Strong relationship with nature
The ancient Celtic people had a strong affinity to nature in all its forms, and the Ogham alphabet is a good example of this, as each letter/symbol is connected with plants and trees. The letters themselves are called Feda, meaning ‘trees’ or ‘forked branches’ due to their shapes, and the letters are linked together by a solid line.
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These are to be read from bottom to top in an inscription. In Ogham’s simplest form there are twenty alphabetical symbols, each of these symbols represents a sacred tree, and each tree represents a different quality. According to an Irish Legend, Ogham was said to have been named after the Irish god of eloquence, Ogma, who created them.
“That sacred tree whose bark I touched,
whose leaves did tell to me,
the ancient tales that made me sure
my friend would come to me…”
~From the song, ‘Greatest Friend,’ by the Incredible String Band, Wee Tam and the Big Huge, Elektra Records, 1968.
Ogham – a complex system
The first written record of its use goes back to the 4th century, but may originate in the 1st century. Inscriptions are found on monuments in Ireland, Wales, southwest England, and Scotland. Translated, the languages used were found to be in Primitive Irish, Old Irish, Pictish, Old Welsh and Latin. Later in the medieval period, Ogham became a complex system that combined poetry, grammar, mnemonics, mythology, divination, musical notation, cyphers and coded speech. A 15th century treatise on Ogham, in the Book of Ballymote, confirms that Ogham was a secret, ritualistic language.
In Tochmarc Étaíne, an ancient story within the Irish Mythological Cycle, Dalan (a druid) takes four wands of yew, and writes Ogham letters upon them. He then uses them for divination with no mention the story of how they were used or interpreted. Modern practitioners have come up with various methods using Ogham letters in divination, and are based on the meanings of the trees. This was largely inspired by Robert Graves, in his book The White Goddess (Faber, 1948), stating each letter of the Ogham alphabet was connected by a different tree or shrub plant. He also created a calendar from this tree alphabet.
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Sticks defining letters
One modern method mimics the Druid Dalan’s through inscribing the individual Ogham letters onto sticks. To read with them, select several sticks at random, throw them onto a cloth, take a look at the symbols and in what position / constellation they fell to the ground, or if they seem to create another letter whenever the sticks align in a certain position with each other. You can make a set at home using small branches or popsicle sticks. Below you will find a sample of the letters, their names, and their meanings to get you started.
Enjoy the ancient knowledge!
| Letter | Ogham | Tree | Meaning |
| B | Beithe | Birch | Beginning, Renewal, Youth | ||
| L | Luis | Rowan | Protection, Expression, Connection | ||
| F | Fern | Alder | Endurance, Strength, Passion | ||
| S | Sail | Willow | Imagination, Intuition, Vision | ||
| N | Nion | Ash | Connection, Wisdom, Surrender | ||
| H | Huath | Hawthorn | Contradiction, Consequence, Relationships | ||
| D | Duir | Oak | Strength, Stability, Nobility | ||
| T | Tinne | Holly | Action, Assertion, Objectivity | ||
| C | Coll | Hazel | Creativity, Purity, Honesty | ||
| Q | Quert | Apple | Beauty, Love, Generosity | ||
| M | Muin | Vine | Introspection, Relaxation, Depth | ||
| G | Gort | Ivy | Determination, Change, Patience | ||
| NG | Ngetal | Reed | Harmony, Health, Growth | ||
| STR | Straif | Blackthorn | Discipline, Control, Perspective | ||
| R | Ruis | Elder | Transition, Evolution, Continuation | ||
| A | Ailm | Fir | Clarity, Achievement, Energy | ||
| O | Onn | Gorse | Transmutation, Resourcefulness, Exposure | ||
| U | Ur | Heather | Dreams, Romance, Feelings | ||
| E | Edad | Poplar/Aspen | Victory, Transformation, Vision | ||
| I | Idad | Yew | Transference, Passage, Illusion |
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