Ogam: Weaving Word Wisdom

by Erynn Rowan Laurie

Stemming from years of experience and a Celtic Reconstructionist background, Erynn writes with authority and impeccable scholarship. However, this is no dry, boring read. Her writing style invites the reader to join her as she explains the history of ogam (including some of the misconceptions and mistakes commonly found in modern sources), introduces us to each one of the ogam and their origins, and offers ideas for divination layouts. There's plenty more to the magic of ogam than divination, though, and Ogam: Weaving Word Wisdom makes it quite clear that if you thought you knew everything about ogam--you're in for a big surprise!

Genres: Paganism, Spirituality, Witchcraft, Language, Nonfiction, Reference, History

333 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 31, 2007

About the author

Erynn Rowan Laurie is a professional madwoman who has been fascinated by Gaelic and other Celtic cultures for over two decades. Her occult interests started when she was just a kid and she's been doing astrology and tarot since about the age of 12. Poet, writer, feminist, musician, interfaith activist and disabled veteran, Erynn is one of the founding voices of the Celtic Reconstructionist Pagan movement and the author of Ogam: Weaving Word Wisdom.

Born in Rhode Island and raised in Connecticut and western Massachusetts, Erynn currently resides in western Washington, loving the mountains, forests, and water beyond all logic or reason. She enjoys hiking, backpacking, and camping when she's able, and records the minutiae of her daily life and her spiritual and political ramblings on her blog.

Blog: http://erynn999.livejournal.com

Reviews

[Zoh · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book on Ogam, and quite different than most other offerings out there.

Rather than the more commonly known tree-based divination system created in the 20th century by Robert Graves, Laurie has dug deep to research scholarly/historical references to divination, ogam, and the traditional roles for mystics within medieval and pre-Christian Gaelic culture. She then fleshed out a new, personally flexible divinatory system using ogam, with the traditional in mind.

This is great for folks interested in a more scholarly approach to ogam, reconstructionists, anyone looking for a very flexible and useful divination system, and people simply interested in an excellent overview of historical sources by someone who has clearly spent a lot of time researching and thoughtfully synthesizing.

This might be the only Ogam book with a bibliography. :)

[Meg Radiant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great book for learning about ogham! It's jam packed with information, recommended readings and more. Will definitely be referring back to this time and time again as I continue my ogham studies.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please see my review at Celtic Scholar's Reviews and Opinions.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Ogam: Weaving Word Wisdom very much. In particular, I appreciated the author's scholarly approach, her clarity on distinguishing history from her own innovations, and her focus on the ogham feda names rather than beginning with the tree alphabet approach that many books take. I was personally less interested in the parts of the book focused on Celtic Reconstructionist practice, though that is just because it's not my path -- this is not to say these parts won't be the most fascinating for another reader. I appreciated Laurie's approach to explaining divination techniques -- she very clearly explains how to design spreads, for instance, in a way which takes into account important considerations (clarity, not overwhelming with too many feda, significance of spread positions, etc) that would be relevant to many readers interested in many forms of divination. I will very happily keep this book on my shelf as a reference that I have no doubt I'll return to in my ogham study.

[Indigo Crow · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seems to be a decent book on this subject, but I don't think I'd recommend this to a fresh-out-of-the-box beginner. This feels like the kind of book that's meant more for someone a wee bit more experienced with the ogham. So if you're brand spanking new at this, you might want to pass this over for now.

The material seemed well researched, though, even if was on the dry side. When the author made personal changes that aren't seen in any of the lore, she made sure to say so. She suggests, in the same manner, that it might be better for practitioners living outside Celtic lands to use their local plants and animals in place of those mentioned in the original lore. It has a more personal impact that way, and I agree with that.

Anyway, if you're studying ogham, this isn't a bad book to get for your reference library. Just maybe it isn't a good place to start.

[Dodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book on the ogham and I highly enjoyed it. It was well researched and had an interesting perspective. When talking about divination definition they had the definition through the lens of land, sea and sky. The author also encourages you to make your own ogham and just not of trees. There is chapter on the ogham and ritual. Very interesting and informative book.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE ogham book to reach for. An incredible resource for anybody interested in finding good, factual sources. Easy for beginners to grab, understand, and use, while also offering plenty for more experienced practitioners as well.

[Rowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my absolute favorite books. I go back to it again and again. solidly researched, full of information, and I really appreciate how the practical and ritual techniques are explained to make it easy to apply to your own situation. cannot recommend this book enough for any Ogham practitioner

[Michael Wylde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly researched, with good references, from a Celtic Reconstructionist perspective.

[Kellene Rees · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone who is interested in the Ogam and using it in practical and ritual contexts.

[Ettore Bellussi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Very good as an introductory work even though it still develops certain practices that may be advanced.

[M Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most helpful book on the subject I’ve read. I highly recommend it as a resource for those looking to work with ogham for magic and divination.

[Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a well-researched, well-written book. I am so into this. I will definitely be using this as I study Irish divination more in-depth.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful for my own Ogham studies. Writing is both clear and accessible. Recommended to anyone who would like to learn to work with the Ogham system, either for divination or magic.

[Kristen Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource on the historical context of Ogam and its use in more modern Celtic Reconstructionist traditions. Happy to have read it and will be referring back to it often.

[Sam Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my go-to for my Ogham studies. Carefully thought out and delivered.

[Margueritte · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of information and how much you delve in to it depends on what you want to do, or how you want to use, the info. Some is historical and some is interpretation.

[Ciel_Ortie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resources that I can’t believe I am only just now discovering !

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, it took me years to finish this book. Not because it wasn't excellent - because it is! - but because it was a lot to take in, and when I started reading it I wasn't ready for it. When I picked up this book I had the same misconception many neopagans have, that the Ogham was a tree alphabet, and that it was this pretty romantic system. Digging deeper into the meanings of the words and symbols associated with each fid showed me how complex and nuanced this system is.

To be honest I'm not really finished with this book. I've just read it through once. It's really a jumping off point to the study of an alphabet that could be a lifelong pursuit of understanding. Highly recommended!

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent, thought-provoking book. The research is thorough and is broken down so that it is easy to understand and the sources are clearly marked. Laurie gives a great background for understanding the ogam in relation their history and lore for a fuller and well-rounded appreciation. Laurie also gives out several exercises that are useful for learning to use/work with the ogam, including flashcard ideas, beginning and advanced divination, rituals, and meditation. Laurie understands that working with the ogam is intensely personal, and provides guidelines to help individuals follow their path, whilst staying in keeping with the linguistic and cultural background.

[Dr. Bill Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I've read on the ogam. The book has many exercises, meditative and breathwork techniques for working with the three cauldrons that are written about in medieval Irish texts. There is also a very helpful section on making your own staves for divination. Ms. Laurie is very clear about what the traditional meanings are and what are her own interpretations, such as linking them to astrological concepts. This is not a “read and stick on the shelf” book. I use ogam divination daily and I use this book almost as often. Highly recommended!

[Sheena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-provoking book that doesn't recycle the usual Gravesian cliches. She goes back to the original lore but isn't afraid to add her own UPG when necessary, although she always signposts it. It probably isn't the best introduction, but when you know the basics and want to learn more, this is the book for you.

[Nay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best book I've read on Ogham. Start here, especially if you want to go beyond some of the tree associations to other, more interesting stuff (but there's also *lots* of tree lore here too). A great book that shows you ways to work with Ogham yourself, rather than relying on other people's interpretations, and which sets it in its Gaelic context, including lingustically. Absolutely excellent.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent discourse on the ancient Ogam....

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome book on the ogham! Erynn Rowan Laurie is my "go to" for the ogham now. Well... her and Ogma.

[Eliseo Pinto]

This is another marvellous work of Erynn! ... A cute source about Ogham and Tree lore...

[Dorri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid history and primer for Ogam. Definitely worth adding to your collection.