The Illuminating Spark: More Musings on Ogam

Further contemplation from the last ogam reading.

(Image description: A photo of a bench in a wooded area. Numerous fall leaves are scattered on the ground and on the bench. The sun shines brightly in the sky with a few thin trees on the left and a thick tree with trimmed stumps on the right.) Credit: Photo by Jan Huber on Unsplash

With Samhain approaching in a few weeks, I felt the need to return to August’s ogam reading. With only a limited time left, I want to get as much contemplation out of it as I can before I do the next reading for another cycle. Previously, I didn’t feel like I used those stretches of time as much as I should have and would like to change that.

As a reminder, I received Tinne, Úr, and Fern. There was no set position or timing to the letters, and they were intended to be considered wholly.

For Tinne, this letter has connections to mastery, skill, different forms of technologies, the spiritual powers linked to these things, and more. While reading the kennings, each listed “part” felt incomplete, like it needed to be made whole for it to be mastered. Practice makes for improvement, rather than necessarily for perfection. There’s also the consideration that any form of mastery of a skill is never complete, and it’s something that should result in continuous learning.

As I’ve mentioned, this feels predominantly like I need to focus on strengthening my magical practice. Obviously, mundane skills could equally apply and intertwine with magical aspects as well, but the other two letters really have me lean in that direction.

Úr relates to cycles of various kinds, death itself, the land, both with its decaying and life-giving properties, grief, and ancestors. All of these things are relevant to Samhain, as it’s both the end and beginning of a new cycle. The debris above and below the ground will nourish what is to come.

There is a bit of knee-jerk reaction when considering these matters, but they could entail the death of unhelpful habits, which could require more work on my part. However, a lot has happened in the world within the last year, and actual death has been a large part of it. Overall, there is no specific event or cycle in particular, but both small and large cycles have to be looked at to reach an understanding in the reading.

As for Fern, protection is the overarching characteristic associated with this letter. While it can pertain to warriors and hunting bands, I feel like there’s a strong need to protect that which nourishes me, which relates to the blood and milk imagery found in the kennings. It could relate to making sure my creativity is nourished and to not let it wither. Another aspect made me think of the phrase “girding the loins”, but in this case, the heart and its emotions require sheltering from becoming cold and accepting of the world’s cruelty. A tender heart is still a strong heart.

That’s what I have for now. There are still a few more weeks before the next festival, so I plan to keep considering what other meanings that can be found within these letters. Additionally, I think rephrasing my question for the next reading and how it ties to this reading will also be important to look at in the next season.