Lesson -Twenty Three Ogham

Spiritual Development Course #2

A Second 12 part Spiritual development Class.

Presented By

IBC

And

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Ogham (pronounced OH-wahm or OH-gahm) is a form of writing used by the Celtic peoples of the British Isles prior to the introduction of the Roman alphabet and Christianity.

Each letter of the Ogham alphabet has the name of a tree or other plant, and each of these trees had a meaning in the Celtic religion (and possibly in the Goddess-centered religions of the Old Europeans that preceded the Celts).

The tree-alphabet was also used by the Celts for divination, but few details of that practice were recorded, until now.

beithe BEH (birch)	Beginnings/energy	B
luis LWEESH (rowan)	Insight/foreknowledge/enlivening	L
fearn FAIR-n (alder)	Inner strength/foundations	F
saille SAHL-yuh (willow)	Intuition/flexibility	S
nion NEE-uhn (ash)	Awakening/rebirth/peace	N
huath HOO-ah (hawthorn)	Pleasure/misfortune/cleansing	H
duir DOO-r (oak)	Truth/endurance/strength	D
tinne CHIN-yuh (holly)	Balance/retribution	T
coll CULL (hazel)	Wisdom/creativity/perception	C
quert KWAIRT (apple)	Regeneration/eternity/life	Q
muin MUHN (like foot) (vine)	Introspection/other sight	M
gort GORT (ivy)	Developing skills/learning	G
ngetal NYEH-tl (reed)	Harmony/inner development	NG
straif STRAHF (blackthorn)	Coercion/control through force	ST
ruis RWEESH (elder)	Change/evolution	R
ailm AHL-m (fir/pine)	Rulership/vigor/discretion	A
onn UHN (gorse)	Wisdom collated/life changes	O
ur OO-rah (heather)	Fervour/gateway/success/gains	U
eadha EH-yuh (aspen)	Intuition/overcoming obstacles	E
iodho EE-yoh EE-who (yew)	Transformation/ends/immortality	I
Feather	Used to show the beginning of the fews
Blank (mistletoe)	Cosmic influence/destiny/fate

cath (io)-(gooseberry)	Conflict resistance challenge	The north
fis (ui)-(honeysuckle)	Learning/knowledge	The west
blath (ae)-(beech)	Prosperity/harvest	The east
seis (oi)-(spinille)	Harmony/contentment	The south
midhe-(aspen)	Central forces

The fews are thrown unto one of the charts above, only the ones that fall face up are read.

They are read in accordance to:

The question asked.
The meaning of the fews.
And where they land on the chart.

A few is a strip of wood, usually of a fruit bearing tree, with an ogham letter printed or carved on one side, used for divination.

The Celtic Zodiac is based on the Ogham Calendar.

The Druids believed the human race originally descended from the trees, and that each tree had particular magical qualities.

The 13 Oghamic months each correspond to a Tree, a Celtic Symbol and/or Guardian Animal, a Celtic Deity and a Planet.

December 24 - January 20

The Birch Tree

Druidic Animal: The White Stag symbolises high ideals and aspirations.

Birch people need a goal in life or they become depressed and pessimistic.

The Ruling Deity: The Celtic Warrior God Lugh, inventor of all arts and crafts, rules this sign.

Ruling Planet : The Sun - Sul.

January 21st - February 17th

The Rowan Tree.

Druidic Animal: The Green Dragon symbolises inspiration and imagination.

Rowans need an outlet for their imagination or they can become restless and quarrelsome.

Ruling Deity: Brigid, the Goddess of fertility and poetry, rules this sign.

Ruling Planet : Uranus - Brigantia

February 18 - March 17

The Ash Tree

Celtic Symbol : The Trident Or Sea-horse.

Druidic Animal: The Adder symbolises wisdom and spiritual energy.

Ash people need to focus their mental abilities or they can become nervous and irritable.

Ruling Deity: The Magician, storyteller and trickster. Gwydion rules the sign.

Ruling Planet : Neptune - Lir.

March 18 - April 14

The Alder Tree

Celtic Symbol: Pentacle Or The Hawk.

Druidic Animal: The Fox symbolises skill in diplomacy.

Alders must learn the art of diplomacy or they waste energy in fruitless disputes.

Ruling Deity: The God of the spirit world, Bran the Blessed, rules this sign.

Ruling Planet : Mars - Maurth

April 15th - May 12th

The Willow Tree

Celtic Symbol : The Sea Serpent.

Druidic Animal: The Hare symbolises adaptation and intuition.

Willows must trust their inner voice or they can become moody and chronically indecisive.

Ruling Deity: The Celtic Moon Goddess Ceridwen rules this sign.

Ruling Planet : The Moon -Llun.

May 13 - June 9.

The Hawthorn Tree.

Celtic Symbol : The Chalice.

Druidic Animal: The Owl symbolises wisdom and patience.

Hawthorns must develop patience or hasty action can sabotage their best efforts.

Ruling Deity: The summer flower maiden Olwen rules this sign.

Ruling Planet : Vulcan - Govannan.

June 10th - July 7th

The Oak Tree.

Celtic Symbol : The White Horse Or The Golden Wheel.

Druidic Animal: The Wren, the Celtic king of the birds, symbolises wit and subtlety.

Oaks must temper pride with humour or they become pompous and overbearing.

Ruling Deity: The Father of all Gods, The Dagda rules this sign.

Ruling Planet : Jupiter - Jovyn Ancient Gods Associated With Jupiter.

July 8th - August 4th

The Holly Tree.

Druidic Animal: The Unicorn symbolises purity and strength.

Ruling Deity: The Smith God Govannon rules this sign.

Ruling Planet : Earth - Abred.

August 5 - September 1

The Hazel Tree.

Druidic Animal: To the Celts, the Rainbow Salmon was the oldest and wisest animal, symbolising inspiration.

Hazels need to express their creativity or they can become morbid and introspective.

Ruling Deity: The Sea God Manannan Mac Lir, a master of disguise, rules this sign.

Ruling Planet : Mercury - Mugher.

September 2nd - September 29th

The Vine.

Druidic Animal: The White Swan symbolises grace and beauty.

Vines must overcome a tendency to procrastinate or they can become lost in worry and negativity.

Ruling Deity: The Tuatha De Danaan, Gods of Light rule this sign.

Ruling Planet : Venus - Gwena.

September 30th - October 27th

The Ivy.

Druidic Animal: The Butterfly symbolises faery faith.

Ivy people must not get too caught up in others problems or they can suffer disappointment and betrayal.

Ruling Deity: The faery bride Guinevere rules this sign.

Ruling Planet : Persephone Veiled By The Moon. in others problems or they can suffer disappointment and betrayal.

October 28th - November 24th

The Reed.

Celtic Symbol : The Stone.

Druidic Animal: Hound or Dog was a title of honour for Celtic Chieftains as the Dog symbolized enduring loyalty.

Reeds must unite a sense of purpose with their strong will or they can become self destructive.

Ruling Deity: The Celtic God of the Underworld, Pwyll rules this sign.

Ruling Planet : Pluto - Pwyll .

November 25 - December 22

The Elder Tree.

Celtic Symbol : The Black Horse.

Druidic Animal: The Raven symbolises healing and protection.

Elders must learn to use change as a positive force in their lives or they can become reckless and confused.

Ruling Deity: The crown Goddess and Celtic tribal mother Cailleach Beara rules this sign.

Ruling Planet : Saturn - Sadorn.

Most of the information on Celtic Astrology is from 'The Handbook of Celtic Astrology' by Helena Paterson.'

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