The following is reprinted from ‘Keltria : A Journal of Druidism and Keltic Magick’ which is published 4 times a year at the traditional cross-quaters festivals of Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane and Lughnasadh. Subscriptions are available for $6.00 for 1 year. For further information write them at:

Keltria
PO Box 33284
Minneapolis, MN 55433

The Myth of Diancecht and Minach

an interpetation by Iarwain

In the first battle of Moy Tura, Nuada lost his hand. Diancecht fashioned a new one of silver and skillfully joined it to Nuada’s arm.  One day Diancecht’s son Miach took what was left of Nuada’s real hand, placed it next to Nuada’s arm and uttered an incantation. AFter three days and nights the hand was rejoined and renewed.

Diancecht was furious that his son was a better healer than he. Diancecht struck Miach three times in the head with his sword. Miach was able to heal each wound. On the fourt blow, Diancecht split Miach’s head in two, killing him.

From Miach’s grave grew 365 herbs, each one with curative powers for one of the 365 nerves in the body. Miach’s sister, Airmid, picked these herbs and arranged them according to their curative powers. Diancecht became so enraged that his son rivaled him even after death that he scattered the herbs about, hoplessly confusing them. If Diancecht hadn’t done this, man would be immortal.

Several meanings can be found in this myth.

One meaning is that Diancecht represents the order of society. Miach was the young upstart, the rebel. Although good came from his actions, he acted out of his place. IN time he might have replaced Diancecht as the healer of the Gods, but he threatened order by challenging Diancecht and had to be stopped.

From Miach’s grave grew 365 herbs to heal the body. From his death, new life, in the form of curative herbs, grew. This represents the  idea that life feeds on life. That new life may only come through death of old. In a Native American Myth, it was corn that first grew  from the grave of a young man’s spirit guide; in the South Pacific, the coconut tree first came from the death of a young woman’s spirit lover. This is a common thread in the mythology of many cultures. In most some sort of food is the symbol for new life, in the Diancecht myth, it was the curative powers of the herbs.

I wonder why Diancecht scattered the herbs. After thinking about it, it seems obvious that the herbs represent immortality, something that man was not meant to have. I found a variation of this interpretation in a myth of the Yamana of Tierra del Fuego.

In the Yoalox family, there were two brothers, of which the younger was the smartest and the most talented. One day the elder brother was playing with some stones, striking them together for his amusement. He discovered that when he struck certain stones together they gave a spark. He struck the stones in such a way that a spark ignited some dry down. He then got some kindling and built a fire. He showed his fire to his younger brother explaining that they could keep it burning forever so that people could have fire without trouble. The younger brother disgreed saying that it would be much better if people had to work for it. He then took a stick and  scattered the embers. Since that time, people have had to work to make fires.

The Yamana myth ends in a similar manner toi the Diancecht myth. Some boon was created so that people’s lives would be made easier, but the results were scattered away. I believe that the lesson of  the Yamana myth can also be applied to the Diancecht myth. Diancecht did not scatter the herbs just out of anger. The curative powers of the herbs could not be given to man, but must be worked for.

As with most myths, the Diancecht myth has many meanings, there may be some I have missed. The number of herbs relates to the number of days in the year and there must be some relation to the number of times Diancecht struck Miach and to how long it took Nuada’s hand to regenerate. How do these relations add to the myth?

References:

On the Myth of Daincecht:

• Charles Squire, CELTIC MYTH AND LEGEND, pp 81-82
• John and Caitland Matthews, THE AQUARIAN GUIDE TO BRITISH AND IRISH      MYTHOLOGY, P.117

On the Origin of Corn:

• Joseph Campbell, THE MASKS OF GOD-PRIMITIVE MYTHOLOGY, PP 216-220

On the Origin of the coconut:

• IBID op. cit. pp 190-195.

On the Origin of Fire:

• IBID, HISTORICAL ATLAS OF WORLD MYTHOLOGY, Vol I Part 2, PP 259-260.

Originally posted 2009-11-14 23:14:43.

A conversation that happened years ago, that I thought was funny as hell, and still think is great:

Parts of the conversation sorted by color….

By the way, do you even know what the Nine sacred woods are? No fair peeking.

Oh, wait, I know this one…

1. Morning wood
2. Afternoon wood
3. Evening wood
4. Midnight wood
5. “I gotta pee, dammit” wood
6. Embarassing first-date wood
7. New Britney Spears video wood
8. Yeah, I guess Orlando Bloom really is hot wood
9. Kids are coming up the stairs let’s finish this *quick* wood

I guess the “10. No reason just random wood” wood isn’t in th ere, but what about the “11. Embarrasing called to the blackboard wood” wood? Where does it go?

