There is a terrestrial Sun, which is the cause of all heat, and all those who are able to see, see the Sun, and those who are blind and cannot see it feel its warmth. There is an eternal Sun, which is the source of all wisdom, and those whose spiritual senses have been awakened in life, will see this Sun and be aware of its existence; but those who have not achieved complete spiritual consciousness can still comprehend its power through an inner ability called intuition. Paracelsus.
This quote points to what many cultures already knew about the Sun, that it is not only a center because of its position, but also because of its vital and spiritual power.
The Celts were one of the cultures that recognized the importance of the Sun. They had many deities with solar attributes and celebrations that marked significant moments in the Sun’s cycle. The festival of Beltane (which means “bright fire” and refers to the Sun) still celebrates the return of summer today. Large bonfires, sometimes made of fragrant pine trees, are lit to honor the Sun. e, they were built for purification and renewal. Beltane is associated with Belenus, called the “Bright Shining” (or “Shining God”), one of the oldest and most revered Celtic deities. He is associated with the horse and is depicted riding across the sky in a chariot pulled by a horse, which is a characteristic of a solar deity.
Another well-known Celtic sun god is Lugh, whose name means “he who shines” or “dazzling light”. His name can be found in the root of the pagan festival Lughnasadh (which is also the Irish-Gaelic name for the month of August). He was the patron god of Lugdunum (now Lyon in France) and associated with many arts and skills, including arts and crafts, trade, knowledge of history, healing, war, and smithing. His symbols were ravens and white deer in Wales. He was portrayed as a king, a leader of armies, but also a powerful god who brings light to the world.
The sun was also represented by female deities. In Irish Gaelic, the word for sun is Grian. Although there is not much information available about female sun deities in Celtic mythology, they were likely associated with fertility and abundance, as well as the cycles of nature and the seasons. Grian does not have any preserved myths, but she can be found in place names such as Lough Graney and Tuamgraney. She is the Winter Sun, and her sister, or her other aspect, is Áine, the Summer Sun. Áine is the goddess of abundance, overseeing crops and livestock, and is sometimes represented as a red horse.
Étaín is another Celtic goddess believed to be associated with the Sun. She originally was the goddess of the Sun, but then became the goddess of the Moon. She is the heroine of the well-known Celtic mythology story, Tochmarc Étaíne (The Wooing of Étaín). Being faithful to love and her true self, she was reborn and became immortal. The sacred elements of Étaín are the Sun, dawn, sea, rain, water, butterflies, apple blossoms, and swans. She is the goddess of healing, rebirth, and soul migration.
“The Triple Goddess” Brigid rules the early Spring Equinox, light, and fire, corresponding to her role as the goddess of fire and light. Brigid is also known by many other names, but all these different divine aspects There were three goddesses in their own three forms: the Fire of Inspiration, the Hearth Fire, and the Forge Fire.
The sun is the source of all life on Earth, and we can find various aspects of this life-giving source represented in various Celtic deities embodying will, wisdom, life-renewing, and healing energies.