The
origin of the Celtic Tree Ogham (also spelled Ogam) is unknown,
but there is plenty of speculation. Some people believe the Ogham
could have been a way to write the Norse runes, others say that
it was developed from the Latin and Greek systems of writing, and
still others believe it was completely separate from these.
There are several schools of thought concerning the name itself.
One is that it comes from myth. According to legend, the Ogham was
created by Ogma the son of Breas. Known as Ogma the Eloquent, he
has been labeled the God of Literature. Some scholars believe that
the word “Ogham” has a Greek origin because of the Greek
word "ogmos", which means “furrow”. When Ogham
characters are carved into rock or wood the strokes look like small
furrows. Since the Celts of Gaul conducted a thriving trade with
the merchants of Greece, they were not only familiar with the Greek
language, but used it in recording common transactions.
Approximately 370 stone Ogham inscriptions have been. These are
standing stones that range from three to nine feet tall. Most of
these are located in the southwest province of Munster in Ireland
with about one-third of the total in County Kerry. There is a scattering
of these stones in Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, and Devonshire,
England. Scholars disagree on the dates of these Ogham stones, but
many place the timeframe from 300 to 600 C.E.
A few sources mention the Ogham as a means to inscribe a person’s
name on a standing stone used to mark their grave. Caitlin and John
Matthews note that The Book of Lismore indicates “Ogham
names were written” rather than saying that a person’s
name was written in Ogham. Charles Graves also raised this point
and suggested that a person’s “Ogham name” was
different from the name by which they were ordinarily known. Does
this indicate that people used clan or ceremonial / magic names?
Magical uses of the Ogham are mentioned in numerous accounts. Many
of us today use ritual / magic names so this may not be so unusual.
Many of the Ogham stones are not burial markers and it has been
suggested that these pillar stones (called Gallan) were some sort
of tribal boundary markers. Since the Ogham did not appear to be
commonly used by all people in Celtic society, the information on
these stone landmarks was understood by those who needed to know.
The Ogham seems to have been understood by the “literary hierarchy”
of bards, druids and the upper ranks of warriors. Celtic society
was stratified and the common people would not know how to decipher
the Ogham messages.
The
Ogham and Poets
Ogham is sometimes referred to as the poetic alphabet because bards
and people of learning used it. While we tend to think of a bard/poet
as an entertainer (i.e. the bard Shakespeare) in Celtic culture
a bard was more of a sacred storyteller, “musical dream weaver”
and keeper of rituals. The next level in the druidic order were
the ovates the shamanic journeyers who sought wisdom from the ancestors
and the natural world. The druids were the teachers, advisors and
custodians of knowledge.
Since trees were believed to hold wisdom and teaching was done in
groves, it would seem to follow that tree names were used for the
names of letters. Beith / birch is the first letter and it has been
suggested that the Ogham was first written on birch. As usual, there
is disagreement on the time and significance of the names. Peter
Berresford Ellis asserts that the characters were not assigned the
tree names until the 14th century and then only for the purpose
of teaching children — not unlike modern alphabet songs. It
seems that almost everything connected with the Ogham from its name,
characters and origin is in dispute, and we will never really know
its complete history.
The
idea of a mystical Ogham has captured the imaginations of many who
have expanded and incorporated it into their practices. The age
of the Ogham is less important that its symbolism. Symbols are effective
because they are understood. While the original meaning of the Ogham
may be lost and modern ones created, they are what we understand
them to be. It is the value we ascribe to them that has meaning
for us. However, it is important to keep an open mind to new research
and ideas and to be able to adjust our use and meaning of these
symbols. Spirituality evolves, and a living, breathing, advancing
faith ultimately provides deeper meaning.
Excerpted
from
Whispers from the Woods
© Llewellyn |
