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Celtic Radio Community > The Grove > Ogham


Posted by: WizardofOwls 13-Mar-2007, 09:03 PM
I am considering making my own set of Ogham sticks using all of the correct woods, but I am having trouble locating some varieties. If I were to post a list of woods I need, is there anyone who might be interested in helping me gather them?

Posted by: Sekhmet 13-Mar-2007, 10:02 PM
Course I would darlin'. List away.

Posted by: haynes9 13-Mar-2007, 10:41 PM
Very little in the way of wood out here on the Rez, but I'd be glad to try, Wiz.

Posted by: sisterknight 14-Mar-2007, 06:38 AM
if i could find a way to get it across the border...we got lots!!

Posted by: stoirmeil 14-Mar-2007, 08:11 AM
Keep us posted on the progress of this. Very interesting.

Posted by: WizardofOwls 14-Mar-2007, 05:33 PM
Okay, for those of you who are not familiar with the ogham, there are twenty letters in the ogham alphabet, each represented by a type of tree. There are twenty. They are:

Birch (Got it!)
Rowan
Alder
Willow (Have a piece of weeping willow - not sure if thats the same)
Ash
Hawthorn (I've got a piece, but its the thornless variety)
Oak
Holly (Got it)
Hazel
Apple (Got it)
Vine
Ivy
Broom
Blackthorn
Elder
Pine or Fir (Got it)
Gorse
Heather
Aspen
Yew

Some of these - oak for instance - are common where I live, but I don't know exactly where to look to find one or - in some cases - just don't have ready access.

Anyway, what I need is a relatively straight piece of each, around 3 inches long and 3/8 inch thick (a little thicker than a pencil).

Any help anyone can offer would be GREATLY appreciated! Let me know if you have any questions about these, and pm me for my mailing address. I will be glad to reimburse for shipping costs.

Thanks, everyone!
Allen

Posted by: Sekhmet 14-Mar-2007, 08:24 PM
Hrm...

Might be able to do hawthorn. Ditto Rowan, I can't remember offhand which one is at my parent's house.

Aspen is another possibility.

I sincerely have no idea where anyone has any heather that is old enough to have that kind of wood-stock. That one's gonna be a pain for ya.

Yew is a possibility. I'll have to see if my housebrothers are playing with making bows again.

Posted by: sisterknight 15-Mar-2007, 06:45 AM
is rowan the same as what we call mountain ash?? i'm headed back home (n.b)beginning of may so i can hunt and gather, if you have them then you'll have extras(i hope!!)

Posted by: Shadows 15-Mar-2007, 12:18 PM
Hawthorn I have!
Alder you need someone from the Great NW to supply.
Weeping willow should suffice.
The Oak should be from the British Isles, not the same as ours.
The Yew could be subsitited with Osage Orange.
Vine as far as I have been able to find out is Wild Grape. ( I have that too ).
The Heather could be substituted with Lavender or prehaps Sage ( I have both ).
Hazel is a southern wood, good luck there.
I am still researching this for you and will post any findings I come up with.

Wiz PM me with yoyr addy if you want what I do have.

Shadows

Posted by: Dreamer1 15-Mar-2007, 07:16 PM
What type of Ivy is it? We have English Ivy (in spades!), and I'd be glad to look for a suitably thick length for you. Now the Elder - is that the same as Elderberry? We have that too, easily sent if you need it.

So how's your list now? What do you still need?

Posted by: WizardofOwls 17-Mar-2007, 01:31 PM
haynes9 - Thanks for the offer! If you see something on the list that you can get for me, I would be very greatful!

sisterknight - Yes, according to what I've been able to find, rowan IS the same as mountain ash! I'd be grateful for a piece if you could send it!

Sekhmet and Dreamer 1 - Thanks for the offers! I really appreciate your help on this!

Shadows - Man, you are a lifesaver! Thanks for your help on this! Do you know the answer to Dreamer 1's question? I couldn't find anything.

