Oghams, Faerie Divination

                              Oghams, Third Aicme

Muin---(Grape) Vine

Slain Lord of the Vine

Inwardness-Patience-Harvest

Deities: Vinotonus, God of Wine.

Magickal Use: Wine-making. Tonic healing.

Attributes: The moon month of Muin extends from September 2 to September 29 and
includes the autumnal equinox. Color: Variegated, or Prismatic. Class:
Chieftain. Herb: Bindweed. Animal: Lizard.

Tree: This refers to the grapevine and other vine-like bushes or brambles. The
Irish word muine means a thicket of any thorny plant, so the correlation of
this Ogham with vine may be a late connection. As a thorny thicket, it may be
nearer to a tree than a vine. Vine is the tree of joy, exhilaration and wrath.
The interlace design of the Vine is a sign of the intricacies of the subjective
world made manifest in the objective. The grapevine required meticulous care in
order for it to bear fruit. The Vine, as Wine, also conjures thoughts of the
harvest when all of nature enters its passive, inwardly moving phase. The
powers of the earth retreat and promise new rebirth after the cold months of
winter. Wine from the Grape Vine is the fermented essence of the harvest
containing the mystic essence of divine ecstacy. Muin is the ritual libation,
sacred to the Gods and Goddesses.

Expression: The Vine, like the Ivy, grows spirally. But unlike the Ivy, the
Vine is a symbol of resurrection, because its strength can be preserved in
wine. The Vine is also a symbol of the intertwining of the conscious and
unconscious mind. It is a sign of liberation from inhibitions and restricting
knowledge and actions. It is a gentle and systematic release from the
constraints of logic and rationality. This liberation does not come through an
abandonment of logic, or a drunken suppression of control, but through the full
understanding of the interweaving (in the fashion of the Vine) of the inner and
outer, the upper and lower realms. In the aspect of the Wine, it also carries
the representation of the fruits of one's labors. Wine is the representation of
the harvest and it is a culmination of many years of hard work.

Divination: Muin indicates that you will find some inner key to your problems,
that they await an inspired solution. It is time to turn your awareness within
to your conscious and unconscious self. External work will be being superseded
by internal activity. Inner development will be occurring, so you need to take
time for this to occur. Solutions to problems may come from unexpected
quarters. You must be strong enough to be patient because right now, patience
is great power. Also, it is now time to enjoy the fruits of your labors, and
reap the rewards of right actions. Hard work is finished and it is time to be
rewarded for labours. It is harvest time, so do not allow the fruits of your
labors to lay rotting upon the ground.

The Challenge of the Vine Ogham is that you may not be following your
instincts. You may feel that your inner emotions and thoughts are tangled in
such a way that you become confused of your true feelings, thoughts and
emotions. Be careful not to become blind to truth. You are being too aggressive
or being too impressionable and there is a lack of self determination. A lack
of patience could lead to further trouble. There is a danger of becoming lost
in your own subjective, intoxicating enthusiasms. You are not able to enjoy the
fruits of your own labors, or bad timing could lead to unfulfilled dreams or a
waste of resources. The negative effects of over indulgence, intoxication, or
irrational thought are possible.

Gort---Ivy

Cuchulain, the Great Warrior

Development-Tenacity-Strangling

Deities: The Swan Maidens.

Magickal Use: Protection. Calming. Regulating the nerves.

Attributes: The Ivy month stems from September 30 to October 27. Color: Sky
Blue Class: Chieftain. Herb: Lichen. Animal: Red Boar.

Tree: The Ivy is an extremely hardy plant and can grow to a great age. When
this happens, the trunk can be as wide as a foot in diameter. The Ivy is a tree
of development and transformation, starting as a small, weak, herb-like plant,
which grows into an enormously thick, woody, serpentine tree. The plant will
grow out in all directions, climbing up any vertical surface and out over all
flat planes in a tenacious manner. These tenacious vines are said to strangle
trees, so Ivy may be seen as the bringer of death. But its evergreen leaves
stay on the plant throughout the winter when other broad-leaved plants loose
theirs. The Ivy is especially seen as a sign of femininity in Keltic areas.

Expression: The clinging growth of the Ivy Vine, its power of binding, and its
glossy leaves link it to the life and death mysteries of the swan-feathered
maidens of Keltic myth. These maidens are symbolic of the Divine self which
binds every person to the Otherworld. This binding can often be seen as a type
of strangling when the powers of the Otherworld are in their darker aspects. It
tests and strengthen humans who encounter it. There is a fierce and determined
power in the Ivy. It gives the boar-like tenacity to apply the will to do
difficult and intricate work. The Ivy is a sign of determination and tenacity
of the self.