Not all woods are sacred woods.

Astute readers of my Journal will have already noticed that the name has changed.  That’s what should be.  But let me tell you why.

As you may have read in earlier entries, I’m transitioning from Male to Female.  Well, in recent months I’ve made some major strides forward in that regard, namely I’ve come out to everyone I know that I’m transitioning, and I’ve legally changed my name from my male moniker to a more female name.

With this change came a LOT of soul searching, a lot of meditation and a lot of discussion with the Gods.  Finally after a long time, we all determined that I am Their daughter just as much as I was Their son.  I am Their Priestess and still Their Priest.

Confusing?  You bet you.  About as confusing as being female, dressing as female, being called “She” and “Her” and “Miss” and still being called “Dad” by my daughter.  But that’s okay, things take time, and I’m only partway through the hormone treatment.

So, with the new name, new gender and the acknowledgment of the world at large, I rededicated myself one morning near Samhain.  I abandoned the name Daven and took the name Erin to be my magickal working name.

You may be able to see some of the changes.

Juliet:
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”

So, the name of the Journal is changing to Erin’s Journal.  But the content is not.  It will still have the same content as any you have come to expect.  The look and feel will be the same.  It may have more personal focus and changes based on crossing gender lines and still being a representative of the Gods.

I am going to be taking time over the next months to find and change all references to Daven’s Journal and replace them with Erin’s Journal.  I am going to do this gradually since it will take some time for you, the reader, to adjust to this change too.  Everyone knows Daven’s Journal, but it will take time to realize that it is the same site as Erin’s Journal.  Thus the “new and improved” logo upstairs.  Hopefully by keeping something the same, it can become normal, then we gradually phase out the various elements of Daven and replace them with Erin.

But also, like the Shattered Tower, this is a change that has happened and cannot be undone.  But also like Death, it’s one that has been a long time in coming.

(Note from Daven: Poetry is a huge part of the life of a Druid or Bard. So it is appropriate that I do some poetry, even if it does stink, although, there are those who don’t think it does. Hurray for rose-colored glasses.)

Has anyone else ever

Has anyone else ever felt the Goddess?
Not just the Maiden, Mother and Crone,
But also the Warrior?
The woman who defends her cubs to the death?

Has anyone else felt the God?
His faces: Wanderer, Hunter, Guide and Guardian?
He who is all with the Lady
The man that balances the Goddess?

Has anyone else heard the stars sing?
Their songs of bright things in the sky?
Their tales of ancient times?
Their eternal mourning for those who died?

Has anyone else ever listened to the Earth?
To Her pain for what has been done?
To the life that beats inside her?
And heard the promise of a new life?

Have you ever listened to a baby’s heartbeat?
Thought about what they might become?
Wondered what kind of world they will inherit
And if they will grow in love and beauty?

If you have never done these things
I advise you to go and do them.
Life is too short to be wasted
But should be savored, bitter and sweet.

Stars light your path.

Originally posted 2009-11-11 18:52:41.

(Note from Daven:  This is a work on standard Numerology, as opposed to the Celtic Numerology that Mike Nichols wrote about.  I place it here because this system of numerology is one of the most widely used in the world.  You may need it one day.  I know I did.)

Pythagorean System Of Numerology

Now simply total the numbers which represent the letters of your name.

JOHN PHILIP BROW’N would total: JOHN (1 + 6 + 8 + 5) = 20 = (2 + 0) = 2 PHILIP (7 + 8 + 9 + 3 + 9 + 7) = 43 = (4 + 3) = 7 BROWN (2 + 9 + 6 + 5 + 5) = 27 = (2 + 7) = 9

These numbers have their own significance. That of the family name offers a general generational influence. The number of your forename, given name, Christian name whatever you call it – is the most important to use in numerology: and it should be used in the form in which most people use it (if Mr. Brown is usually known as “Jack”, then that is the name which would be used in numerology – and the most significant number for him would be 7 rather than 2). A “middle” name or names is less important, and its influence less marked.

Looking at a combination of traditional factors in numerology, we would interpret the effect of the number of the forename as follows:

1. Above all, you will be an excellent communicator, and in one way or another will always be able to explain your arguments (w emotions to others, whether on a personal level or in your business or career (and You may work well in the media). You are reasonable, but highly argumentative and adaptable and perhaps opinionated; you are perceptive, but very critical – sometimes hypercritical; you are versatile but can be very tense and uptight.

