Runes M-Z

Muin

Tree: VINE

Color: MULTIHUED

Character: M

Month: AUGUST

Rank: No Rank

Prophecy - Instinct - Inspiration

The Vine is known as the weaver within the Ogham as this masculine shrub will entwine itself around others, often linking two together.

This act brings with it an understanding of the importance in respecting the options and actions of others. A gentle realization that may well reveal a means to inspire both others and ourselves further along our journey.

Muin is a determined shrub often reaching those hard to reach places while weaving a delicate, but beautiful path along the way. This determination reminds us that what was once thought impossible may just be the opposite and entirely plausible with some inspiration and a strong will to succeed.

Another attribute the Vine teaches us is how to touch upon and work with our own intuitive nature. To achieve this we should listen to Muin and create an awareness of our own conscious, subconscious and unconscious minds, A triad which may only be brought together with time, trust and in some cases toil.

The fruit of the Vine has long been known to release inhibitions and to loosen tongues. Therefore allowing those who partake to speak more freely. For those who follow an Esoteric path this may (note may) result in prophetic visions.

A word of warning here as the wine of the Vine has an intoxicating nature, take care you do not fall victim to any subjectivity through your own desires!

Onn

Tree: FURZE/GORSE

Color: YELLOW & GOLD

Character: O

Month: None Fixed

Rank: BRAMBLE

Collecting - The Harvest - Gathering

Within Celtic lore the bee is known to be associated with the wisdom of the Gods as they travel with Sun, collecting pollen while they go. The golden yellow flowers of the gorse are known as a favorite gathering point, which they harvest to produce honey.

Furze can be found growing in wide-open spaces where it basks in the warm rays of the Sun without risk of shade cast by other trees. For this reason Furze is connected with the fire festival of Lughnasadh on the 1st August. A time when we first begin to gather in the harvest and give thanks to Lugh for a fruitful summer.

Ohn is known to flower throughout the year and suggests that it may be time to gather in the seeds you have sown in the past with regards to your spiritual development.

As always the rewards which have come to fruition may still require some work before they reveal their hidden treasures. These could be anything from wisdom, friends both new and old, knowledge, material gain, even a period where you are given time to gather your thoughts and self together.

Furze is recognized with the Ogham as one of the chieftain trees and may well reward you as such once this is recognized. Ohn is still used today for psychic protection and to alleviate feelings of despair, restoring hope and granting strength to progress onwards.

Hidden within the golden flowers and deep green leaves Ohn also wears the thorn. This in itself reveals hidden wisdom; take care during your harvest and remember to ensure a continuation of the natural cycle. What you reap you must again sow or your future harvests may suffer in times yet to call.

Sail

Tree: WILLOW

Color: -

Character: S

Month: FEBRUARY

Rank: PEASANT TREE

Unconscious mind - Intuition - Emotions - The Moon - The Feminine

The Willow belongs to the peasant trees within the Ogham and can be found growing beside streams and rivers. Her branches reach towards the source of water, encouraging and revealing the need to allow our natural energies to flow.

Saille is a tree of the unconscious mind, the female and the emotions. She can help unearth issues we need to face and assist in the understanding of both our own journey and those of others.

Being an intuitive tree working with the Willow can enhance our own intuitive nature while also inspiring our imagination. She encourages us to discover our own solutions to obstacles, which await us, those often hidden within our paths.

Standing at the festival of Imboc Saille brings with her the beauty and comfort held within the first signs of spring. The Willow is also known to enhance dreams, visions and divination through her intuitive and lunar nature. Sleeping with a willow wand is known to induce dreams and with practice reveals certain interpretations.

The feminine Saille is known to comfort the seeker and grant healing towards problems of the mind such as headaches and emotional dilemmas. She helps unanswered issues to surface and may show the direction in which we need to follow before we may progress onwards. Her flexible branches remind us of the need to bend in our ways before we may begin. healing and accept positive growth once again.

In folklore the Willow is known as the Witches aspirin, perhaps for her ability to resolve dilemmas but more so as she provides an ingredient for the headache relieving drug. Saille is also used as an herbal remedy for healing diseases caused by damp, such as arthritis and rheumatism. In the past people were known to 'Wear the Green Willow' to let others know they were going through an emotional period of grieving.

The Willow can help us realize the need for change and reveal the benefits of being open and accepting towards others. She may then present before us the path which we should follow in our journey towards mental and spiritual enlightenment, setting us safely on our way down the rivers of life.

Straif

Tree: BLACKTHORN

Color: PURPLE

Character: Z, Ss, STR

Month: None Fixed

Rank: SHRUB

Cleansing - Challenge - Fate - Strength - Hard Choices

Despite its lack of height the Blackthorn is renowned as a powerful tree, strong and yet flexible. Perhaps this is partly why witches favor the wood for the shafts of their besoms and crafts people for the production of walking sticks.

This use of Straif's wood can lead us further towards understanding how best to work with the Blackthorn. Should you stand strong and risk breaking under pressure or become flexible and learn that sometimes it's best to accept Fate's games.

