Although there's no solid historical basis for using ogham as a divination tool its certainly popular to do so today and there is more than enough material to make it a viable system. Much like tarot, actually, there is so much that it takes a while to learn to really read ogham well. I highly recommend checking out the original source material, the Auraicept na n-Eces as well as modern books on the subject including Erynn Rowan Laurie's book Ogam Weaving Word Wisdom, John-Paul Patton's The Poet's Ogam and Skip Ellison's book Ogham: the secret language of the Druids for detailed study of the ogham.
That said, over the years I have come up with what I call my "Ogham Quick Reference Guide" to help me out when I'm using ogham for ritual omens or divination. Due to a learning disability I've found the ogham especially challenging to learn and using this little guide has been helpful, so I thought I'd share it with everyone. Maybe it will help other people trying to learn to use ogham for divination too.
English letter: B Ogham name: Beithe - pronounced: Beh Literally "birch tree": new beginnings, cleansing, protection
English letter: L Ogham name: Luis - pronounced Looh-sh Possibly from the Old Irish "lus", herb. In tree ogham represents the Rowan, "coarthann": Enchantment, mysticism, protection against magic
English letter: F Ogham name: Fearn - Pronounced Fee-yarn The alder tree, Old Irish "fern", modern "fearnog": support, protection during attack. Often associated with ravens and divination.
English letter: S Ogham name: Saille - Pronounced Sall-yuh The willow tree, Old Irish "sail": healing, making plans, moving forward.
English letter: N Ogham name: Nuin - pronounced Noo-in Possibly "weaver's beam". In the tree ogham associated with the Ash, "fuinseag": peace, creation, stability. A clear path. Bring things together.
English letter: H Ogham name: Huath - pronounced Oo-uh Literally terror or phantom. In the tree Ogham represented by the Hawthorn, "sceach" a fairy tree: the unknown, fear of the unseen, transition
English letter: D Ogham name: Duir - pronounced Doo-ihr The oak "dair": wisdom, strength, protection, growth.
English letter: T Ogham name: Tinne - pronounced Tihn-nyeh Literally means metal rod. In the tree ogham associated with the Holly "cuileann": fighting, contention, weapons, fire, and smithcraft
English letter: C Ogham name : Coll - pronounced Kohl Means hazel: divination, magic, and enchantment, knowledge. Also relates to wealth.
English letter: Q Ogham name Quert, alt. Cert - pronounced Kehrt Means "rags". In the tree ogham this is apple "ull": healing, restoration, renewal, nourishment
English letter: M Ogham name: Muin - pronounced Mwin Literally means "neck" or "back". In the tree ogham it stands for the vine "funiuin": release, compromises, focus, determination, confrontation, vengeance (basically think the good and bad sides of wine)
English letter: G Ogham name: Gort - pronounced Guhrt Literally "field". In the tree ogham it is the ivy, "eidhnean": beauty, love, friendship, fidelity
English letter: nG Ogham name nGetal - pronounced Neh-tahl Literally "wounding". Associated with the broom plant or reed "giolcach" in tree ogham: separation, warning, courage, direct action
English letter: Str Ogham name: Straif - pronounced Strahf Literally "sulfur". In the tree ogham it is the blackthorn "draighean": discernment, cunning, focused protection, the thorn, inner strength, boundaries
English letter: R Ogham name: Ruis - pronounced Roosh Literally "redness". In tree ogham it represents the elder tree, "trom": anger, blushing (ie loss of face, embrassment), endings, completion, be realistic in order to succeed
English letter; A Ogham name; Ailm - pronounced Al-ihm The word and its meaning is uncertain. In tree ogham it represents the fir or pine, "giuis": hard work, effort. The need for caution. Integrity and good judgment are key.
English letter: O Ogham name: Onn - pronounced On Old Irish for "ash tree" or "stone". In tree ogham this is given as gorse, "aitenn": take action, movement, success, perseverance, relief
English letter: U Ogham name: Uir - pronounced Oor Literally "earth". Associated in tree ogham with heather, "fraoch": embrace your talents, plant now to harvest later, effort brings reward with patience
English letter: E Ogham name: Edad - pronounced Ehd-ahd The word and meaning are unknown. In the tree ogham it is the aspen, "crithach": endings, death, let go of what you've outgrown. Calm consideration. Trust in your ability to endure.
English letter: I Ogham name: Idad - pronounced Eed-ahd the word and meaning are unknown. Associated with the yew, "iur", in the tree ogham: see the big picture. Seek experience, know when to act and when not act. Bide your time. Don't avoid problems.