2. Modest and shy, you are meticulous in everything you do and diligent in completing every task you undertake. Your perfectionism can make you a less than welcome workmate, for your own high standards will make it impossible not to seem to be Criticizing others, however hard you try to avoid this. Criticism can become carping, and self-criticism can turn to introversion and worry. Your natural discrimination is trustworthy, and provided it is disciplined and not expressed in grumbling about others’ standards, it can make you an ideal employee.

3. Charm and diplomacy, romance and sociability are all qualities of this number; but they can hide a certain weakness, masking indecision, changeability and gullibility – you are highly susceptible to persuasion. Decision-making is not your strong point, and your relaxed attitude can result in your never reaching a conclusion about anything at all. You like luxury, a quiet life (even at any price?); You can be resentful towards anyone who seems to be standing between you and a harmonious and troubled existence.

4. Your true feelings are probably hidden behind an extravert exterior and an outwardly brash and forthright manner. Determined and forceful, passionate and an exciting personality, you can also be obsessive, resentful and jealous. You’re not likely to give way to even the strongest arguments of those you believe to be in the wrong; and -your feelings about any dispute that may arise will be supported by the most powerful a well-sustained reasoning.

5. This is the number of learning – and not just the accumulation of random facts on a number of subjects (as with ONE), but real, in depth study. Religion and philosophy may interest you; you will possibly find the study of languages attractive. You will be optimistic, loyal and much concerned with justice – but beware of self-indulgence and conceit, and indeed of over-optimism.

6. This number is associated with the planet Venus and hence with the emotions; you will be particularly eager to find a partner and enjoy a satisfactory emotional relationship. This may lead to your committing yourself too soon, and somewhat thoughtlessly. The feminine side of your personality will be emphasized (whichever sex you are), and you may well have an interest in art or fashion. Gentleness, friendship, tact and social adaptability will probably come easily to you – but you should beware of blind optimism, and of continually wearing rose-coloured spectacles.

7. Optimism, good humour, honesty are the hallmarks of this number; the reverse of the coin displays the possibility of over-optimism, carelessness and irresponsibility. You are a free spirit, always concerned for the freedom of the individual whether on a local or worldwide basis. You can be tactless in expressing your forthright opinions, and your emotions can carry you away to such an extent that you become offhand and superficial. Sport may well interest you more than usual.

8. This is a number much concerned with ambition, supported by practical, patient, disciplined theory and work. You may be a little too conventional, and this together with an inherent pessimism and fatalism can make for an all-work-and-no-play attitude to life, which may be somewhat joyless. Your sense of humour can be a saving grace, not only for yourself but in your relationships, and your prudence should pay off in your business life.

9. Your friendliness and loyalty will mean that you need never be alone; you are original and inventive, and your independence of mind is a great asset provided you don’t allow yourself to be too contrary, perverse or unpredictable Your originality means that you are able to shed an unexpected light on – for instance – others’ problems. Positive and optimistic, you may find yourself in some ways a leader. But you may also find it somewhat difficult to establish a close personal relationship.

The number associated with love is the total of all our forenames. A classical numerological system tells us that particular numbers vibrate in harmony with each other, others strike a harmonious chord, yet others are in disharmony. Some (not mentioned below) appear to have no potential either for harmony or disharmony.

1. Is in harmony with 9, In accord with 4 and 8, In discord with 6 and 7.

2. Is in harmony with 8, In accord with 7 and 9, In discord with 5.

3. Is in harmony with 7, In accord with 5, 6 and 9, In discord with 4 and 8.

4. Is in harmony with 6, In accord with 1 and 8, In discord with 3 and 5.

5. Is in harmony with 5, In accord with 3 and 9, In discord with 2 and 4.

6. Is in harmony with 4, In accord with 3 and 9, In discord with 1 and 8.

7. Is in harmony with 3, In accord with 2 and 6, In discord with 1 and 9.

8. Is in harmony with 2, In accord with 1 and 4, In discord with 3 and 6.

9. Is in harmony with 1, In accord with 2, 3 and 6, In discord with 7.

Numbers that are in harmony indicate a strong natural attraction; numbers that are in accord with each other are likely to get on well together; numbers in discord will find that their relationship will need some hard work. The most favourable numbers are those which are the same.

Anyone wishing to get more stuff in accordance with the Pythagorean System Of Numerology, Or Spells/Chants, Feel free to E-mail and ask for them. E-Mail is: IceBreak13@Aol.Com

Originally posted 2009-11-14 14:14:28.