Divination: In divination, Gort indicates a period of testing that will lead to
personal development. Tenacity, bravery, and strength will be needed to get
through a stormy phase. There are perhaps some gains to be had in connection
with it. Success will prevail despite these problems. Through this ordeal, you
may forge a closer link with the divine self, and come to know immortality.
These difficult times will lead to a strengthening of your personality.
However, this path is also fraught with pitfalls. There may be those who are
envious of your accomplishments. Seek the best of guidance in what you do in
matters touched by the Ivy Ogham. It gives you the ability to eventually come
out of the situation as the victor.

The Challenge of the Ivy Ogham is a lack of tenacity or perseverance in the
face of adversity. There may be a lack of courage and strength leading to
pessimism, defeatism, or a loss which may lead to a breakdown. Keep focused on
your true goals. There is the danger of falling into ruts of negative
psychological behavior. Seek the original and unique. Difficulties make this a
turbulent and testing period of your life. Do not to get caught up in the tools
of the transformative process. Remember that the tools are not the ends, but
only the means to give rise to something emerging from the depths of your
psyche.

NGetal---Reed or Broom

The Morrighan

Harmony-Surprises-Adaptability

Deities: Cernunnos, Horned God of the Woods. Gwydion, God of

Writing, Knowledge and Wisdom. Epona, Goddess of Horses.

Magickal Use: Pens. Thatching. Brooms. Healing Ills caused by Overindulgence.
Heal the wounds of an Arrow. Pen. Pipes. Preserver.

Attributes: The moon month of Ngetal extends from October 28 to November 24,
making it the Ogham of Samhain, the Night of Spectres, marking the beginning of
the Keltic Year. Color: Grass Green. Class: Shrub. Herb: Reed. Animal: Dog,
Stag, Rat, Weasel.

Tree: Ngetal may refer to the common Reed or to the Broom. The Reed is a plant
which grows straight up out of marshy and wet land near the sea or lakes. In
all events, this plant is one noted for its straight and flexible stems. It is
also the wood used by the Kelts to make pens for writing, and thus it is also a
symbol of communication.

Expression: In this Ogham there is the union of complementary opposites. It is
the roaring of the sea, the dynamism of that which is forever steady. It is
that aspect of the Otherworld which has to do with the harmony between the
conscious world and the unconscious reality existing side by side with that
which we perceive. There is something essential about how we can handle the
destruction of things in our lives. It is a sign of growth reintegration
following destruction and breakdown.

Divination: Ngetal is a sign of harmony between this realm and those beyond it.
You must bring harmony into your life for this will bring a unity of purpose
and will. Inner direction and outer manifestation will seem to flow together in
a harmonious fashion. You may need to challenge the elements within your
environment in order to bring this harmony into your life. To accomplish this,
elements may need to be harmonized, broken down, and reintegrated. Although
things may seem to be threatening and even destructive, they must be dealt
with. If you have the courage, contact with these powers of fluctuation and
alteration can be a source of strength and illumination. A few surprises could
pop up out of unexpected areas. Therefore, there needs to be a high level of
ability to adapt and modify things to your will and purpose.

The Challenge of the Reed Ogham is an inability to adapt harmoniously to
various fluctuating forces in your life. There may be a refusal to face some
inevitable change or something passing away. Or surprises could catch you off
your guard an cause intense stress. Inner chaos and distress could cause the
link with your personal Gods and Goddesses, to be temporarily broken. In any
case, there will be great difficulty in your attempt to harmonize your life.
Spiritual impoverishment is a possibility. There may also be a great deal of
turmoil and anxiety manifesting in your life. The solution is to be found in a
new sense of purpose and direction.

STraif---Blackthorn, or Sloe Tree

The Great Archdruid

Control-Coercion-Force

Deities: Scathach, Warrior Goddess of Winter and Punishments.

Skadi, Warrior Goddess of Winter and Punishment.

Magickal Use: Straif has the greatest magickal power of all of the Oghams.
Magick Rods. Cudgels. Shillelaghs. Walking Sticks. Warding off evil spirits
thought to cause illness. Reviver. Protector.

Attributes: Straif is coupled with the moon month of NGetal: October 28 through
November 24, making it the Ogham of Samhain, the Feast of the Dead. Color:
Bright. Class: Chieftain. Herb: Stinging Nettle. Animal: Wolf, Dog, Black Cat,
Toad.

