The Art of Celtic Runes

Another type of “rune” is the Celtic Ogham. The Ogham are letters consisting of notches intersecting a stem line. The oldest Oghams

found are on standing stones in Ireland and are believed to be bored markings. It wasn’t until the vikings came to Ireland that the Ogham was used as a rune in divination up until then they were used solely for literary purposes. Oghams are carved on discs just like the furthak runes but are more commonly carved on small wooden staves. The Ogham is also known as the tree alphabet and each letter is associated with a different tree and gets there meaning from that. Some believe that the order of the trees in the alphabet was a form of tree calendar.

The Ogham can be cast the same as the furthak runes and the same spreads can be used too. A different way to cast the Ogham is select a number of staves at random and toss them on a Finns Window and read where they fall.

These are the meanings for the Ogham runes: Ogham Name-Tree-Meaning

Beith-Birch

New Beginnings, bringing change, birth of new ideas, general good fortune.

Luis-Rowan

Protection, control of the senses, the strength to turn away negativity, vitality, healing magick.

Fearn-Alder

Prophecy, divination, Scrying, intuition, remaining true to your ethics, music, poetry.

Saille-Willow

Feminine energy, fertility, psychic powers, intuition, cunning, new forces flowing, enchantment.

Nuin- Ash

Fate, divine process, connections to the world, spiritual inspiration, take action.

Huathe-Hawthorn

Protection, purification, learning through adversity, sexuality, self-sacrifice

Duir- Oak

Strength, endurance, opening new doors, new paths, power to endure, protection, leadership

Tinne- Holly

Balance, integrity, justice, tests and ordeals, courage, mastery over self, legal or money matters, growth.

Coll- Hazel

Creativity, poetry, intuition, the powers of divination, perception, inspiration, arbitration.

Quert-Apple

Choosing that which is beneficial, love affairs, beauty, healing, nourishment, living fully.

Muin-Vine

Psychic senses, harvest, visionary states, patience, releasing logic and reason, examine life's lessons.

Gort-Ivy

Follow the spiral of life, explore personal paths, transformation in self, career and education.

Ngetal-Reed

Awareness of environment, creating order from chaos, progress through vigilance, harmony of will, action.

Straif- Blackthorn

Fate,wheel of fortune, trials and tribulations lead to change, true liberation, rebirth.

Ruis-Elder

Passing of old cycles, looking ahead, change and renewal, new residence, career, health.

Ailim-Silver Fir

Clear vision, foresight, being grounded in the present, nurture new projects, gathering insight.

Ohn- Gorse

Increase of material possessions, sexual energy, repelling negative energy.

Ur-Heather

World of spirit, healing, personal success, well-being, fertility, prosperity, Faerie magick, romance.

Eadha-White Poplar

Overcoming fear and doubt, inner guidance, determination, rebirth, omens and signs, creative solutions.

Ioho-Yew

Accepting the inevitable, reincarnation, destiny, death and rebirth, new starts, contact with the past.

Credit: Meeghan Belford