Because it’s relevant to a lot that some are doing, I thought I would put up some sort of post on how to interact with and what to expect from the Celtic pantheon.

First, the overriding ethic for ALL Celts is that everyone, EVERYONE, has an inherent worth. When interacting with someone who is a Celt or whom identifies as a Celt, you must understand and acknowledge that worth. Be prepared, if you insult that worth you will be making compensation to somebody for the insult. If you kill a Celt, SOMEBODY is going to come and demand payment for the “honor price” of that person, you will have to make payment or you will BE the compensation (in that you will be serving as a bondsman until that is repaid according to the statutes of the Brehons). If it is intra-tribal, that is. (1) If the insult is inter-tribal, it could mean war. The greater the person’s status is, the greater their honor price. This holds true from the Gods down to the bondsman or least slave of the tribe. Personal honor is the MOST important thing to a Celt. The laws, status, and prior instructions on honor price indicate it strongly. (1)

Second, know that the Tribe, the Clan, the Family, the Tuath, the group you are part of is the second biggest thing in a Celt’s life. They will do, give, be damned near anything to help the Clan, to take care of their family, to contribute to the group. However, just as the First Law of Robotics overrides the Second Law, the personal honor – worth is more important to the individual than the Family/Clan. (2)

Third, personal honor reflects on the Clan honor. If I, as a Celt, do things that bring me fame and renown, it raises the status of my Clan. It also increases my status and Honor Price. (3)

Physical ability is important. Their kings were not only elected by the Tribe because of their ability and their proficiency, but also by their physical perfection. Nuada couldn’t be the Righ (king) of the Tuatha de Dannon once he lost his hand because he was missing a hand. Odin would not have been the leader because he is missing an eye. But, Nuada COULD be the king again once Dian Cecht made him the new hand of Silver. (4)

The ability to give gifts are important. The election of a Righ was not only about who was the most physically capable, but also who “bribed” the electorate the best. I say that but it wasn’t really bribes. Hospitality and generosity were prized traits, and thus the Righ should show those the most. Having a lot of gifts of treasure, jewelry, weapons and so on to give out to those that come into contact with them is a hell of a big deal.

Personal honor is very important. If a Celt says something, it was damned important that they keep to what they said. If they gave their loyalty to someone, it was expected that it was pretty much forever unless there were HUGE extenuating circumstances. That’s why oathbreaking and outcasting was such a HUGE deal, it made the person so shunned nothing. The person so cast out was a piece of wood, a rock, not human. They could be killed without any consequences.

All these are part of the Celtic deities. They embody this principle in themselves and reflect it to the world. So be very careful about what you say, because you will be expected to live up to those words. There is not really any “being released” from an oath to those Gods unless there is a really, REALLY compelling reason. You will be expected to hold to the Celtic Virtues (found on http://davensjournal.com/druidism-and-wicca-a-comparison) and you will be judged on how well you personify those virtues.

Rules are important, but not as important as everything else is. There is flexibility in the rules and if you can cite an overriding reason to ignore those rules, then you might be allowed to avoid punishment, but you’ll need the tongue of Taliesin (c. 534 – c. 599) to survive.

This is what made the Celts particularly recalcitrant when it came to taking oaths and giving their allegiance to someone. Their local tribal leader was the most important leader, because they knew him (or her) and (s)he had done good for the tribe before. The other leader was an unknown and the Celt’s attitude would have been “yeah? And what have you done for me lately?”

The three “classes” in society were the Druids, the Warriors, and the Crafters. The farmers were considered Crafters. Each of these castes was equal to each other, for each held the other two at different times. The druids were the professional class, the Doctors and Lawyers, the studiers of nature and so on. The warriors protected all, without care as to who they were, and they kept order among the tribes. The crafters made things and grew things that allowed the others to live a life they desired. All three were important. Placing the Warriors above all was idiotic to them and it would not have been considered had the Romans not come in and corrupted the thinking. Male/female didn’t matter much. While it was easier for men to do some things because of physical differences between the sexes, a female warrior was seen as just as important as a male one, and they were treated the same. (5) (UPG, see note)

It is from the Warriors that the kings were chosen. Omens played a big part of the lives of the Celts, but the Druids were the ones who interpreted the omens. There were tribal deities, and personal ones that you felt closer to. They didn’t really do animal spirits, although the Gods did have their associated animals. Druids were not warriors and they didn’t carry arms of any kind. As such, their person was inviolate on the battlefield and off it. They were the people who could move between tribes, even ones in active warfare, and who could act as peace bringers. Captured peoples of another tribe were bondsmen who could earn their way back into Celtic Society, usually in the tribe they were with now.