Tree: The Blackthorn is a shrub that produces suckers which can make a single
plant the nucleus of an impenetrable thorny thicket. The thorns of this shrub
provide a valuable defense in hedging. The Blackthorn is generally considered
to be an expression of forces detrimental to humankind for its name means
punishment and strife. It is the plant of slumber and death and a symbol of
both punishment and protection, representing the struggle of new life arising
from the breakdown of old things. It is protected by spiritual beings called
Lunantishees. Esoterically, it has its useful sides as well. The Blackthorn is
known as the Black Rod, or Blasting Rod, of the malevolent Mage or Witch. They
would carry staves of this wood as a walking stick, club, or weapon. These
staves were renowned for their great magickal power. It was also the magickal
weapon used to wound poppets and effigies of one's enemies.

Expression: In the main, the Blackthorn is a sign of external control; that is,
a control exerted from the outside on a person or thing. This is usually an
unwanted sort of control, but not always. Besides, this ability or power is
oftentimes the operative principle in magick. The key then becomes learning how
to make use of this force without being used by it. Straif also carries the
connotation of another sort of control: attacks, struggles, and conflict.

Divination: Straif may mean that it seems that there are forces at work which
are compelling and controlling you from beyond your present level of
understanding. These may be hidden forces from deep within you, or from
without. They are probably not beneficial, however, as they are presently being
made manifest in your life. You may be under the control of forces beyond your
grasp. You may be suffering from attacks or struggling against difficult
conditions, conflicts, outside control, or resentment. It may seem that the
more negative aspects of destiny are controlling you. There is a need for you
to control these forces and use them to your advantage. You may be able to turn
the very power of destruction against these obstacles. It may be time to use
magickal, mental, or psychological means to deal with a problem.

The Challenge of the Blackthorn Ogham is the necessity of turning what might be
an initially negative experience into a positive one through control: knowledge
and understanding. The key is to be found in not striving against the
experience, but controlling and directing the energy produced to positive ends.
Here can be the beginning of true spiritual understanding. The solution to a
problem bound up with Straif may be to play it away and even learn to indulge
them. Be sure you are learning from your mistakes and not holding on to an
attitude which may eventually make matters worse.

Ruis---Elder, or Bourtree

The Round Towers

Change-Breakdown-Transition

Deities: Nicneven, Goddess of Death and Dissolution. The Cailleach

Bheure, Crone of the Highlands.

Magickal Use: Magickal Protection. Wine. Great Mantic Power. Purification
(outer and inner). Magickal Horses (that the Witches rode upon during
incantations).

Attributes: The moon month of Ruis extends from November 25 through December
22, technically ending with the Winter Solstice. This is the month of death and
repose and with the thirteenth moon month, the year ends. Color: Blood-Red.
Class: Shrub. Herb: Deadly Nightshade, Monkshood. Animal: Black Sow, Badger.

Tree: Symbolically, the Elder signifies the three aspects of time present in
the Triple Goddess and it represents the ever-present threefold aspect of
existence: beginning, middle, and end. The white flowers, which are at their
best at Midsummer, were considered sacred to the Great Goddess Danna.
Associated with the number thirteen, the number of the Goddess, its most
powerful time would be in its thirteenth month, thus marking the Elder for a
tree of doom in the sense that the Great Goddess also contained the ability to
destroy that which She created. The Elder was considered an unlucky tree and
bad to be burned for fuel because burning it indoors was thought to bring
negative Faerie Folk indoors. The red color derive from the berries of the
Elder tree was used cosmetically to stimulate a blushing effect on the cheeks.
In Oghamic lore, the most often mentioned characteristic of Ruis has to do with
this blushing for shame, considered as a positive sign or trait.

Expression: The Elder is a sign of evolutionary change, of a transition from
one state of being to another. If understood, the realization of the mystery of
this Ogham will lead to a balanced and mature outlook on life.

Divination: Ruis implies that though old things seem to be passing away, they
are merely being transformed into something totally new. On the surface, this
gives the appearance that they are breaking down, or being destroyed. There
will be a transition or passage of some kind, perhaps physically: a trip,
journey, or a change in health. There is a need to be able to let go of the
things that are holding you back and accept a more transitory phase of life.
This may lead to uncomfortable and frightening times when the harsh realities
of life are obvious. But difficult experiences bring insight into life. There
is a need to see beyond the superficial aspects of life. There is the great
possibility that after a cycle ends, a new, brighter one will emerge on the
horizon.

The Challenge of the Elder Ogham is the necessity of coming to terms with the
endless cycles of changes. All things will undergo evolutionary changes and
therefore will eventually pass away. This must be seen and understood. But
there may also be a tendency to stagnate if these changes are not allowed to
happen. Inactivity and apathy will result. Sadness and melancholy follow. There
could be difficulty in coping with depressing thoughts or memories if one
cannot let them go. There is the danger of becoming paralyzed by circumstances.
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