The Fifth Aicme is what we call the Forfeda. It consists of the last and later-added ogham fews. They represent sounds that had been omitted, that weren’t universally a part of every dialect, or that were added to the language as it developed—possibly due to the encroachment of Latin in Ireland. There isn’t much agreement on what these added sounds even were. In addition, there is very little in the lore about these ogham, and it is likely that the “tree names” were added by

Dying, Transforming, Renewing Yew/Idho is the 20th letter of the Ogham alphabet. What would a stereotypical old English graveyard be without Yew trees? Unauthentic, for one thing! Yew trees, with the way they arch over to the ground, are a threshold from one plane of existence or stage to another. Its connection with death and rebirth is also apparent in the fact that every piece of a yew tree (save the flesh of the fruit) contains the poison taxine. Taxine can affect the hea

Testing, Challenging, Prevailing Aspen/Edadh is the 19th letter of the Ogham alphabet. Aspen/Edadh is the 19 th  letter of the Ogham alphabet. It represents the [e] vowel sound, which isn’t an E at all, but what in English would be the long /a/ sound in “eight” or “hey”. Here in the U.S., we think of aspen trees as a Rocky Mountain phenomenon, but they are actual indigenous to Ireland, as well. As an omen, Aspen has to do with overcoming fear and being challenged in some way.

Accepting, Partnering, Loving Heather/Ur is the 18th letter in the Ogham alphabet. Heather is a hardy little plant that grows well in scrubby, otherwise unforgiving ground. It’s fitting, then, that the omen Heather/ Úr symbolizes is strong, healthy relationships. This 18 th letter of the Ogham alphabet, and the Old Irish word refers to moist soil and the cultivation of plants. Úr represents the long [oo] sound in the English word “food.” Besides appearing on hillsides all ov

Romancing, Pursuing, Indulging Onn/Gorse is the 17th letter of the Ogham alphabet. The bright yellow flowers of the Gorse plant speak to the focus on passion of the Gorse/Onn ogham. Onn is the 17 th  letter of the Ogham alphabet and represents a vowel sound that lies somewhere in and around the long [o] sound and the [aw] sound, as they are pronounced in U.S. English. I will absolutely not be making a joke about passion and the lip-shape of this vowel sound. Passion brings to

Regretting, Reckoning, Maturing Elder/Ruis is the 15th letter of the Ogham alphabet. Aw, man. I HATE this ogham. It’s all about being...

Anchoring, Binding, Persisting Ivy/Gort is the 12th letter of the Ogham alphabet. Gort/Ivy, the 12 th letter in the ogham alphabet,...

Harvesting, Feasting, Celebrating Vine is the 11 th letter of the ogham alphabet and represents the /m/ sound as we say it in English...

Healing, Recreating, Delighting Apple/Quert is the tenth letter in the Ogham alphabet. Everything about apple is sweetness—the scent of...

Restricting, Confining, Waiting Hawthorn is the sixth letter of the Ogham alphabet. Starting this week, and continuing for five weeks, we...

Beltane marks the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere, at least in terms of the weather and temperatures and what it feels...