That’s all I have right now. It’s a lot and it is all important.

General Reference: Celtic Flame: An Insider’s Guide to Irish Pagan Tradition by Aedh Rua http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Flame-Insiders-Guide-Tradition/dp/0595529704
Celtic FAQs http://www.personal.psu.edu/ejp10/lingland/faqcelt.html#top
Irish Gaelic translator http://www.irishgaelictranslator.com/
1. Honor Price: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_law plus Bibliography
Honor Price The Preserving Shrine Erynn Rowan Laurie http://www.seanet.com/~inisglas/ethics.html

2. Personal Honor: Gaelic Culture http://homepage.eircom.net/~kthomas/gaelic/gaelic1.htm
New Tara: http://www.newtara.org/newtara_lib_ethics004.asp

3. Increasing personal status The Preserving Shrine Erynn Rowan Laurie http://www.seanet.com/~inisglas/ethics.html
Llygedyn Grove http://www.llygedyngrove.com/Ethics.htm

4. Celtic culture: a historical encyclopedia By John Thomas Kochhttp://bit.ly/bFPeAk Page 1359
Nuada’s sliver hand http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuada

5. THE SOCIETY AND CULTURE OF THE CELTS FOCUSING ON IRELAND
http://www.greyhawkes.com/text/celts.txt
Celtic & Druidic Society From Celtic Library http://www.druidcircle.org/library/index.php?title=Celtic_%26_Druidic_Society

Ranking of Classes* http://www.aislingmagazine.com/aislingmagazine/articles/TAM27/Druids.html  *
http://www.celticcallings.com/resources/celtic_traditions/celt_life.htm
*My Unverified Personal Gnosis: It is my belief that within the classes there were ranks and that the status of a low warrior was less than a master craftsman. A student of Druidism would be ranked far lower than the king or tribal leader and so on. The texts referenced show that the Druids had a higher status than the Warriors, and the Warriors had higher status than the Crafters. While this was true to a point, high ranking people of each group would probably be considered equal to each other.

Okay, I was looking for a name the other day, found one and decided to see what it worked out to neurologically, as talked about in The Big Blue Book by Raymond Buckland. So I started playing around and found an online numerology calculator.

Then I had a bright idea, I converted it to use Mike Nichols’ system in “Toward a Celtic Numerology”.

Long story short, I got it working properly, giving correct answers and now I archive it and post it to the Journal.

Celtic Numerology Calculator. And I liked the relevant essays and web pages on the top. Please go and take a look even if you don’t use the calculator.

Happy math!

This post was originally posted on Jan 26, 2006. Don’t hold it against me.

Originally posted 2009-12-15 17:40:36.

You know, I have been reading and doing for several years now, and most of what I have seen is the same Wicca 101 basics presented over and over and over again. This is both online and in print books.

Lately, however, I have been seeing more books that take the basic concepts presented in the 101 format and they thuroughly explore those concepts, in many cases taking them to logical conclusions. Or they take those concepts and build upon them for the next order of information.

In other words, there seems to be a trend of Wicca 201 and Wicca 301 books coming to market, and this makes me VERY happy to see. I truly hope this trend continues.

Originally posted 2005-09-08 09:01:58.

(Note from Daven:  This is an excellent article on one of the basics of Celtic Life.  The Ogham.  It is the basis of most of their poetry, literature, and their knowledge.  Look it over and look over that which we have on the Druids, and I think you will start to agree with me.)

The Mysteries of the Ogham-Part One

By Kenneth R. White

The script known as Ogham (oh-m) may have been a product of the Celtic peoples coming into contact with cultures who had already developed a written language; however, it is more than likely that the script developed independently. We know that the Druids used the Greek alphabet for private matters, committing none of their lore to writing. Most of our present day knowledge of Ogham comes to us from the Book of Ballimote, which was written in about the fourteenth century. Like the other texts used to teach medieval students, its sources are far older and lost to us. Ogham is to a long and cumbersome a system to use for writing large texts. The practical use of ogham seems to have been limited to ceremonial or short inscriptions. The physical evidence suggests that Ogham was used for short inscriptions and in fact there are many such examples carved along the edges of stones. Most of these Ogham stones are found in Ireland and Wales though there are a few of them located in Scotland and England. Since Ogham is not practical for writing by hand there must have been some other use. This is where we begin our journey into Ogham as a spiritual or magical system. The Ogham letters themselves were said to have been created by the God Ogma, after whom they are named, From a seventh century Irish text, Auraicept na n’Eces, we are told:

“Now Ogma, a man well skilled in speech and in poetry, invented Ogham. The cause of its invention, as proof of his ingenuity, and that this speech should belong to the learned apart, to the exclusion of rustics and herdsmen.”

