Ogham Tuesday: Tinne/Holly

Judging, Testing, Pruning

Holly/Tinne is the eighth letter of the ogham alphabet.

No matter what divination system you prefer, there’s always that one tile, card, or whatever, that when you get it, you make a weird face and say, “Ugh.” This one is mine. Holly is like wielding a sword, and I have zero proficiency in that or in the strategies and tactics that go with it. My automatic assumption is that I’m going to be judged and come up short on the assessment. It’s like the omen for the day is, “You have a pop quiz.”

That’s not the only thing it means, of course, but it’s my knee-jerk reaction. I have to step back and talk myself around to something that’s helpful and meaningful. I always have to unpack it. Its other associations for omen-taking have to do with discernment, making decisions, cutting away what isn’t needed or is even harmful. These associations are helpful for me once I calm my brain and think for a minute.

Holly is the 8th letter in the ogham alphabet and represents the /t/ phoneme sound. At least one Word Ogham connects Holly to weaponry, which also connects to the stabby, poke-y leaves of the plant. In modern times, Holly is associated with winter and its holidays. The legend of the Holly and Oak Kings is, of course, not ancient at all, but a modern invention. Holly, though, was a sacred tree, and Cú Chulainn, a son of the god Lugh, used holly wood to make spear shafts and chariot axles.

Holly is not a comforting, comfortable omen. It can be, however, the poke in the arse you need to get moving or a tool you can use to cut away what no longer serves you. Sometimes, though, it’s going to mean a challenge to your position that you need to defend. Like that pop quiz, it can catch you unawares, an unwelcome surprise. It’s not an unadulterated negative or doomful ogham message, and after all, forewarned is, well, forearmed.