯oi, Lugus (success in competition), Ogmios (strength)
– Plant: Oak or Holly

Uros – aurochs, ox (u, û, u̯)
strength, health/healing, energy/vitality, magic, change (likely sudden, likely self-imposed, likely for the better), adventure or a quest

– Fuþark equivalent: Ūruz (ᚢ)
– Fuþorc equivalent: Ūr (ᚢ)
– Ogham equivalent: Úr (ᚒ)
– Greek equivalent: Upsilon (Υ/υ)
– Dêu̯oi: Ogmios (strength), any Dêu̯oi associated with health and healing
– Plant: Heather

Alcos – elk (χ)
protection and the desire to protect, victory, success, achievement, accomplishing goals

– Fuþark equivalent: Algiz (ᛉ)
– Fuþorc equivalent: Eolhx (ᛉ)
– Ogham equivalent: Emancholl (ᚙ)
– Greek equivalent: χi/Khi (Χ/χ)
– Dêu̯oi: Taranis and any of the various Toutatîs as protectors, Lugus (success, achievement, goals)
– name doesn’t match sound, but there are no Gaulish words that begin with χ, but Alcos matches the meaning of Algiz and Eolhx (elk).
– Plant: Beech (probably)

Rosmertâ and Carnonos sending us the Rûnâs. (Art by Branos Carnutodrûidon)

Pronunciation Guide

(based on American English)

a = about
â = father
e = get
ê = day
i = pit
î = feet
o = somewhere between loss and or
ô = boat
u = put
û = too
i̯ = yellow
u̯ = water
c = always hard like cat
g = always hard like goat
Ð/ðð = it’s
r = (probably trilled or rolled like Spanish r or rr)
χ/x = Scottish loch, German Bach