The Ogham script was commonly cut as a series of nicks on the edges of squared-up wooden sticks to form strokes across a straight line or stem. Ogham was also carved on stones, using the edge of the stone as the stem line, with the letters usually reading from the bottom up. Another way in which it was employed was as a system of secret communication. The fingers of the hand were used to make the strokes and the shin or nose was used as the central stem. This would be similar in use to the American Sign Language “finger spelling.” Again using Ogham in this manner can become tedious to say the least, thought I’m sure it served its purpose.

The God Ogma was a gifted speaker, and most textual references tell us that Ogham was a “speech” and doesn’t really mention it as being a script. Which may lead us to wonder if something isn’t missing. There are hundreds of types of Ogham from bird ogham, to fortress ogham to tree ogham. These types of Ogham appear to have little meaning, and it is generally thought that they are simply associations to aid in remembering bits of information. Like our “A is for apple, B is for ball” etc. But, as we shall see there is more to the Ogham than just as a use as a memory aid. It is commonly believed that pieces of Druidic lore was hidden within the hundreds of Ogham systems. We shall examine one of these systems in depth, the Tree Ogham. We know more about tree Ogham than perhaps any other type of Ogham.

To understand the power of the Ogham it is necessary to realize that to Druids, both past and present, it is more than a system of communication; it is also one of the keys that can open doors to parallel worlds of knowledge, meanings and associations. In the hands of a skilled practitioner Tree Ogham can become a powerful magical tool. Understand, the magic is not contained in the Ogham symbols, but in the trees the symbols represent. Trees can become powerful allies and since they are beings of the green world they are possessed with power just as we are. Each tree has a different “personality” and each can teach us something different, about ourselves and the world in which we live.

We shall begin our study of the Tree Ogham with a brief introduction to the trees which make up the Ogham and the Ogham symbol for each. These symbols are usually written vertically, and read bottom to top. For ease of explanation I will list them horizontally thoughout the coming lessons. The Ogham are divided into five groups of five characters. The last five characters are commonly known as the forfeda, these additional characters were added at a later date, and were an attempt to add charachters to the script for which there were previously none to represent certain sounds in the ancient Irish language. We shall use the forfeda in this system, as we are seeking to come as close to the original system as possible.

Each letter represents a tree. The names of these trees are given in the Irish with the English equivalent next. On the far right I have provided the pronunciation of the Irish name as an after thought.

B – Beith – Birch (BEH)

L – Luis – Rowan (L-WEESH)

F – Fearn – Alder (FAIR-n)

S – Saille – Willow (SHAL-yah)

N – Nuin – Ash (NEE-un)

H – Huathe – Hawthorne (HOO-ah)

D – Duir – Oak (DOO-ir)

T – Tinne – Holly (CHIN-yuh)

C – Coll – Hazel (CULL)

Q – Quert – Apple (KWAIRT)

M – Muin – Vine (MOON)

G – Gort – Ivy (GORT)

Ng – Ngetal- Reed (NYEH-tl)

St – Straif – Blackthorn (STRAHF)

R – Ruis – Elder (RWEESH)

A – Ailim – Silver Fir (AHL-M)

O – Ohn – Furze (UHN)

U – Ur – Heather (OO-r)

E – Eadha -Poplar (EH-yuh)

I – Ioho – Yew (EE-yoh)

In this section we will delve into some of the meanings of the Tree Ogham. In Later lessons we will teach you techniques for building relationships with the trees as well as teaching you how to use the Ogham in divination and magic. But, for now, become familiar with the Ogham rune, the tree and the meaning of each.

