Ogham Tuesday: Duir/Oak

Founding, Establishing, Enduring

Duir/Oak is the seventh letter of the Ogham alphabet.

Of all the “important” trees in Gaelic lore, Oak is the Big-Daddy-of-Them-All Tree. The strength of Oak comes not only from the wood itself, but also from its links to kingship and administrative authority. It combines both physical and temporal strength. Oak trees are large and in charge.

Duir/Oak is the 7th letter of the ogham alphabet and is the written symbol for the /d/ sound. I like that it’s a (as we say in linguistics) voiced plosive sound, meaning that you say it with a little staccato explosion from your mouth that comes out like a growl. The strength of its sound is likely coincidental, but it brings me joy.

Most of the Bríatharogam, or Word Ogham, for Oak relate to its strength as lumber, such that it can be used for strong foundations, frames for structures, and furniture that is meant to last. Also ugly, but sturdy, kitchen cabinets that you’ll probably never get rid of. No surprising insights there.

Another association for oak, though, is doors. This connection might be because the wood itself is often used to make them, and nothing more. Doors obviously function as transitions from one place to another, but what I’m thinking about today is that doors can also be closed.

We shut doors for two reasons basically: protection and privacy. We aren’t ready to make that move through to another place. We aren’t ready for others to enter our space behind the door. We need safety or solitude or silence. Whyever you shut your door to the outside world, you want that door to be something unkick-inable, right? Balsa wood is not going to be your first choice. Oak, on the other hand, will do you a solid. Its strength will stand there like a sentinel until you’re ready to open it and move through the threshold to whatever waits beyond.