Ogham Divination

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Ogham Divination
Messages From The Forest

You don't need a walk in the forest to reflect upon the mystical
nature of trees. Turning a city corner and finding a shady oasis of
older, tall trees has an immediate effect of the spirit. But walking
in the woods does help make a closer connection to the unique energy
of trees, which is recognized by many traditions as being different
from that of other plants. Perhaps no culture has appreciated trees
more deeply than the Celts, who saw trees as the doorway between
practical reality and the spirit world. The Ogham (pronounced OH-um)
is an ancient Celtic alphabet based on trees native to Ireland. These
symbols can be used for divination. Wooden sticks known as fidh, each
carved with a symbol representing a specific tree, are cast three
times over the picture of a wheel and are then interpreted with
stories corresponding to the past, present, and future. As with all
traditional divination rituals, close attention is paid to clearing
the mind and having pure int! ention to understand the hidden
realities involved. Using the Ogham system of divination lends
perspective on difficult matters.

Each symbol is tied not only to a tree, but each one also has an
association with a letter, sound, season, color, and animal. The
divination begins with the tree's properties, and leads to the
deeper, mystical implications of the symbol combinations. Here are a
few examples of the trees of Ogham:

* Oak: The Celts most sacred tree, which symbolized the center of the
universe and the passageway to the spirit world. Your deepest wisdom
grows from the oak and appears as falling acorns with your actions.

* Rowan: Whenever the rowan tree, renowned for its protective
qualities, appears in divination, it represents the protection one's
own insight will lend to a situation.

* Ash: This tree symbolized connection and movement between different
places and aspects; when the ash tree appears, it tells you something
about your ability to combine your energy with someone else's.

Using the entire set of archetypal images, the Ogham can reveal a
story that is dynamic, poetic, and has personal resonance. You can
try Ogham by using natural wooden sticks carved especially for the
process; there are also online Ogham tools. Whatever method you
choose will allow you to gain new perspective on your life by telling
your story in a way you may never have imagined.