Ogham Tuesday: Blackthorn/Straif

Struggling, Blocking, Wounding

Doom Doom Doomy-doom. That’s it. That’s the omen.

Blackthorn/Straif is the 14th letter of the Ogham alphabet. The sound it represented in the language is a subject of some debate and is largely unattested.

I kid. Mostly. Well, a little.

If our old friend Hawthorn’s stabbiness is a reminder basically to “stay in the yard,” then Blackthorn’s is more along the lines of “don’t move.” Both relate to restriction and potential protection. It just depends on the way the thorns are poking. Where Hawthorn will leave you scratched up and uncomfortable if you fight it, Blackthorn will usually lead to sepsis and necrosis. In other words, doomy-doom.

Do not take a Blackthorn omen lightly. Of all the ogham fews, this is the one that is often a loud and clear NO. The answer is no. Maybe not the answer you wanted, but you can’t complain that your reading was in any way vague or hard to interpret. No ciphers, riddles, or guesswork about this one. Let me repeat in case you didn’t get it: the answer is no.

One of the fun souvenirs you can pick up at an Irish shop or fair is a bonnie shillelagh with a pert green ribbon on it. So cute, and you can use it as a walking stick and stuff, right? Well, you can if you want. Just be clear in your own mind that a shillelagh is traditionally made out of blackthorn wood, and that sucker is a war club. It is one of the weapons associated with Tara’s champion, Oghma, the Irish god of eloquence, learning, and, well, knocking people upside the head when they need it. As with all things blackthorn, you can for sure exact damage with it, but you can also hurt yourself with it if you aren’t careful.

When Blackthorn pops up as an omen or in a reading, please take it to heart. If you’re willing to sit still and wait for the energy to shift, it offers some of the best protection you can get. If you choose to ignore it or move through the thorns anyway, don’t be surprised if you take damage with extreme prejudice for your trouble.