B – Beith – Birch (BEH)=Cleansing, new beginnings, breaking new ground

L – Luis – Rowan (L-WEESH)=Protection against enchantment, control of the senses

F – Fearn – Alder (FAIR-n)=a shield of protection, oracular, intuitive

S – Saille – Willow (SHAL-yah)=change and cycles, ebb and flow

N – Nuin – Ash (NEE-un)=inner and outer worlds linked

H – Huathe – Hawthorne (HOO-ah)=cleansing, purity and protective

D – Duir – Oak (DOO-ir)=solid protection, strength, endurance, doorways to otherworlds

T – Tinne – Holly (CHIN-yuh)=balance and directness

C – Coll – Hazel (CULL)=divination, wisdom, the unseen worlds

Q – Quert – Apple (KWAIRT)=choices, pathways

M – Muin – Vine (MOON)=prophecy, fertility

G – Gort – Ivy (GORT)=sprial of life, search for the self, linking and unity

Ng – Ngetal- Reed (NYEH-tl)=direct action, guiding to proper direction

St – Straif – Blackthorn (STRAHF)=fate, destiny, no choices, protective

R – Ruis – Elder (RWEESH)=circle of life, life in death, death in life, change

A – Ailim – Silver Fir (AHL-M)=long sight, gods, ambition

O – Ohn – Furze (UHN)=gathering of power, elements of necessity to reach goals

U – Ur – Heather (OO-r)=links to the inner self, the soul, all healing.

E – Eadha -Poplar (EH-yuh)=endurance, protection, resistance

I – Ioho – Yew (EE-yoh)=rebirth, change, long life, eternity through change

The Other Ogham’s

The Book of Ballymote gives many examples of Ogham lists aside from the tree ogham we are all familiar with. I have given two examples below. These should illustrate how the Druids used them for “secret communication.” They may also shed some light on how they were used to aid the memory in recovering absorbed knowledge. We have already read how Fionn’s servant used Ogham carved upon sticks to relay a message, that it was used we are fairly sure. There are many “ogham stones” found in Scotland, Wales and Ireland which seem to be used as boundry markers.*

We have no way of knowing if the Celts used Ogham for divination but, that the Ogham had magical qualities of that we are sure. There are many instances of Ogham being used in such a manner. Cuchulain used Ogham many times in his life. One instance which comes to mind is from the Tain Bo Culailnge. Cuchulain he inscribes a wooden ring with Ogham and places it around a standing stone. The army from Connacht was unable to pass until they had deciiphered its meaning. Cuchulain again uses Ogham to stop the army of Connacht by chopping down an entire oak tree and covering its surface with Ogham. The army was prevented from passing until one of their number had leapt the tree in his chariot. It is interesting to note that if the Ogham was meaningless or had no power the armies of Connacht would have paid no attention to Cuchulain’s ogham inscriptions.

So how would one use the Ogham for Druid magick in our day and age? We will discuss that and more further on in this lesson.

Below are two additional Ogham lists for you to work with. I have not included the “runes” in this packet because by now you should be well versed in them. (refer to the last lesson or above for help). (*There are even Ogham inscriptions found here in North America! See the book America B.C. by Barry Fell)

Color Ogham

B-ban (white)

L-liath (gray)

F-flann (red)

S-sodath (fine-colored)

N-necht (clear)

H-huath (terrible)

D-dubh (black)

T-temen (dark-gray)

C-cron (brown)

Q-quair (mouse colored)

M-mbracht (variegated)

G-gorm (blue)

Ng-nGlas (green)

St-sorcha (bright)

R-ruadh (red)

A-alad (piebald)

O-odhar (dun)

U-usgdha (resinous)

E-erc (red)

I-irfind (very white)

Bird Ogham

B-besan (pheasant)

L-lachu (duck)

F-faelinn (gull)

S-Segh (hawk)

N-naescu (snipe)

H-hadaig (night-raven)

D-droen(wren)

T-truiteoc (starling)

C*-Callieach (owl)

Q-querc (hen)

M-mintan (titmouse)

G-geis (swan)

nG-nGeigh (goose)

St-Stmolach (thrush)

R-rocnat (small rook)

A-Aidhircleog(lapwing)

O-odoroscratch (scrat)

U-uiseoc (lark)

E-ela (swan)

I-illait (eaglet)

*The bird for this letter is missing from the original manuscript, I have added Callieach (owl) for completeness.

Originally posted 2009-11-14 14:20:28.

This is a list of questions I got in an email. Apparently the person had sent this several times trying to get them answered. I don’t know if they got it in response, but here are the questions and my answers.

1. What makes a God a God and not just some higher being worshipped because it has more power than us?
Basically the belief of his followers. If they believe him to be a god, then a god he is. If they believe him to be an evolved and more powerful spirit, then that is what he is.

Or do all the gods rule over something in all infinite realms, like one god rules over all the poetry in all the realms?
To my understanding, there are deities that are more related to areas of human interest, such as poetry and writing. Typically there tends to be one in each pantheon of a certain aspect. One ruler over ALL human endeavour in one area? no. That I don’t believe.

