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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 |
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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 |
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An alternative association: |
 |
|
Mor |
The
Sea |
Flowing |
© Llewellyn - Whispers from the Woods
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