| OGHAM 101 |
| The edges of the stones into which the Ogham symbols are carved is called the "baseline". There are five main sets of symbols, each consisting of five symbols each. The first twenty symbols are the most commonly found in still extant stone inscriptions. They are broken up into sets that fall on either the right, the left, straight across, or diagonally across the baseline. The additional five are a little more obscure and are entirely different than the first twenty. These last five are commonly referred to as the "Crane Bag" Oghams, or simply, "Crane Knowledge", the crane being a sacred bird in Celtic belief. It is said that the Crane Knowledge were given by the sea God Mannannan Mac Lir (a.k.a. Mannan). The primary twenty symbols were given by Oghma (a.k.a. Ogma), the God of eloquence, language, speech, poetry, and writing. Contrary to popular belief, the Ogham was NOT NOT NOT invented by the Druids. The Druids have never claimed this for themselves. The Ogham existed before the Druids came into the Celtic lands. There is still a lot of study yet to be done on all this. |
| THE OGHAM TREES Beth- Birch Luis- Rowan Fearn- Alder Saille- Willow Nuin- Ash Huathe- Hawthorn Duir- Oak Tinne- Holly Coll- Hazel Quert- Apple Nuin- Vine/Bramble Gort- Ivy Ngetal- Juniper/Broom/Reed Straif- Blackthorn/Plum Ruis- Elder Ailim- Gorse/Furze Ur- Heather or Mistletoe Eadha- White Poplar/Aspen Ioho- Yew CRANE BAG Koad- Grove Oir- Spindle/Spindletree Uilleand- Honeysuckle Phagos- Beech Mor- The Sea |
| Copyright 2001 by M. Mackery |