More about the Ogham Tree Alphabet
The ogham is an early medieval alphabet developed in the British Isles and it appears on monumental inscriptions dating from the fourth to the sixth century AD, and in manuscripts dating from the sixth to the ninth century AD. It was used mainly to write Primitive and Old Irish, as well as to write Old Welsh, Pictish, and Latin; it was inscribed on stone monuments throughout Ireland (particularly Kerry, Cork, and Waterford) and in England, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Wales (particularly in Pembrokeshire in South Wales). It is hard to trace the origins of the alphabet because ancient Celtic lore and mythology was never written down but passed on orally. Its origins probably stem from ancient times in the history of the British Isles.
The alphabet consists of a set of straight lines that were etched upon sticks called staves or on stones for markers or monuments. Each line forms a symbol that represents a sigil and letter and can be written vertically (usually read from bottom to top) and horizontally (usually read from left to right). An arrow shaft or some other kind of marking will usually indicate where to begin reading. The markings are made along a stem-line called the druim.
There are many different versions of the ogham tree alphabet, but the one that I use has twenty-five symbols and letters that mostly correspond to a tree or a plant, and the last one represents the sea and has a host of ideas and spiritual meanings—teachings, if you will—that relate to the Celtic cosmology. The use of the ogham has emerged as a powerful modern-day oracle and it has become a valid tool for today’s spiritual seekers. Many modern-day Pagans and Wiccans, like myself, have taken to using the ogham as a body of wisdom teaching and can attest to its vibrancy. The twenty-five sigils can be traced, painted, or etched onto staves (wood pieces cut to the same length) and thrown as a divination tool. Sets are also available ready-made on the internet.
The alphabet is divided into the feada (FEHD-uh), which includes the first twenty of the letters, and the forfeda (FOR-fehd-uh), which is the last five. The feada is divided into four groups of five, called aicmes (AYKH-muhs). The first fifteen feada represent the consonants and the last five represent the vowels.
The forfeda, the last five, were added to offer special significance within the system and they represent vowel and consonant combinations. These were added later probably to accommodate Greek and Latin. Each sigil has its own meaning. The first fifteen symbols plus the Koad symbol make up the Celtic tree calendar that I work with.
The Feada
|
# |
Letter/Ogham |
Tree/ Meaning |
|
Aicme Beith |
||
|
1 |
B/ Beith |
Birch/ |
|
2 |
L/ Luis |
Rowan/ |
|
3 |
F, V, GW/ Fearn |
Alder/ |
|
4 |
S/ Saille |
Willow/ |
|
5 |
N/ Nuin |
Ash/ |
|
Aicme Húathe |
||
|
6 |
H / Huathe |
Hawthorn/ |
|
7 |
D/ Duir |
Oak/ |
|
8 |
T/ Tinne |
Holly/ |
|
9 |
C/ Coll |
Hazel/ |
|
10 |
Q/ Quert |
Apple/ |
|
Aicme Muin |
||
|
11 |
M/ Muin |
Vine/ |
|
12 |
G/ Gort |
Ivy/ |
|
13 |
Ng/ Ngetal |
Reed/ |
|
14 |
SS, ST, Z/ Straif |
Blackthorn/ |
|
15 |
R/ Ruis |
Elder/ |
|
Aicme Ailim (Vowels) |
||
|
16 |
A / Ailim |
Silver Fir/ |
|
17 |
O/ Ohn |
Gorse/Furze/ |
|
18 |
U, W/ Ur |
Heather/Mistletoe/ Healing |
|
19 |
E/ Eadha |
White Poplar/Aspen/ |
|
20 |
I, J, Y/ Ioho |
Yew/ |
The Forfeda
|
# |
Letter/Ogham |
Tree/ Meaning |
|
21 |
EA, CH, KH/ Koad (Shears) |
The Grove/ |
|
22 |
OI, TH/ |
Spindle/ |
|
23 |
UI, PE, P/ Uilleand (Bones) |
Honeysuckle/ |
|
24 |
IO, PH/ |
Beech/ |
|
25 |
AE, XI, X/ Mor (Weft of the shirt) |
The Sea/ |