Stoirmeil - I will gladly keep you updated. As a matter of fact here is an update now. I have not been able to get out lately to look for anything, but here is what I have been offered here.

Birch - Got it
Rowan - Offers from Sekhmet and sisterknight
Alder
Willow - Got it - Have a piece of weeping willow
Ash
Hawthorn - Got it - Have a piece of the thornless variety - Offers from Sekhmet and Shadows
Oak
Holly - Got it
Hazel
Apple - Got it
Vine - Wild Grape - Offer from Shadows
Ivy - English Ivy - Offer from Dreamer 1
Broom
Blackthorn

Elder - Elderberry - Offer from Dreamer 1
Pine or Fir - Got it
Gorse
Heather - Lavender/Sage - Offer from Shadows
Aspen - Offer from Sekhmet
Yew - Offer from Sekhmet/ Osage orange offer from Shadows

Posted by: WizardofOwls 19-Mar-2007, 08:35 PM
Shadows, one of my sources says that grapes are not native to the British Isles, so it is more likely that Vine is actually blackberry or another sort of bramble. What do you think?

Also it is possible that Ivy could be honeysuckle. I also read somewhere that it could be mistletoe, but I can't find the source to verify right now.

One book suggests that Broom could also be interpreted as Reed, but I don't think so.

Anyway, is anyone else interested in helping? Let me know if you are!

Thanks again, everyone!
Allen

Posted by: Dogshirt 20-Mar-2007, 04:38 PM
I can get you SCOTCH broom when I go to my Mother-in-law's, but I do not know if that is the same as "Broom". Let me know.


beer_mug.gif


Posted by: Shadows 20-Mar-2007, 05:04 PM
QUOTE (WizardofOwls @ 19-Mar-2007, 10:35 PM)
Shadows, one of my sources says that grapes are not native to the British Isles, so it is more likely that Vine is actually blackberry or another sort of bramble. What do you think?

Also it is possible that Ivy could be honeysuckle. I also read somewhere that it could be mistletoe, but I can't find the source to verify right now.

One book suggests that Broom could also be interpreted as Reed, but I don't think so.

Anyway, is anyone else interested in helping? Let me know if you are!

Thanks again, everyone!
Allen

Ivy might just be english ivy ( I have that too ), mistletoe no, it is not so much a vine.
Broom being reed is posible but it could very well be broom straw.

I am still researching this for you freind!

Also if I am not mistaken these woods need to harvested when the sap is down if you are going to use for divining.



Posted by: Shadows 20-Mar-2007, 05:11 PM
From my research Elder and elderberry are not the same. I think it is boxwood a very common wood to the isles of the time. I don't have any of the size you are looking for.

Posted by: WizardofOwls 23-Mar-2007, 06:33 PM
Hi Dogshirt! I'm not sure whether or not they are the same thing, but I would be delighted to receive a piece just in case! Thanks for the offer!

With this and another offer I received, here is my updated list:

Birch - Got it
Rowan - Offers from Sekhmet and sisterknight
Alder
Willow - Got it - Have a piece of weeping willow
Ash
Hawthorn - Got it - Have a piece of the thornless variety - Offers from Sekhmet and Shadows
Oak
Holly - Got it
Hazel
Apple - Got it
Vine - Wild Grape - Offer from Shadows
Ivy - English Ivy - Offer from Dreamer 1
Broom - Offers from nocelticboundaries and Dogshirt
Blackthorn
Elder - Elderberry - Offer from Dreamer 1
Pine or Fir - Got it
Gorse - Offer from nocelticboundaries
Heather - Lavender/Sage - Offer from Shadows
Aspen - Offer from Sekhmet
Yew - Offer from Sekhmet/ Osage orange offer from Shadows

Posted by: WizardofOwls 30-Mar-2007, 04:01 PM
Is anyone else interested in helping? I'd love to hear from you!

Posted by: WizardofOwls 01-Apr-2007, 01:56 PM
I found a piece of oak today, which I guess will have to do unless and until I can get my hands on a piece of oak from Britain!

