One point that most people agree on concerning the Ogham is that there were originally twenty characters and that an additional five, believed to be diphthongs, were added at some later point in time to accommodate Greek and Latin characters. There is a marked difference between the first twenty characters and the other five. The first twenty are mostly simple straight lines that are suitable for carving into wood or stone, while the others are more complex and would not lend themselves to be easily carved. The original twenty are called feda (feadha, plural) and the added five, forfeda.

The characters are divided into groups of five. The number five is symbolic of the five provides of Ireland. The word for province in Modern Irish is cuige, which also means “a fifth”. Of the original twenty characters, the first fifteen are consonants, the other five vowels. The original four groups are called aicme (tribes). Each aicme is named after the first character in the group, for example, aicme beith, aicme huath.

Ogham is written horizontally or vertically along a mid-line/stem line. This mid-line is also called druim, which means ridge or spine because the edge of the stone or flat rod was used instead of a carved midline. When written horizontally, the Ogham is read left to right. When vertical, it is read bottom to top. The starting point of the mid-line was often distinguished with a V-shape (feathered arrow) or curlicues when written on paper as in The Book of Ballymote.

One difficulty in deciphering Ogham script on stones is how to follow it. In following the ridge or edge of a cut stone, the writing travels up one edge and down another. When all four edges of the stone contain Ogham, it’s not simple to see where one begins reading and then continues after going up one side and down another. In some instances a dot on the stem line was used to indicate a break (space) between words. The effects of time and weathering complicate the task of reading the inscriptions.

The language represented by the Ogham on these stones is Primitive Irish, a forerunner of what is called Old Irish. The earliest known Irish literature was written between 600 and 900 C.E. in Old Irish. This does not mean that all Ogham stones were carved before 600 C.E. Primitive Irish was still in use after the 6th century as there was a gradual evolution to Old Irish.

The Feadha – Aicme Beith
	B	Beith, Beithe	Birch	Beginnings, Release, Renewal, Change
	L	Luis	Rowan	Quickening, Insight, Dedication, Expression, Blessings
	F, V	Fearn, Fern	Alder	Foundation, Guardian, Evolving Spirit
	S	Saille, Saile, Suil	Willow	Intuition, Flexibility, Balance
	N	Nion, Nuin, Nin	Ash	Transitions, Connections, Ambition
Aicme Huath
	H	Huath, Huathe, Uath	Hawthorn	Protection/Defense, Hope, Healing, Spiritual Energies
	D	Duir, Dair, Daur	Oak	Leadership, Strength, Self-confidence, Optimism
	T	Tinne, Teine	Holly	Hearth and Home, Unity, Protection, Courage, Guidance
	C, K	Coll, Call	Hazel	Wisdom, Knowledge of Secrets, Creativity, Return
	Q, CC	Quert, Queirt, Ceirt, Cert	Apple	Eternity, Love, Faithfulness, Rebirth
Aicme Muin
	M	Muin	Vine/Bramble	Inward Journey, Lifting Confusion, Opening, Learning Lessons
	G	Gort	Ivy	Growth, Wildness, Development, Confronting the Mystical
	Ng	Ngetal, nGétal, Ngeadal	Reed	Health and Healing, Adaptation, Gathering
	St, Z	Straif, Straiph, Straith	Blackthorn	Authority, Control, Strength in Adversity
	R	Ruis	Elder	Maturity, Accomplishment, Awareness
Aicme Ailm
	A	Ailm, Ailim	Fir, Elm, Pine	Perspective, Reaching, Rising Above
	O	Onn, Ohn	Gorse (Furze)	Hope, Persistence
	U, W	Ur, Ura	Heather	Passion, Generosity
	E	Eadhadh, Eadha, Edad	Aspen	Endurance, Communication, Overcoming Obstacles
	I, J, Y	Iodho, Iodhadh, Ido, Idad	Yew	Death, Transition, Endings
The ForFeda
	EA CH, K	Éabhadh, Ebad	Honeysuckle, Aspen	Attracting Sweetness of Life
	OI, TH	Oir, Or	Spindle Tree, Ivy	Creativity, Inspiration
	UI, PE	Uilleann, Uileand, Uilen	Beech, Honeysuckle
	IO, PH	Ifin, Iphin	Gooseberry, Beech	Clarity of Vision
	AE, X, XI	Amhancholl, Eamhancholl,	Witch Hazel, Pine	Cleansing, Purifying, Releasing
An alternative association:
		Mor	The Sea	Flowing

© Llewellyn - Whispers from the Woods