At Red Oak Grove, there are eight Welsh and Irish gods who we consider our “patrons,” and we especially honor them in our rituals and practice. Many gods and spirits from around the world are more than welcome at our events, but these patron gods are the ones who we consistently call on and who we offer our devotion. Their names, lessons, and values are worked into every ROG ritual.
Our seasonal deities
Brigid
Brigid is our goddess of inspiration, health, and creation. An Irish goddess whose name means excellence or exalted, she is the blacksmith and the poet and the midwife and a thousand things more. At Red Oak Grove, we celebrate Brigid especially in the spring, and at our high holidays Canol Gaeaf (Imbolc), Alban Eilir (Spring Equinox), and Calan Mai (Beltane).
Lleu Llaw Gyffes
Lleu Law Gyffes —the bright one with the deft hand— is our god of skills, passion, playfulness, and aggression. At Red Oak Grove, we consider Welsh Lleu and the Irish Lugh cognates, and study the mythology and stories of both. We especially think of Lleu at noon, in the summer, and at our holidays Calan Mai (Beltane), Alban Hefin (Summer Solstice), and Calan Awst (Lughnasadh).
Rhiannon
Rhiannon is our goddess of fertility, nurturing, and the harvest. She is honored most at dusk and at our autumn holidays. At Calan Awst (Lughnasadh) she is a young woman, heavy with child. At Alban Elfed (Autumn Equinox) she is a strong mother, defending her children. At Calan Gaeaf (Samhain) she is a crone, concerned with the act of Death.
Math ap Mathonwy
Math is our god of justice, and also the god of meditation, magic and transformation. We concentrate on him especially at midnight and in the winter holidays. At Calan Gaeaf (Samhain) he is a powerful king. At Alban Arthan (Yule) he is a great magician, able even to create humans out of flowers. At Canol Gaeaf (Imbolc), he is dying, waiting to pass on his kingdom.
Our liminal deities
Cerridwen
Cerridwen is the mother of Taliesin the bard. She is our goddess of magic, the year, and transformation. In Her tale, she brews a potion of Awen (inspiration) to bless her child, and in the process accidentally blesses Taliesin and eats him, later giving birth. We ask Her aid in creating the Waters of Life so we can receive the blessings of the Kindred
Cernunnos
Cernunnos the wise Sage of the Greenwood. He is the Hermit who withdraws from civilization to concentrate on the affairs of the mind and spirit. He is also a god of between spaces and straddling opposites. Thus, we ask Him to open the Gates between the Worlds so we can safely travel to the Otherworld and commune with the Kindred.
Dôn and An Dadga
Dôn is a mother goddess of Wales, the mother of Gwydion and Arianrhod among others, and the sister of Math ap Mathonwy. We recognize her as our Earth Mother and honor her in every ritual as such.
An Dagda is a father god of Ireland, father of Brigid and Aengus among others. He is a master druid, a just king, and a strong warrior. We honor him in ritual as a Sky Father and counterpoint to Dôn.
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