Sun & Moon

Acrylic on Canvas 80x120 cm.

This symbol has many names and faces across all cultures. Here are some of them: Pan, Faun, Fauna (feminine), Satyr, Cernunnos, Satan, The Devil, Osiris, God of Nature, The Horned God..

In Paganism, The Horned God, is the God of nature, animals, the Underworld and fertility / sexuality. The graphic symbol of the God is also the moon and the sun integrated. In persona, he is often seen playing music, and has a human upper-body but goat or horse legs, to show his wildness and contact with nature.

He is the spirit of all that grows in nature. He is both the hunter and the hunted. And is both light and dark. The darkness and shadows deep inside the forest. And the clear light of rebirth in the spring, where plants and trees sprouts with lifeforce.

The Horned God is also the God of witches.

Way later! Christianity described him as: Lucifer and Satan. In the Bible, Lucifer was one of God's most trusted and beloved angels, but Lucifer wouldn’t surrender and opposed to God's all deciding will. Because of his individuality, he was thrown out of Heaven and fell into Hell. Here he then ruled as Satan.

According to the depth psychologist, Carl Jung, the Devil is necessary for a human to know his or her true Self. We usually don't do that well, due to shame, guilt and fear. The great or small fear for ourselves – below the surface.

This is one of the strongest symbols for undergoing a life transformation, in my view. The archetype can be scary, but in the end very enlightening.

For me, it represents the big resistance we can have towards ourselves, only to find that our own Self (or own divinity) – is on the other side of it.

The Horned God teaches us to know and accept ourselves in the dark and take back what is ours. When there is nothing left to fear the light can shine brighter.

As above so below.