THE THREE RAYS ESSENCE

The Ogham Script and the Three Rays Essence

The Ogham script is the most ancient form of alphabet originating from the land of Great Britain, known then as Albany. We need to explore, in our imagination, these shores populated by pre-agricultural people, whose life centred around nomadic societies uniting in a culture that honoured above all else the natural world, all living creatures above, upon and beneath-and our beloved trees. The land of Albany had a magnificent abundance of trees. The indigenous peoples built strong myths and oral legends around the chieftains, the oak, the ash, and the thorn. It is said that all these together in a group augur the entrance to Faeiry, the elemental kingdom whose contract of guardianship to all life remains, though secret, very powerful indeed. The Scots pine is a true native of this land, and using the essence of Scots Pine will give auric protection unsurpassed. Other trees populated these lands and were regarded by pagan people to hold the spirits of revered gods and goddesses: and would reveal to them hidden wisdom, give cures and protection.

The Ogham script consists of 20 letters, each named after a tree. This is the old language of Ireland, and even today the Irish alphabet names trees for each letter. Ogham is definitely Celtic, but what we perceive as “Celtic” is really an ethnic mix of indigenous tribes, known as “The old People”, descendants of the first nomadic tribes to settle after the Ice Age and later a mix of incoming peoples such as Phoenicians and Hebrew traders, who came and absorbed into the Albion culture.

The Ogham script consists of 15 consonants and 5 vowels. The script is written along a central stave, which can go up, down or straight along. It was carved onto wood, or weaponry and also onto megalithic stone. There are many surviving inscriptions on these stones throughout Britain. There are 375-recorded inscriptions: 316 in Ireland, 40 in Wales, 10 on the Isle of Man, some in Scotland. Most date from the 4th century and are in Celtic language.

It is believed and tradition handed down seems to support this, which the Ogham was created to record and explain ancient mysteries and as such a sacred sequence of trees forms a calendar, each tree governing a part of the lunar year. It is important to realise that in these ancient times, the Old People paid great homage to the Moon, for its movement and cycles that governed so much of the planting year and the tides. As such, the Ogham in relation to the calendar of months supported the 13th months, similar to indigenous races across the Atlantic, the Native Americans.

The order of trees in the lunar Ogham year:

From the first new moon after Winter solstice, Dec. 21st:-
Birch (Beth) moon,
Rowan (Luis) moon
Ash (nion) moon
Alder (fern) moon
Willow (saille) moon
Hawthorn (huath) moon
Oak (duir) moon
Holly (tinne) moon
Hazel (coll) moon
Blackberry (muin) moon
Ivy (gort) moon
Wheat (ngetal) moon
Elder (tuis) moon

There are six Ogham trees that are primarily linked to the five festivals of the Solar year:

Gorse (onn) March 21st the Spring Equinox
Heather (ur) June 21st the Summer Solstice
Aspen (eaaha) September 21st the Autumn Equinox
Yew (idho) December 21st the Winter Solstice eve
Silver Fir or Scots Pine December 22nd the Winter Solstice
Mistletoe: This has no Ogham script attached but is regarded as very sacred by the Druids. It is dedicated to the “extra day” which occurs because the shifting pattern of the lunar year creates an extra day set against the solar calendar that was adopted by the druids and priests of a later era. The Druidic principle and later Roman, both who honoured the solar energy and deities more than the Moon goddess superseded the animistic beliefs of the original peoples.

The remaining two trees are Crab Apple and Blackthorn, and they traditionally share months with Hazel and Willow, but they are primarily symbolic of the polarities of summer and winter.
Crab apple (quert) May 1st Beltaine
Blackthorn (straif) October 31st Sawhein

 

THE TREES OF THE THREE RAYS ESSENCE AND THE OGHAM SCRIPT

Although we usually associate the Ogham with divination, covering the full 20 trees, passed down through ancient tradition, there are many aspects to studying trees through the Ogham. It enables us to work with the spirit of the tree and get to know its physical structure as well. From the first moon of the Ogham calendar, we focus on that tree for the whole month, finding it, spending time, and energy and feelings, which expand our understanding. Depending on our essence of intent, the tree spirit may give ancient wisdom to us; at least deepen our knowledge of the living relationship with our sentient guardians and friends.

During that month of study, a twig or small fallen branch is gifted, (after the request is made and granted) and the twig is worked with, trimming and shaping and scoring the Ogham letter into the wood. And so it is when making a tree essence, the tree is giving of its healing powers for the good of people, and the Ogham , on a different level is giving divinatory power to help people on an emotional and spiritual level of understanding. Both can be worked together, for the tree, like us, lives its life on many levels.

