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Celtic Tree Alphabets: Mystic Signs and Symbols of Ogham and Coelbren
A guide to the ancient wisdom of the Ogham and Coelbren symbols as well as Celtic tree lore
• Provides a full explanation for each character of the Celtic tree alphabets and their historic variants, including each symbol’s corresponding trees, colors, birds, cryptic codes, and esoteric inner meanings
• Explores the use of Celtic tree alphabets in spiritual invocation, divination, and symbolic art as well as the practice of Ogham cryptography
• Explains how, like Norse Runes, each Ogham character is a meditative symbol in its own right and offers the possibility of deep psychic transformation
Emerging from the sacred forests of ancient Britain and Ireland, the Celtic tree alphabets known as Ogham and Coelbren are symbolic systems that encapsulate the ancestral spiritual wisdom of the British Isles, including Druidic teachings and ways of thinking. Like the trees of old growth forests, for which they are named, these ancient symbols represent the voices of elemental powers and speak to the inner, untamed part of the human soul, offering the possibility of deep psychic transformation.
Presenting a wide-ranging exploration of Celtic tree lore and tree alphabets, Nigel Pennick examines the Ogham tree alphabet of Ireland and west Britain as well as the Bardic secret alphabet of Wales known as Coelbren. He explains how ancient tradition maintains these symbols were a gift from the wilderness and were created by Ogma, the God of Speech and Poetry. He explains how, like Norse Runes, each Ogham character is a meditative symbol in its own right, embodying a creative energy available to all. He provides a full explanation for each character of the Celtic tree alphabets and their historic variants, including each symbol’s corresponding trees, colors, birds, cryptic codes, and esoteric inner meanings. He details the correspondences and cosmologies contained within the Oghams and Coelbren and explores the practice of Ogham cryptography as well as their use in spiritual invocation, divination, and symbolic art. He also discusses ceremonies that aid in reconnecting with nature and the wilderness, such as “maying” and greenwood marriages, and the use of magical binding knots and colors in Celtic tradition.
This handbook for learning Ogham and Coelbren also offers a comprehensive understanding of the ancient Celtic worldview, allowing you to apply their wisdom in modern life.
• Provides a full explanation for each character of the Celtic tree alphabets and their historic variants, including each symbol’s corresponding trees, colors, birds, cryptic codes, and esoteric inner meanings
• Explores the use of Celtic tree alphabets in spiritual invocation, divination, and symbolic art as well as the practice of Ogham cryptography
• Explains how, like Norse Runes, each Ogham character is a meditative symbol in its own right and offers the possibility of deep psychic transformation
Emerging from the sacred forests of ancient Britain and Ireland, the Celtic tree alphabets known as Ogham and Coelbren are symbolic systems that encapsulate the ancestral spiritual wisdom of the British Isles, including Druidic teachings and ways of thinking. Like the trees of old growth forests, for which they are named, these ancient symbols represent the voices of elemental powers and speak to the inner, untamed part of the human soul, offering the possibility of deep psychic transformation.
Presenting a wide-ranging exploration of Celtic tree lore and tree alphabets, Nigel Pennick examines the Ogham tree alphabet of Ireland and west Britain as well as the Bardic secret alphabet of Wales known as Coelbren. He explains how ancient tradition maintains these symbols were a gift from the wilderness and were created by Ogma, the God of Speech and Poetry. He explains how, like Norse Runes, each Ogham character is a meditative symbol in its own right, embodying a creative energy available to all. He provides a full explanation for each character of the Celtic tree alphabets and their historic variants, including each symbol’s corresponding trees, colors, birds, cryptic codes, and esoteric inner meanings. He details the correspondences and cosmologies contained within the Oghams and Coelbren and explores the practice of Ogham cryptography as well as their use in spiritual invocation, divination, and symbolic art. He also discusses ceremonies that aid in reconnecting with nature and the wilderness, such as “maying” and greenwood marriages, and the use of magical binding knots and colors in Celtic tradition.
This handbook for learning Ogham and Coelbren also offers a comprehensive understanding of the ancient Celtic worldview, allowing you to apply their wisdom in modern life.
192 pages, Paperback
Published July 23, 2024
About the author
Nigel Pennick
128 books94 followersNigel Campbell Pennick, born 1946 in Guildford, Surrey, England in the United Kingdom, an author publishing on occultism, magic, natural magic, divination, subterranea, rural folk customs, traditional performance and Celtic art as well as runosophy.
He is a writer on marine species as well as an occultist and geomancer, artist and illustrator, stained-glass designer and maker, musician and mummer. He also writes on European arts and crafts, buildings, landscape, customs, games and spiritual traditions. He has written several booklets on the history of urban transport in Cambridge and London . He is best known for his research on geomancy, labyrinths, sacred geometry, the spiritual arts and crafts, esoteric alphabets and Germanic runic studies.
He has written many books in German and has over 50 published books and hundreds of published papers on a wide range of subjects.
He is a writer on marine species as well as an occultist and geomancer, artist and illustrator, stained-glass designer and maker, musician and mummer. He also writes on European arts and crafts, buildings, landscape, customs, games and spiritual traditions. He has written several booklets on the history of urban transport in Cambridge and London . He is best known for his research on geomancy, labyrinths, sacred geometry, the spiritual arts and crafts, esoteric alphabets and Germanic runic studies.
He has written many books in German and has over 50 published books and hundreds of published papers on a wide range of subjects.
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July 23, 2025
I hoped this would give more in-depth background to the ogham and give me a good basis for Coelbren which I had never come across before.
Instead it was quite academic and dry, repeating a lot of what I’ve already seen in literature. It was a very brief overview with lots of quotes lasting paragraphs. The images were beautiful however at times I did not feel they related to what they were opposite.
They fell into the trap that I often see of giving loads of information on the first ogham/trees and then dwindling the further you get.
Admittedly the point clearly being made, that the origins and use have changed since they were first used and so we cannot be sure of their true meaning/significance to a degree… but as often happens with academic writing that reviews others rather than producing backed original thought… it became a commentary on other people’s views and opposing views. Again this makes sense for academics… but not as insightful as I had hoped.
Instead it was quite academic and dry, repeating a lot of what I’ve already seen in literature. It was a very brief overview with lots of quotes lasting paragraphs. The images were beautiful however at times I did not feel they related to what they were opposite.
They fell into the trap that I often see of giving loads of information on the first ogham/trees and then dwindling the further you get.
Admittedly the point clearly being made, that the origins and use have changed since they were first used and so we cannot be sure of their true meaning/significance to a degree… but as often happens with academic writing that reviews others rather than producing backed original thought… it became a commentary on other people’s views and opposing views. Again this makes sense for academics… but not as insightful as I had hoped.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review