Ogham Tuesday: Feàrna/Alder

Alder: Advising, Guiding, Trusting

Feàrna/Alder is the third letter in the ogham alphabet.

Feàrna is the Scots Gaelic word for the Alder tree. It has become the ogham symbol for wise counsel and trust in one’s higher powers. The letter represents the /f/ phoneme.

Alder wood is white when cut, but turns red afterwards. Because of the red color, it is connected in Irish lore in the story of the Red Man, or fear dearg. Anglicized to Far Darrig, the Red Man is a member of the fae who sometimes plays gruesome jokes on people, such as switching their babies for changelings. Interestingly, though, it is the Red Man who sometimes offers protection to those who wander into the faerie realm by mistake and helps them return home before they come to harm. As with all things faerie, then, proceed with caution.

Much of the information online seems to refer to the so-called Irish tree astrology systems, which are NOT attested in the lore and are a modern invention. The Irish poet Ossian, in Eleanor Hull’s 1913 translation of The Poem-Book of the Gael, has a poem that refers to the intense heat alder puts out when it is burned. It is also listed in a charm of advice in the Carmina Gadelica as a wood that is useful due to its strength when wet.

In fact, it was a popular wood for making shields. The Word-Ogham of Cu Chulainn refers to Alder as “protector of the heart,” which is probably intended to be taken literally, as a protection from being stabbed in the chest. The Word-Ogham of Morainn mac Moín also refers to warriors’ being associated with Alder. It’s not such a stretch from there to our modern interpretation of Alder’s symbolizing trust and reliance on the shielding and wisdom of our deities, patrons, and powers to guide and protect us.

When Alder appears from your bag, you can rely on your gods to have your best interests at heart. It’s also a good time to seek the wisdom and advice of people you trust. Another piece of wisdom is to remember that we are dealing with entities that might aid and assist us, but that we absolutely do not and cannot control.

-BB