That first Ogham stick is multiplied over the coming months, each month, a new tree, until, after 20 months, the full bundle is made and with it, great understanding and empathy for each tree is solidified in our consciousness.

I made a lovely essence of gorse, during Beltane in Wales, a year ago. Gorse is connected to the Faeiry realm, and Beltane is a wonderfully magical fire festival. Gorse holds the element of fire and it suited so well the time and the place. It was a Druid and western mysteries gathering with people coming from Holland to take part. Held at the Ceredwin centre in Ceredigion, a magnificent area of land, the whole weekend promised magic and my goodness: it delivered.!

We were working on collecting the 20 Oghams, each one of us designated a tree to work with. During the break, I felt the urge, an undeniable impulse to work an essence and just let my feet take me to the place. As I was walking, a wren sped out of a tree literally inches from my face: I had to stop, and she burst into exquisite wren song. I shall never forget that wonder, and it was this that led me on to the Gorse grove that pulsated with solar energy: a deep yellow cascading over the hillside. The Gorse grew in ever expanding circles. I had not seen a real thicket before laid out in this way. There was a gap of grass, that pronounced this circular pattern and in the centre, one single huge Gorse bush: a sentinel, and a place of honouring. This was where I laid the essence, which stayed there for full solar and lunar energies to work with Gorse, over the Beltane weekend.

On returning to the group, I was given a tree to work with, and without anyone knowing where I had just come from, was given gorse to work with!

A deep knowing, an emotional link started to grow in me over the next day. I was seen walking back to the gorse grove, several times. I worked with the Gorse to give people an Ogham stick each and in the process; we had to score the letter into the bark, using a hot metal poker. I have never heard a tree cry, or physically make a sound before. But each Gorse twig sounded a high-pitched shrill, every score I made! It did not happen to the friend who was helping to complete this task, yet she was using the same gorse from the same tree with the same poker?

I felt so very bad, at the time, but also fascinated. To look at it in a purely physical sense, this was the fire element, (hot metal) meeting with the fire element in the nature of Gorse but in the form of wet, freshly cut wood. The sound was a two-note chord, going up and coming down. Was this the sound signature of the gorse? : The song of gorse? In research done, it has been proved that all trees have a song: a two or three chord sound that changes and produces a beautiful melody, according to wind, climate and interactions with nature and people.

Or was this the crying sound of gorse that had been hurt? If we are looking at Gorse and this sound from a Faery way: The gorse is holding Faery magic, then the impact of searing hot metal could only make me think of the wicked brandings made on the flesh of Witches about to be ducked or hung, and who undoubtedly carried Feary knowledge.


THE TREES OF THE THREE RAYS AND THE OGHAM

ASH (Nion) is the third tree in the Ogham calendar. It falls within February 18 - March 17th. This is the third moon month, which begins on the third New Moon after the Winter solstice.
The Ash is known to be a helper of man and his ally. It has a strong link to solar energies, just to look at the ash buds reaching up to the skies identify with the heavenly bodies and the sun. But Ash is also strongly linked to the earth and the gentle water of water. Therefore it has a strong affinity with the moon all feminine attributes and in old times was always regarded as a feminine tree.
To align to, or draw the Nuin Ogham is always a positive sign, new ventures will be favoured, support sad help coming in to guide and assist. People will cooperate and good friends will become solid and trustworthy.

OAK (Duir) is the seventh tree in the Ogham calendar. It falls within June 10th - July 7th. This is the seventh moon month, which begins on the seventh New Moon after Winter Solstice.
Oak is the constant reminder of strength and endurance. It is a chieftain tree known to live for hundreds of years. It is a very fortunate Ogham to draw, to be affiliated to, for its energy gives a shelter and security through times of change. The gods are on your side if you draw Oak. It also stands for tradition and traditional values, making it a strong impulse in you to keep family, community and also national culture strong. It is about being strong in the face of adversity.

YEW (Idho) stands on the single day of Winter Solstice eve, 21st December.
Yew has always stood for death and rebirth and, for their longevity, have had many a church built near them. If Yew has been drawn it stands for the endings and beginnings. “When one door closes, another opens” describes the energy of Yew in its help to bring positive change. It can mean loss and bereavement, of new cycles beginning. There is a growing understanding for the real cycle of life, eternity and its meaning expands.



Three Rays Essences

 

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