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

Far-Seeing, Observing, Understanding Pine/Ailm is the 16th letter of the Ogham alphabet. Can you hear me from up here? Just checking The fourth set of ogham differ from the first three in that the letters represent vowel sounds, rather than consonants. Ailm  is the 16 th  letter of the ogham alphabet and represents the vowel sound most closely sounding like the “ah” sound in the world “calm”—at least in U.S. English. All of the Word Oghams refer to groaning sounds, and this i

Willow: Dreaming, Perceiving, Bewitching Saille/Willow is the fourth letter of the Ogham alphabet. This week we have another wet wood....