Choice is a key lesson taught by the Blackthorn and that choice may well be of a harsh nature. Straif reveals when to bend and when to remain strong in our decisions, even though they may be painful and often the more difficult path to take.

The Blackthorn may well appear when a challenge is presented before us, which seems of a negative nature. Take care in parting the thorny thickets, if done correctly you may discover new opportunities and/or direction reveal themselves from what you previously thought of as a chaotic situation.

Regardless of the outcome one thing is certain when presented before Straif, and that is change... and change you must. The degree of difficulty or harshness you face may well depend on how much you resist moving forward.

To be able to see the light we must first learn of the darkness. Use Straif positively and this masculine tree will help to create a psychic barrier to protect you against similar situations arising in the future.

Tinne

Tree: HOLLY

Color: DARK GREY

Character: T

Month: JUNE

Rank: CHIEIFTAIN TREE

Strength - Love - Balance - Responsibility - Communication

It is stated in the Ogham that the Holly is 'best in the fight' as it helps to balance both the positive and negative aspects of the self, therefore revealing a new direction.

Tinne is known to communicate with the seeker on the inner levels in such a way that he will show both sides of the question or dilemma. As problems of an emotional nature can often leave us feeling tired and drained the Holly is known to restore lost energy, granting us the strength to continue towards a resolution.

Despite is sharp pointed leaves (which offer the tree protection during winter) Tinne will offer Love, empathy and understanding within its branches. This in itself may help to restore balance once the responsibilities of past, present and future actions have been recognized.

Within Myth and Folklore the attributes of the Holly become apparent and Tinne is often associated with goodwill and love, these are virtues of certain Gods and Goddesses. With this in mind the Holly will offer protection and is often planted near homes to ward off evil, psychic attacks and demons.

In the 'Song of Amergin' the bard sung ' I am the battle waging spear' referring to the shaft made of Tinne. As most people know a spear carefully crafted and skillfully wielded can win a battle, particularly when a balance is created both within and without.

Uath

Tree: HAWTHORN

Color: PURPLE

Character: H

Month: APRIL

Rank: PEASANT TREE

Cleansing - Protection - Preparation - Love

Huathe is known throughout the Celtic realms as a tree belonging to the Fairy and as a tree that will assist in releasing negative and/or blocked energy held within us. Perhaps the most widely known Thorn tree is at Glastonbury, which is said to have sprouted from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea.

Huathe is also recognized as a tree of the Goddess Brighid and is connected with the festival of Beltane. During this time branches of the Hawthorn are pruned or blossoms removed to symbolize the beauty of the journey and to make way for new growth... a shedding in many ways of the old, who in turn gives ground for the new.

As the Hawthorn holds the enchantment of the Fairy realms, they belong with nature. Both Druids and Witches consider it unlucky to take the tree, branches or blossoms into the home. You never know one of the Fae may have been resting within and the Fairy will work magic to return their own towards the inner realms.

Respecting this will pay dividends when working with Huathe as this is also a tree of Love and when greeted correctly the Hawthorn may help guide the seeker towards their true heart's desire and offer protection of a magical variety during this transformation.

The Hawthorn is also one tree who has crossed the divide between Paganism and Christianity; the staff of Joseph and the thorns worn by Christ are two prime examples. With this in mind Huathe assists in spiritual growth and releases those fears which were previously bound and tied within the psyche, preparing the traveler for their journey.

Huathe is represented by the element Earth and considered to be a favorite meeting place for those of the inner worlds to gather, particularly during the fire festivals. Carrying a piece of Hawthorn (always ask first) can help to aid in psychic protection.

Ur

Tree: HEATHER

Color: PURPLE

Character: U

Month: None Fixed

Rank: BRAMBLE

Passion - Inner Self - Healing - Gatekeeper - Nursemaid

Ur is known as both a shrub of passion and healing, red Heather represents it's passionate nature while the white Heather is considered both lucky and to hold healing properties.

Consider that a youthful Merlin encountered a red and white dragon at Vortigern's tower, therefore refuting Vortigern's Druids and opening a gateway to walk through.

There is a great deal of Love held within Ur and men in Scotland still wear sprigs of white Heather for good luck at weddings. This love becomes apparent at midsummer or Alban Heruin. During this time Ur is symbolic of the gateway between the earth and the spirit realms, which unfold to allow healing and regeneration of ourselves, the earth and spirit.

This gateway opened by the Heather bridges those divides between others, and ourselves, an act which may be carried throughout the year. This helps to create an awareness of others and the difficulties they may be facing.

In helping others without thought of self-gain we also unconsciously create a healing for ourselves through this unselfish act... and so the circle turns.

The healing power of Ur helps to create inner peace and lifts our spirits, revealing the means to reduce stresses within our own lives.

Ur is another member of the Ogham who is associated with the bee and suggests a journey and healing with the aid of the Sun. Known by Druids as the 'All-Heal' Ur also holds associations with the Mistletoe, another of their sacred plants.