Eclectic
The oak tree is/was greatly revered by the Celts for its nobility, strength, and stability.
The Ogham symbol associated with the oak tree appears in the accompanying graphic. The Ogham name for oak was Dair. Thus, this symbol represents “D” in Ogham script.
The Alder tree (Fern in Ogham and F in the Ogham alphabet) is often found near water. Its roots stabilize stream banks, give shelter to various aquatic creatures, and its decomposing leaves add considerable nutrient value to the water. Not surprisingly then the Alder was associated with nurturing/giving. It was also a sign of strength and passion.
The Ogham symbol for F (standing for Fern or as indicated above Alder) appears in the accompanying graphic.
Edad (Aspen) stands for transition and vision. Its ever-changing leaf pattern tends to capture your attention/imagination. Celts believed Aspens could help you move into a higher plane of consciousness…a means to get in touch with the cosmos if you will.
The Ogham symbol for Edad (Aspen) appears in the accompanying graphic. It translates as an “E” in the English language.
Ivy (Gort to the Celts) is a hardy vine. It withstands harsh conditions and will often regrow when cut back severely. It was a sign of friendship to the Celts. Its interwoven pattern likened to the many twists/turns of friendship, the need to rely on one another, to trust one another, and to appreciate differences. The five pointed leaves were seen by some as representative of the 4 seasons with the fifth being the harmony between the seasons.
The Ogham symbol for “G” (Gort or Ivy in English) appears below. In addition to representing “G” in writing, it carries with it the notion of friendship and harmony.
The Idad (Yew) tends to be a solitary tree and can live for thousands of years. To the Celts, Idad’s longevity was associated with wisdom and introspection.
The Ogham symbol for Idad (Yew) appears in the accompanying illustration. It translates as an “I” in English.
The Hawthorn (Huath to the Celts) with its beautiful white spring blossoms and unpleasant smell is a study in contrast. It has beautiful blossoms and seems delicate from a distance, but anyone trying to pass through a Hawthorn thicket knows its thorns are far from delicate. The Celts used the Hawthorn for medicinal purposes but also felt it was a bad omen to bring the plant indoors (some say the blossoms smell like decaying flesh). Thus, the bush is a symbol of duality (life/death).
In Ireland, it is considered to be a Fairy Tree and thought to be very bad luck to cut one down. They even reroute highways to avoid disturbing a Fairy Tree!
In Ogham writing the Hawthorn (Huath) translates as the letter “H”. The Ogham symbol for Huath is in the accompanying illustration.
Vines (Muin) with their interlocking stocks were signs of interconnectedness, eternity, and diversity to the Celts (by the way the ancient Celts viewed any plants with woody stocks as Trees and this particular Vine was probably the blackberry).
The Ogham symbol for “M” (Muin) in our alphabet appears in the accompanying graphic. Messages starting with this letter conveys a sense of connectedness and perhaps protection (the thorns on blackberries) depending upon the context.
Gorse (Onn) is an early blooming bush (tree to the Celts). It is a sign that winter is on its way out and the growing season about to begin. In the blooming stage, it is often swarming with bees because it is one of the few sources of nectar at that time of year. These things did not go unnoticed by the Celts. The bush was a sign of renewal and energy…a time to get on with it.
The Ogham sign for Onn (Gorse) appears in the accompanying graphic. It is equivalent to “O” in the English alphabet.
The Ash (Nion in Gaelic) can grow to great heights (200 feet or more). To sustain that height, an Ash tree must have a massive root system. To the Celts, the tree is/was related to the need to be well grounded in order to seek spiritual enlightenment. Wood from the ash burns with great intensity helping Celts in a variety of ways. Its massive size is comforting in a certain sense and may be why the Ash is a symbol of protection…especially for children.
The N for Nion (Ash) in Ogham script appears in the accompanying illustration. As we work our way through the 20 letters in the Ogham alphabet, one gets a sense of how these characters are linked to the trees they are associated with. When a reference to the Ash appears in a story for instance, one might expect a need for protection to arise in subsequent sections of the story.
The Willow (Sail) is a tree of consequence to Celts. To them, the ever shifting branches gives/gave the willow quite different qualities than other trees. Such shifting patterns suggest change and difference. Thus, Sail is/was associated with imagination and thought to enhance psychic properties.
The willow or Sail is associated with the English letter “S” in Ogham script. It bears the characteristics noted above and is shown in the accompanying graphic.
