The Ogham (pronounced owam) was a sacred alphabet and contained hidden secrets for magic and divination, which were revealed only to the initiated. The ancient Celts had a kinship with trees which is demonstrated by this magical alphabet and in their tree calendar.
Further proof of their respect for trees is shown by their law, which said that any who deliberately harmed a tree should give his own life - and his intestines - to bandage and heal the tree.
Some trees especially were had spirits living in them, or had spirits of their own, especially any tree with a strong aura around it. These trees especially could offer humans energy, if they wished. From this ancient belief in the power of trees came the expressions touch wood and knock on wood.
Oak, ash and thorn are the fairy triad of trees. Where they grow together, fairies thrive.
The Hawthorn, or May tree, was planted in hedges around fields, houses and churchyards to ask the fairies to use their magic to protect humans and their property from harm.
Druids used the leaves of trees to make their libraries. Leaves were strung in sequence and when you "read the leaves" you were told a story. One of the most responsible tasks entrusted to the apprentice was to replace the leaves when they became fragile from being handled. Perhaps this is where we get the saying turning over a new leaf, and it is almost certain why the pages of our modern books are still known as leaves.
The Druids also used a form of the Ogham to notate music with each Ogham rune corresponding to one of the twenty strings of the Irish harp. Even though it was permissible to record secular or popular music, originally it was forbidden to record Druid sacred or holy music in writing. This corresponds to the belief that sacred doctrine could only be spoken, not written, which is why memorising the bard's stories was so important to keep the histories.
The trees of the Ogham alphabet were divided into four Ranks, which represented their order of importance to the Druids. It is not known if these ranks carried over to influence the lives of individuals who were born in the time attributed to that tree, like the Indian caste system. We do know that Chieftains ranked first, followed by Peasants, then Shrubs and finally Brambles.
The Ogham was used to perform sympathetic magic, with the Ogham letter carved into an amulet or decoration to invite the properties of that sign. For example if you wished to make a fresh start you may choose to use Beith meaning new beginnings; changes; purification and perhaps Coll meaning creative energies for work or projects.
Some ways to use the Ogham for magic include:
- You can draw these symbols in the air, as you meditate on your new start. Visualise the power attributed to that symbol, coming to your desire, as you draw the symbol.
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Carve the symbols on an amulet to carry with you and remind you of your project. Dedicate your amulet during a time of special power, like a Full Moon, or at a New Moon so you can ‘grow’ your magic wish as the moon grows.
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Carve the symbols onto a candle to ritually dedicate your wish. Choose a candle of the appropriate colour and dress your candle with appropriate oils. When the time is right, light your candle and meditate on your desire, calling power to your wish as you do.
- Use the symbols to empower the paper on which you write your wishes.
As well as performing magic, the Ogham may be used for divination. You can use flat sticks or stones, with the symbol painted, carved or engraved on one side, or you can make a deck of cards with the symbols if you prefer.
Omen sticks were the preferred traditional method and are called coelbreni in some areas, eochra ecsi, or keys of knowledge in other places. In early Ireland, the Omen Sticks are called fidlanna and are trusted absolutely; the Senchus Mor describes a judgement used to find a murderer or a thief, which is called crannchur or casting the woods. It is more than likely that this Druid method of divination is where our child’s game of Pick Up Sticks originated.
One way to use the Ogham for divination is to first concentrate on your question, as you choose seven Omen Sticks without looking. Then toss the Sticks on the ground or floor in front of you. The closest Sticks are the present, the Omen Sticks that are further away show the future. Any Sticks that touch or overlap have a direct influence on each other, and increase the individual meaning of that Omen Stick.
Alternatively, you may choose one Omen Stick at random to answer immediate enquiries, or to use as a talisman for that day.
When you need specific information on a problem, you can lay out what is called a Rune Row with your Omen Sticks (even though the second Rune Row looks more like a circle).
For the first Rune Row, choose seven sticks at random, and lay them out in the following pattern:
- Sticks 1 and 2 represent the problem.
- Sticks 3 and 4 are the outside factors influencing the situation.
- Sticks 5 & 6 are your answer.
- Stick 7 is the final outcome which will eventuate from the solution offered.
For the second method of using a Rune Row, lay the sticks out:
- Stick 1 represents the querant, situation or problem.
- Stick 2 represents the cause of the problem; the reason for the reading or even another angle on the question asked.
- Stick 3 represents outside factors or influences to be considered.
- Stick 4 represents comments and advice to assist the querant with the problem.
- Stick 5 represents the outcome or end result.
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