Next to nothing is known about this Celtic deity and any sources that make certain claims are of a neo-pagan frame of reference. However, what we can do is to try to interpret the artwork from this famous cauldron as pictured below.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cernunnos

The animals surrounding this deity appear to be at ease, both prey and predator. Whether this is a passive trait the deity possesses or perhaps this is to show his mastery over the animal kingdom. The seating pose of this deity is like that of the lotus position found in meditative practices, perhaps invoking the symbolism of peace and tranquility. Within Abrahamic faiths the snake is seen in a negative light, but here the snake appears to be passive and it makes me wonder if the snake in the ancient Celtic world was somehow associated with the torque.

Yes, The Torque, both worn by this deity and perhaps being dispensed as well. If we look to Norse mythology, Odin also possesses a “torque” named Draupnir with the ability to multiply from itself. In the ancient Norse world oaths were sworn on these. I can only speculate, but perhaps Cernunnos also functioned as a keeper of oaths.

The last thing that I wanted to point out are the plants in this image…they have a sort of aura around them. Is Cernunnos causing them to grow? Or are the plants in a state of tranquility as well? Whatever it is, whoever engraved these images into this cauldron took quite a lot of time to stencil these “auras” around these plants.

In my own neck of the woods, I have heard locals speaking of a “Goat-Man” they randomly come across while out in the woods, or jutting out in front of their truck on a lonely highway pass late in the night. In my own practice before I begin fly fishing the streams, I give an offering to Cernunnos. I may not know much about him and there aren’t any surviving mythologies, but I feel that I can still pay my respects.

As I stride along this path,

green swiftly surpasses.

Mountains shrouding secrets,

streams beat their rhythmic song.

Birds abound and creatures around,

call me back to the Lord of Forests.

Come hither and stay forever.