Posted by: WizardofOwls 28-Oct-2007, 06:02 PM
Hello again!

Is anyone out there still interested in helping me with this project? If so, please contact me, either on this thread or via PM.

Thanks in advance,
Allen

Posted by: WizardofOwls 10-Nov-2007, 08:21 PM
I take it that no one is interested in helping? sad.gif

Posted by: stoirmeil 10-Nov-2007, 09:16 PM
QUOTE (WizardofOwls @ 10-Nov-2007, 09:21 PM)
I take it that no one is interested in helping? sad.gif

I wouldn't assume that, friend. I think it may be because no one heard from you in a while.

I am guessing that you are still just where you were with it at last update? Or if not, where are you now? Not sure what I can find for you in New York City and environs, but you never know. But if Shadows is right, this is a good time for collecting, if the sap is receding for winter.

Posted by: WizardofOwls 11-Nov-2007, 08:29 PM
You're right... I haven't gotten any further (other than the piece of rowan sisterknight sent me... thanks sk!). I found a site online which sells exactly what I want to make, but it is EXTREMELY expensive (59.99 Britiswh pounds plus 5 pounds s&H)... translates to around $136 plus another 2.99 to 4.99 pounds if I want a nice bag to keep them in. Here's an addy...

http://www.spiritofold.co.uk/ogham.htm

Nice, but I can't afford it...

Posted by: stoirmeil 12-Nov-2007, 01:34 PM
There is an old book by Marian Green with just a really sensible and plain-spoken approach, called "A Witch Alone," that mentions something I think is important about many things: the ritual or working objects you make from scratch, no matter how humble they look, will work better for you because of the personal elements -- discovery and handcraft -- of the creation process.

Can it be possible you can't find oak? Are you so sure you need the english variety? And anyway -- what is meant by "vine"? Any vine? a fruit-bearing vine?
If elder is "boxwood," I think that's the common tough plant with the shiny, smallish, roundish leathery dark green leaves that hedges are often made of, that will go into about a 20-foot tree if it's not clipped. Not to be confused with privet, another common hedge plant.

Posted by: Druid_of_Ark 08-Dec-2007, 01:12 PM
Indeed I would and I would even enlist the aid of friends that I know who have access to many trees. Might I ask where you are and details of your life.

Posted by: WizardofOwls 08-Dec-2007, 07:32 PM
Hello!

I live in Wytheville , Virigina. I am 43 years old. After being married for 20 years, my wife and I have been separated for about a year and half. Having been a devout Christian most of my life, events throughout the past year or so have hardened me towards that faith. I have recently begun researching other paths, including Wicca, Druidism and Shamanism. I enjoy working with Tarot and I also enjoy the Ogham. I have a set of Ogham cards and a set of Ogham tiles, but those are just not the same as having and handling the actual woods. I would greatly apprectiate any help you and your friends could give on this.

Posted by: Druid_of_Ark 11-Dec-2007, 09:35 PM
You may E-mail me [email protected] and I will pass along the information.

Posted by: Sėmeag 27-Feb-2009, 05:36 PM
QUOTE (Shadows @ 20-Mar-2007, 11:11 PM)
From my research Elder and elderberry are not the same.

Elderberries come from the elder tree. If you are going to take live wood from this tree, be sure to ask and get a favourable answer first!

This tree bestows ill luck on those that cut, kill or move it without the consent of the lady within. yes.gif

Posted by: Sėmeag 27-Feb-2009, 05:38 PM
QUOTE (WizardofOwls @ 12-Nov-2007, 02:29 AM)
I found a site online which sells exactly what I want to make, but it is EXTREMELY expensive (59.99 Britiswh pounds plus 5 pounds s&H)... translates to around $136 plus another 2.99 to 4.99 pounds if I want a nice bag to keep them in.

You might find a cheaper set on ebay UK, if you're lucky. wink.gif

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