Ogham Tuesday: Gorse

Whatever it is, get down INTO it. That’s what Gorse wants. Where the ogham for Heather corresponds with romantic love, harmony in relationships, and how we connect with others in our lives, Gorse is beautifully, lustfully SELFISH in pursuit of passion. 

As a shrub, Gorse happily grows in a lot of different conditions, such that it’s considered invasive in many areas, as well as here in the US. As a metaphor, that speaks to me of placement and intention, as well as how our desires sometimes have their own agenda. 

If you get Gorse in a reading, it’s a signal to look at where you can add a bit of “oomph” to your effort – at least for a little while – and to value your personal pleasure in the moment. 

It’s easy to categorize Gorse as being about sex (much like it’s easy to think fertility is all about childbearing). Not so. Any single-celled organism can move away from pain. But how do you move toward pleasure? How do you embrace passion? Are you honest about what really ignites your body, heart, and soul? 

These are valuable questions, and Gorse doesn’t give comfortable answers. It’s got thorns. 

The Ogham Tuesday series started in 2023 and focused first on introducing each of the standard ogham alphabet in order. We're moving those posts to the blog now, so they can be more easily searched.

#omens #ogham #divination #9firespress #druidry #pagan