The Ogham runes have been used for both mundane writings as well as magical script and divination. Each rune
is also associated with a particular tree, the trees
associated with the ogham were divided into three
classifications, which represented their Druidic order
of importance,first Cheiftains,then Peasants and the
final being the Shrubs. Two of the symbols,Grove and
Sea are of course not trees, but it shows us that the
Druids believed there was great power in large groups
of trees as well as the sea.
Beithe/Birch-
Gods:Brighid,Bran,Belinos,Blodeuwedd,Boann,Branwen,
Brigantia
Month:November
Color:White
Class:Peasant
Letter:B
New beginnings,changes,purification,birth,energizing,vital life force,
good fortune,finding inner strength. Can be used
in ritual to drive out evil or negativity as well.
Luis/Rowan-
Gods:Lugh,Llyr,Luchtaine
Month:December
Color:Grey and Red
Class:Peasant
Letter:L
Gives insight and foreknowledge, helps you to develop
intuition and the ability to overcome self doubt,
and use your own inner strength and wisdom. Also helps you to avoid being controlled by others.In ritual
it's also great for helping you to learn a new skill.
Fearn/Alder-
Gods:Fintan,Fionn mac Cumhail,Flidais
Month:January
Color:Crimson
Class:Chieftain
Letters:F,V
Strength,Tenacity,Determination, foundation of
your knowledge and being.
Saille/Willow-
Gods:Semias,Scathach,Scota,Sucellus
Month:February
Color:Black or Indigo
Class:Peasant
Letter:S
Developing Psychic and clairvoyant powers. Intuition,
imagination,women,the unconscious,the hidden in all
things. Emotions and sometimes gaining balance through
painful emotional experiences.
Nuin/Ash-
Gods:Nuada,Niamh,Nantosuelta
Month:March
Color:Glass Green
Class:Chieftain
Letter:N
Rebirth,Peace,Psychic strength,seeing the big picture,
Macrocosm/Microcosm.
Huath/Whitethorn-
Gods:Herne,Hu Gadarn
Month:April
Color:Purple
Class:Peasant
Letter:H
Bad luck,misfortune. A need for cleansing and
restraint. Being held back for a time.
Duir/Oak-
Gods:Dagda,Danu,Diancecht,Dylan,Don,Druantia
Month:May
Color:Black and Dark Brown
Class:Chieftain
Letter:D
Strength,Endurance,the power to overcome even the
greatest trial.Security, Protection,leadership.
Tinne/Holly-
Gods:Taliesin,Taranis,Tephi,Toutatis
Month:June
Color:Dark Grey
Class:Peasant
Letter:T
Balance,Karma,Retribution,Justice.
Coll/Hazel-
Gods:Cian mac Cainte,Caillach,CuChulainn,Cairpre,
Camulos,Cernunnos,Cerridwen,Creiddylad
Month:July
Color:Brown
Class:Chieftain
Letter:C,K
Creativity,Mastery and skill, Learning.
Quert/Apple-
Gods:
Month:none
Color:Green
Class:Shrub
Letter:Q
Beauty,perfection,Eternity,Youth , a choice must be
made.
Muin/Vine-
Gods:Manannan mac Lir, Morfessa, Morrigan,Macha,Mab,
Math
Month:August
Color:Variegated
Class:Chieftain
Letter:M
Inwardness,the weaving together of conscious and the
unconscious mind,freedom from inhibitions and restraints.
Gort/Ivy-
Gods:Goibhniu,Gwyddion
Month:September
Color:Sky blue
Class:Chieftain
Letter:G
Development, fierce determination, patient tenacity,
will, transformation. Taking time to study the situation
before you make a decision.
Ngetal/Reed-
Gods:
Month:October
Color:Grass green
Class:Shrub
Letter:Ng
Union of opposites,Harmony,Good health,Growth.
Straif/Blackthorn-
Gods:
Month:none
Color:Purple
Class:Chieftain
Letter:SS,Z,St
External control,Coercion,Resentment,confusion.
Ruis/Elder-
Gods: Ruadh Rofessa,Rigantona,Rhiannon
Month:Makeup days of the 13th month
Color:Red
Class;Shrub
Letter:R
Evolutionary change, transition from one state to
another,cycles.
Ailm/Fir-
Gods:Aedh,Aine,Airmid,Amaethon,Andraste,Angus mac Og,
Anu,Arawn,Arianrhod
Month:none
Color:Light blue
Class:Shrub
Letter:A
Transformation from a weak state to a strong one.
Good health and strength,vigorous life force,learning
from past mistakes,
the pathe of truth and life, objectivity that becomes
wisdom, sovereignty.
Onn/Furze-
Gods:Ogma/Ogham,Owein ap Urien
Month:none
Color:Yellow gold
Class:Chieftain
Letter:O
Synthesis,the gathering of sweet and valuable things
for a greater purpose. Wisdom gained through hard
work. Discovery of something life changing.
Ur/Heather and Mistletoe-
Gods:Uscias,Uathach,Wayland
Month:none
Color:Purple
Class:Heather(Peasant),Mistletoe(Chieftain)
Letter:U,W
Romance and Dreams,Gateway between inner and outer
worlds,passion,ecstasy.
Edad/Aspen-
Gods:Esras,Eriu,Emer,Etain,Epona
Month:none
Color:Silver white
Class:Shrub
Letter:E
Overcoming negativity through determination and
inner strength. Problems,doubts and fears.
Idad/Yew-
Gods:
Month:none
Color:Dark green
Class:Chieftain
Letter:I,J,Y
Death,Immortality,Transformation. The essence of the
self which is inherited from the ancestors. Complete
change in life direction.
Koad/Grove-
Gods:Taranis
Month:none
Color:many shades of Green
Class:none
Letter:CH,KH,EA
Wisdom gained by reviewing past livesor past experiences,seeing through illusions.
Oir/Spindle-
God:
Month:none
Color:White
Class:Peasant
Letter:Th,Oi
Use self-discipline and responsibility to finish
obligations .
Uilleand/Honeysuckle-
Gods:
Month:none
Color:Yellow white
Class:Peasant
Letter:P,PE,UI
Proceed with caution.
Phagos/Beech-
Gods:
Month:none
Color:Orange brown
Class:Chieftain
Letter:PH,IO
New experiences and opportunities,information.
Mor/The Sea-
Gods:
Month:none
Color:The blues and greens of the Sea.
Class:none
Letter:AE,X,Xi
Travel,either of the body,mind or spirit.
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The Ogham alphabet(pronounced Owam) has existed since possibly the 4th century
B.C.E. and has been associated with the God Ogma/Ogmios. A great deal of our knowledge about these
runes comes from the Book of Ballymote. The Druid
Priests used the Ogham runes in a secret form of sign
language,forming each rune with their hands,but the
Druids also had a form of speech based on the Ogham
runes.
This alphabet is made up of a series of straight and slanted lines
that rest either above,below,or across a central line.
Each set of
lines and their position on the larger line represent phonetic
sounds rather than letters. The simplicity of the Ogham runes made it very easy to carve these
letters into wood,stone,etc. The most famous carvings of Ogham
runes have been found in Scotland and Ireland.
There are 20 basic runes,of which 13 are consonants, one for each lunar month,five vowels,
and symbols for NG and ST. There are also five additional runes that are called the Crane Bag, it is believed that these runes were given to us by
the Sea God Mannannan. Below are examples of 2 different
ways the Ogham can be written.
