Well I said that I would start the Ogham class tonight and I was not kidding. First the ground rules: This will be an open class. What I mean by this is that I expect you all to add your questions and your knowledge to the subject of Ogham. In the course of this class, I will be suggesting certain books for you to get ahold of for this study. Most of these books will be available on Amazon.com. If any of you desire personal instruction this can be done on IM (instant messenger). Now let's get started.
To begin with, no one truly knows when Ogham was first used. There are a lot of theories, but no hard evidence. The use of Ogham by Druids in Celtic Mythology occurs in many places: Ireland, Britain, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany and Gaul. Not in Scotland because Druidism was wiped out there by the heavy Christian influence. If I am wrong about this, please correct me. I was never able to find anything on Ogham being used by Druids in Scotland.
Now the Picts had their own form of Magickal writing but I don't have any material on that either. Elaine-Raven Horse might be able to help in this regard. She mentioned something to me awhile back. I do have a very rare book in my library entitled "The Ogham Inscribed Monuments", by Richard Rolt Brash, 1879. The problem here is that I have it on microfilm and my viewer was destroyed in a fire many years ago. If someone could help me get another one, I have at least 8 more rolls of rare books in this format. I was able to look at this before the fire and found that it was not just about the inscribed monuments but it was also about many other types of ogams beside the Tree Ogham.
By the way, Ogam is also transcribed as Ogham. My main interest in Ogam-Ogham is how to use it for Divination and Ritual Magick. I have worked with the Ogam-Ogham for over 45 years, since I was 10. I still feel that I have much to learn. One of the uses that I have found by reading CelticMyth is that the Ogham-Ogam was used to name animals and mythological creatures to gain power over them. It was also used by Druid characters to cast auguries, mostly for High Kings and other people in power. Case in point: Queen Maeve of Connaught. In Ulster, it was Cathbad the Druid that used them to answer Conchobar Mac Nessa's questions.
The Ogham-Ogam is probably about the same age as the Norse Runes. From my researches, they were contemporary to one another. But at this point I think it is time to start looking at the Ogams-Oghams individually. There are 20 basic Ogams-Oghams but there are 5 extra which are not used as much. There are at least 20 other types of Oghams-Ogams. The book that goes into this the best is fairly new my old friend Isaac Bonewits gave it to me for my just past 55th birthday on July 6th of this year. The book is entitled The Druid's Alphabet: What Do We Know About the Oghams? by Robert Lee(Skip) Ellison Arch Druid-Ar Noraiocht Fein (ADF). This is a very fine book. I highly recommend it. It is very scholarly.
The first Ogham-Ogam is Beith or the Birch Ogham-Ogam. It is a Ogham-Ogam sacred to a woman's power. It is transcribed as the letter B. This Ogham-Ogam relates to the concept of protection and warning. The Birch's sap has been compared to a women's menstrual blood. As I said before, this Ogam-Ogham is sacred to women. The Birch also has strong sexual connotations, especially with the Norse. The lovers would make Birch switches and would chase their lovers naked and strike their bottoms, I guess to create some form of stimulation. By some Authors, it is seen as an Irish Peasant Tree. Some of Beith's meanings are "New Beginnings", "Cleansing", "Embarking on New Projects", "Birching as a Punishment." Colors associated with Birch are white and silver. Another keyword would be "purity" or purity of spirit. Purification, Birth and Renewal are also other meanings. The Magickal tool is the Birch Wand. The Tree month is usually November 1st. But I have seen other systems that give other dates.
There are animals assigned to this Ogam-Ogham; they are the cow, usually white in color, and a pheasant. There are 13 Lunar months in the Celtic Lunar Year. Beithe represents the first of these. Many authors identify this Ogam-Ogham with travel and with change which is for the most part harmonious. The psychotropic mushroom known as Fly Agaric is associated with this Ogham-Ogam. Broomsticks are said to be made of Birch. Vitality is another keyword. Certain Deities are also connected to this Ogham-Ogam, Bridgid, Bran, and Graves' White Goddess. The Birch Tree is also the Tree of Initiation. The Birch has been called by some authors the Tree of the Sacred Centre. The Birch symbolizes "Youthfulness". Birch is also a tree of "Good Health". The Birch is also called the Tree of Light. The gem stone for the Birch is Emerald and Bloodstone. Tea made from Birch bark helps to purify the blood. The Emerald for its healing powers. Bloodstone for its inner strength. The Latin for Beithe is "Betula alba". The Birch is the Tree of the Otherworld and has the power to keep a woman from being taken to the Otherworld by force. This is an old myth. Because Birch is the Tree of Bridgit my patron Goddess, it is my personal favorite Ogam-Ogham.
The Birch is also associated with Bricriu of the "Poison Tongue". He plays a contentious role in the CuChulain Cycle of Heroic Tales of Ancient Ireland. The Birch is considered a Tree of Good Fortune. Another title of the Birch is "The Lady of the Woods". The Birch is a Tree of the Faeries. The Birch is also related to the Welsh god of Magick, Gwydion. The May pole was made often from Birch. Birch Beer is also a popular drink. Birch is also related to the Dagda the Good God. Topaz is a stone associated with Birch. Now when performing divination and the Birch-Beithe Ogham-Ogam comes up, this could mean the following: This would mark a good time for "New Beginnings". By that I mean, it is a good time to start new projects, love relationships or a new job or career. This would also be a good time to work on your feelings of security and protection. Do you feel safe and secure? If the answer is no then now would be the time to change that. This too is in keeping with the Birch-Beithe Ogham-Ogam. If you are a woman, this Ogam-Ogham could relate to childbirth.
I do not believe in reversed meanings. If this Ogam-Ogham shows up reversed, in your reading then it would relate to your subconscious self, not your conscious self. The meanings are the same; they just have their origins in the Dreamtime, not the time of awakening. I am going to stop for now. It is your turn now. Please post your thoughts, ideas, and corrections to what I have said so far. When we resume, I may have more to add to this Ogam-Ogham before we move on to the next one.
Take care and Blessed Be. AD(arch-druid) Stephen W. Abbott Mc Caully. Peace,Peace,Peace.
