This tome was an intriguing book that unfortunately left me unsatisfied by the end of reading it. The Book of Ogham, is one of the few contemporary sources on the ancient Celtic language called Ogham. It is a set of symbols representing the patterns and phenomena observed in nature and everyday life by the Celtic peoples called the Druids. They are the classification of all things by the Bards. Unlike it’s similar counterpart the Runes, which are objective esoterica of that which already is, being universal and cosmic. Edred Thorsson as he writes is a rune scholar first and foremost. He does a respectable way of explaining the Oghamic history/vocabulary and giving many details of the mythic uses of the system. One interesting notion about the Ogham fews he states is their relationship to the various species of trees. It was also fascinating to observe the parallels between other Germanic languages (like the runes) in that both of them are written in sets and have a numerological value for magical intent/a ideographic meaning, and sound and sometimes color. There is an entire chapter devoted to the ties between Ogham and Runes.
For those who are fond of science and understanding various mythologies through the use of comparisons, Edred draws out a number of manuscript paraphrases, lore, and sentiments that embody the parallels of different ethnic ontologies and stories. He also has deciphering of many inscriptions, and analysis of old literature.
Sadly, I found the chapter of divination to be an offering that seemed forced and too generic for any real understanding. While on the other hand, the methods of imbibing or using the secrets of the Ogham fews themselves were far too structurally defined to be of any practicality. To me this came of as something exploited for the use of instant enlightenment rather than real wisdom. It could just be that the Druidic people had much simpler and more sensual lives, which would involve further anthropological research of course on the part of the reader, but the terms used of association with the Ogham symbols did not really represent a significant ontology to the way they perceived life, their social structure, routines and survival techniques etc. which is what I was half expecting as a standard. There was tons of contradiction in the symbology and not much in the way of how each individual stave were applied to everyday life. Therefore I personally wouldn’t use it for any deep meditation or lifestyle mold, and for now it remains purely romantic and artistic.
:aferalspirit: 