The Ogham Flowers

I have decided to start a series on flower wisdom, which is a vast and interesting subject, and may turn out to be a continuing saga.
So I decided to start on Druidical Lore, which is basically the root of my Path.

Ogham (pronounced Ohm), is named after the Celtic Deity Oghma, the God of medicine and literature. It is made up of 5 branches of 5 letters in the Gaelic variant, which is the standard set by Druids today. Most of the first four branches are trees, tho enough of them are shrubs and the like that can be classed as flowers, indeed this is reflected in Ogham, calling them peasant class, as opposed to trees being of the chieftain class. This is revealed in Taliesin's poem Cad Goddeu, trans. as the Battle of the trees. I have also added those trees that have blossoms, like the Hawthorn and apple, so have included the Celtic wisdoms here.

WILLOW

Saille - for night vision, lunar rhythms, and feminine aspects, Represents the fourth month in the Ogham calendar February. February is the month of the Celtic fire festival Imbolc, celebrating the maiden aspect of the goddess, and the start of spring. Celtic society regarded Women in higher regard than society does today. They were the leaders, the land and property owners and controlled marriages. Your name and lineage was matrilineal, as your mother was the only proof of parentage, as women gave birth. The Chieftains generally controlled the warriors at his Queen's consent. Willow blossoms are cut as the first signs of spring and was considered sacred.

HAWTHORN

Huathe - For cleansing and clarity, the thorns giving protection. Represents the 6th month April. The legend "Cast ne'er a clout till May is out" meant that wait until the Hawthorn has blossomed, as in Olde English, the hawthorn was known as the May tree.

HAZEL

Coll - For intuition, and allowing you to go straight to the source. Represents the 9th month July. In Druid lore, the hazelnut, was considered the seed of wisdom, and were specially roasted and eaten before journeying into Other worlds, thus being led by your intuition it gain wisdom form the other worlds. The legendary Irish hero Fionn MacCumhail (Fin MacCool) a legendary leader and warrior, educated in druidical lore, gained his wisdom as a child by eating a salmon which fed on hazelnuts. We know today that fish and nuts are considered brain food.

VINE

Muin - For Prophecy, representing August as the 10th month. The principle deity of this month is Lugh Lamfhada, Gaelic - Bright one of the long arm. In Welsh he is Lleu Llaw Gyffes - Fair one of the steady hand. He is the principle Sun God of the pagan Celts. August held the Autumn festival of Lughnassadh, which was celebrated by the gathering and sacrificing the first fruits of the Earth in His name. A potent time for portents, omens and predictions, usually held on or around 1st August. As teh vine is used to make wine, drinking wine dissolves inhibitions and often allows you to speak more perceptively, hence Vine is connected with Prophesy.

APPLE
Quert - For protection and beauty in choice, Apple represents choices made between similar and attractive things, and youthfulness. Glastonbury is set within the Celtic apple-lands. From the Welsh poem 'Avellenau' we learn that the Bard Merlin secretly revealed to his lord the existence of the magical apple orchard. It was carried from place to place by the Enchanter on all his journeys, perhaps Merlin's sacred space. Slice an apple sideways, and you will see in the middle a Pythagorean Pentagram, the symbol of protection against enchantments.

FURZE

Ohn - for collectors and those good at collecting, magpies. A yellow flowering shrub found on moors and common land. To collect together for yourself the elements you need to attain your goals. Furze is associated with the Celtic fire Festival of Lughnassadh.

HEATHER

Ur - for links to the inner self, all heal. In some Ogham alphabets (namely Welsh) this is represented as Mistletoe, which is known as all heal. Heather is the symbolic Gateway linking this world to the Other worlds. Uchelwydd (welsh) or mistletoe, is the fertility symbol, revealing inner meanings. At the time of the Midsummer sunrise the Sun casts 3 spreading rays of light, which open the gates to the Other worlds. These are the 3 rays of Awen, harmony of the 3 - fold nature of Celtic Worlds.

HONEYSUCKLE

Uilleand - for hidden secrets. Representing the 3 divine Truths, called The Way, The Truth and The Life, the honeysuckle, or Woodbine, with it's maze like branches, showed the way to achieve this, that special dance or step that leads into the labyrinth of inner knowledge.

Source - The Celtic Tree alphabet - Liz and Colin Murray.

The magick of folk wisdom - Patricia Telesco.