2. What were some of the untamde wilds you’ve been to while astral traveling and what did you find in there?
Imagine being caught in a whirlpool of color. That’s what the “wilds” typically manifest to me as.

3. How do you know your entering a new realm?
An extreme change of scene or people. Like a scene change from inside to outside in a movie.

4. Are all realms infintely big?
As far as I have been able to tell.

5. Can you automatically tell if something is a thoughtform or do they instantly became as real as you and me, and if this was true could this be how gods were created?
This is kind of like asking if someone is adopted or not. IT doesn’t matter since they exist and should be related to on that level. But no, they don’t have a SIMs plumbob over their heads.

6. I know in the stars wars movie they only talked about one galaxy so in the star wars realm was there a whole universe with many many galaxies?
In their reality, there are many galaxies, they were talking about their own.

7.IF this question offends you in anyway just say it but what do you knwo about astral sex I hear its a very popular thing?
Astral sex is a way to become intimate with another person. The degree of connection between people on the astral can only be comparred to sex in the material plane.

8. What techinque do you use for astal projection? If you would like to share?
I’ve shared it many times on my site.

9. How long did it take to create a race of humans?
I have no idea. For me it was a short time, I don’t know about their evolution.

10. Do the race of beings you created now worship a pantheon of gods?
Possibly. The spirits I asked to protect and guide them have pretty much asked me to stay away.

11. Did they worship you like a god in the pocket of astral you created?
No. I stopped that fast. I was considered to be the Intercessor, a person who was a go between between them and the Gods.

12.Could the beings you created astral project here to this realm to see you?
I know the original inhabitants could, don’t know about the descendants.

13. Do you still interact with the beings you created or do they have a king/president or something like that?
As I said above, I was asked to stay away.

14. The elves that tried to take people away were they created by a astral traveler or a creation made by the gods?
As far as I know, they were inhabitants of the Astral worlds. Beyond that, I haven’t a clue.

15. Did the people in the star wars universe have gods or God in their universe?If so who were they?
I’m sure there were religions and mythologies, but what they were I dont’ know.

16. what was the most beautiful being you’ve ever seen in any of the realms?
The people I love.

17 what was the ugliest being you’ve ever seen in a realms?
All the crap created by the human race ill-wishing others.

18. What was the scariest being you ever saw in a realm?
The one that scared me the most? A being that possessed my wife and wouldn’t let go. I was afriad I would have to destroy her body to keep more evil from happening.

19.Did you ever have to kill a being while in a other realm?
Many times.

20. Were there any other beings you saw in the astral realm that was born in the astral realm and not created there by some other being?
There are.

21. How does it feel to know all this stuff is real and that there is a afterlife, what I’m really asking is how does it feel to no longer have faith but to know?
It has taken my fear of death away completely. I don’t fear dying, having my relatives die, my friends or loved ones die. I know they will be there at some point and that I can see them again.

22. Have you ever gotten a being from another realm mad at you or wished to kill you?
Many times.

23.What was the coolest item you ever saw in another realm?
There’s nothing like that. Items and physical objects, even ones of magickal power are always fluid and can be destroyed/created with little effort.

24. What was the weirdest realm you ever travelled to?
I have no idea.

25. Did any of the dragons you talk to have gods they worshiped, sorry forgot you answered that one.
They have not confided that to me.

26. What sort of being did you use the light saber on?
That’s just how I see my primary weapon while on the Astral as. I’ve used it on many bad people at times.

27.How could you describe having an OBE to another person?
That’s described on my website.

28.How does entering a new realm feel like?
Honestly? It feels as though you walked into another room, if each room were its own movie. Things change, people change, circumstances change. IT’s like the transition between dreams.

29. Can you leave one realm instantly for another?
Yes.

30. Have you ever gone back in time or forward and did you see any famous people in the past or the end or the world in the future?
By famous I assume that you mean people listed in history books. I have and can, but I didn’t. I found *significant* people to see/interact with. And significant people are vastly different than famous. And significant is also subjective.

31. Do our gods in this realm have any power in others?
Since their power is based on believers, I don’t know. It is possible, and on the Astral they are really powerful, but other realms? I don’t know.

32. Do any other beings in other realms worship gods from this realm?
I’m sure there are, but I don’t know for a fact.

33. Have you heard of the theory of the ancient gods accutally being aliens from another planet like the grey aliens?
I’ve heard this theory several times.