That said, over the years I have come up with what I call my "Ogham Quick Reference Guide" to help me out when I'm using ogham for ritual omens or divination. Due to a learning disability I've found the ogham especially challenging to learn and using this little guide has been helpful, so I thought I'd share it with everyone. Maybe it will help other people trying to learn to use ogham for divination too.
English letter: B Ogham name: Beithe - pronounced: Beh Literally "birch tree": new beginnings, cleansing, protection
English letter: L Ogham name: Luis - pronounced Looh-sh Possibly from the Old Irish "lus", herb. In tree ogham represents the Rowan, "coarthann": Enchantment, mysticism, protection against magic
English letter: F Ogham name: Fearn - Pronounced Fee-yarn The alder tree, Old Irish "fern", modern "fearnog": support, protection during attack. Often associated with ravens and divination.
English letter: S Ogham name: Saille - Pronounced Sall-yuh The willow tree, Old Irish "sail": healing, making plans, moving forward.
English letter: N Ogham name: Nuin - pronounced Noo-in Possibly "weaver's beam". In the tree ogham associated with the Ash, "fuinseag": peace, creation, stability. A clear path. Bring things together.
English letter: H Ogham name: Huath - pronounced Oo-uh Literally terror or phantom. In the tree Ogham represented by the Hawthorn, "sceach" a fairy tree: the unknown, fear of the unseen, transition
English letter: D Ogham name: Duir - pronounced Doo-ihr The oak "dair": wisdom, strength, protection, growth.
English letter: T Ogham name: Tinne - pronounced Tihn-nyeh Literally means metal rod. In the tree ogham associated with the Holly "cuileann": fighting, contention, weapons, fire, and smithcraft
English letter: C Ogham name : Coll - pronounced Kohl Means hazel: divination, magic, and enchantment, knowledge. Also relates to wealth.
English letter: Q Ogham name Quert, alt. Cert - pronounced Kehrt Means "rags". In the tree ogham this is apple "ull": healing, restoration, renewal, nourishment
English letter: M Ogham name: Muin - pronounced Mwin Literally means "neck" or "back". In the tree ogham it stands for the vine "funiuin": release, compromises, focus, determination, confrontation, vengeance (basically think the good and bad sides of wine)
English letter: G Ogham name: Gort - pronounced Guhrt Literally "field". In the tree ogham it is the ivy, "eidhnean": beauty, love, friendship, fidelity
English letter: nG Ogham name nGetal - pronounced Neh-tahl Literally "wounding". Associated with the broom plant or reed "giolcach" in tree ogham: separation, warning, courage, direct action
English letter: Str Ogham name: Straif - pronounced Strahf Literally "sulfur". In the tree ogham it is the blackthorn "draighean": discernment, cunning, focused protection, the thorn, inner strength, boundaries
English letter: R Ogham name: Ruis - pronounced Roosh Literally "redness". In tree ogham it represents the elder tree, "trom": anger, blushing (ie loss of face, embrassment), endings, completion, be realistic in order to succeed
English letter; A Ogham name; Ailm - pronounced Al-ihm The word and its meaning is uncertain. In tree ogham it represents the fir or pine, "giuis": hard work, effort. The need for caution. Integrity and good judgment are key.
English letter: O Ogham name: Onn - pronounced On Old Irish for "ash tree" or "stone". In tree ogham this is given as gorse, "aitenn": take action, movement, success, perseverance, relief
English letter: U Ogham name: Uir - pronounced Oor Literally "earth". Associated in tree ogham with heather, "fraoch": embrace your talents, plant now to harvest later, effort brings reward with patience
English letter: E Ogham name: Edad - pronounced Ehd-ahd The word and meaning are unknown. In the tree ogham it is the aspen, "crithach": endings, death, let go of what you've outgrown. Calm consideration. Trust in your ability to endure.
English letter: I Ogham name: Idad - pronounced Eed-ahd the word and meaning are unknown. Associated with the yew, "iur", in the tree ogham: see the big picture. Seek experience, know when to act and when not act. Bide your time. Don't avoid problems.
Hi Morgan -- hoping the summer like all seasons is giving you what you need. We are putting in some hawthorns to go with our existing ash grove and scattered black oaks and so I naturally started wondering about the origins of the "oak and ash and thorn" formula. Your 2018 post on patheos came up in a search pointing back to Kipling . . . wondering if you might find Glasgerion's "full great othe by oak and ashe and thorne" in Child 67A amusing or intriguing. Obviously this figure may be a fiction built on an obscure reference in Chaucer and any exploits should be held at arms length, but the phrase Child collected must have come from somewhere! Reading in a little it is probably not from the great fountainhead of spurious "Glas Geraint" material because the "three trees" of the Myvyrian Archaiology are the oak, the birch and the rowan. Anyway something for summer.
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