D
T
C
Q
The Letters HDTCQ
Name: h-úath - fearsome, terrible, fear, horror
Pronunciation: hOO-uh
Color: h-úath - terrible [possibly mottled grey-green like rotting flesh, or the color of deep bruises]
Tree: whitethorn (hawthorn)
Bird: hadaig - night raven
MM: condál cúan: pack of wolves, assembly of packs of hounds
MO: bánad gnúise: blanching of faces
CC: ansam aidche: most difficult at night
Deities: Nemain the battle goddess, whose name means Terror
Meanings: fear, terror, misfortune, loneliness, nightmares, difficulty, anxiety, feeling or being trapped, destruction, accidents, enemies, war, fighting, battles, shock
Notes: The name's origin is unknown, but the word ogams provide a distinct indication of the direction that should be taken for the meaning of this fid. It is obvious that this fid is associated with ill-luck and problems, as is the whitethorn itself if damaged or cut down. To bring whitethorn into the house at any other time of year but Beltain is to invite disaster. By itself I would not say that h-úath indicates death or illness, though in conjunction with other fiodh in a casting it might lend itself to that interpretation.
Name: Dair - oak tree
Pronunciation: dehr
Welsh: derw - oak tree
Root: IE: *deru- , firm, tree, steadfast, true, enduring, truth; OI: dair/daur, oak tree
Color: dubh - black
Tree: oak
Bird: droen - wren
MM: ardam dosae: highest of bushes, most exalted tree
MO: grés soír: carpenter's work, handicraft of an artificer
CC: slechtam soíre: most carved of craftsmanship
Deities: Daghda the Good God, Manannán Mac Lir as keeper of the Cup of Truth
Meanings: strength, stability, firmness, endurance, effort, skill, truth, foundations, longevity, the Gods, sacred places
Notes: The Indo-European origins of the word are excellent indicators for various meanings. Its associations with height and exaltation suggest a connection with the gods, as does the famous druidic connection (mostly but not entirely continental, incidentally) with places of worship.
Name: Tinne - bar or rod of metal, ingot, molten metal
Pronunciation: TINg-yuh
Root: OI: tind - brilliant; tend - strong
Color: temen - dark grey
Tree: holly, elder
Bird: truith - starling
MM: trian roith: a third of a wheel, one of three parts of a wheel i.e. axle
MO: smuir gúaile: fires of coal i.e. iron, marrow of charcoal i.e. molten ingot
CC: trian n-airm: a third of a weapon, one of three parts of a weapon i.e. a bar of iron or metal blade
An additional Word Ogam exists for this letter: today
Deities: Brighid the Smith, Goibhniu the Smith, Cerdne the Craftsman
Meanings: the Aes Dána, creative force, mastery, technical skill, making, the forge, arts and crafts, wealth, money, magical technologies, today (immediacy, as an indicator of time in a reading)
Notes: Bars of metal were once used as currency, and thus we have a connection of this letter with wealth. Metal and smithcraft are indicated by the continual word ogam references to charcoal and the parts of wheels and weapons. My association with magical technologies derives from the beliefs about the magical powers of blacksmiths. In fact, the Siberian tribes have a proverb that says "shamans and smiths are born in the same nest." Metalworkers are seen as master craftsmen in Celtic society, and the intricacy of their metal arts only serves to support this view. The Aes Dána as a class represented "the people of art" and included all those classes capable of masterful creative work, from smiths to Filidh.
Name: Coll - hazel tree
Pronunciation: kuhl
Root: IE: *koss(e)lo-, hazel tree
Color: cron - brown
Tree: hazel
Bird: [córr - crane]
MM: cáiniu fedaib: fairest of trees
MO: carae blóesc: friend of cracking, friend of nutshells
CC: milsem fedo: sweetest tree
Deities: Brighid the Poet, Bóann of the Boyne, Nechtan the Guardian of the Well of Wisdom
Meanings: poetic inspiration, well of wisdom, world tree, liminality, source of wisdom, tradition, the senses, visionary ability, creative ability, wisdom, second sight, omen-taking
Notes: The complex of symbols surrounding the hazel tree and its nuts is so deep and complex that to address it would require an entire book. The hazel is one of the premier symbols of poetic wisdom in Celtic cultures, along with the salmon. The nine hazels of wisdom stand circling the well of wisdom in the Otherworld where the salmon of wisdom dwells. The well of wisdom is said to be the source of the five senses. It is deeply intertwined with the poetic magical and visionary tradition of Filidecht and without an understanding of this matrix, the practice of Filidecht would be impossible. There is no bird listed in the source materials for Coll in the bird ogam, and so I assigned the crane to this letter, as it has a deep association with wisdom and magic in the tradition. Manannán's crane bag held language as one of its treasures, and language is the magic and power of the Fili and the vehicle through which inspiration and wisdom are expressed.
Name: Ceirt - rag, Cert - rag, bush
Pronunciation: kyert, kert
Welsh: perth - bush
Root: IE: *kert- or *krat-, turn, plait, interweave; *kwerkw- or *perkw, bush, cognate with L quercus
Color: quair - mouse-colored [light grey-brown]
Tree: holly, rowan, aspen, apple
Bird: querc - hen
MM: cliathar baiscill: shelter of a hind, shelter of a lunatic
MO: bríg anduini: force of a man, substance of an insignificant person
CC: dígu fethail: worst of ornament or covering; dregs of clothing
Deity: Suibhne Geilt the Mad Poet
Meanings: poverty, illness, fleeing, retreat, madness, insanity, psychological and emotional issues, ill luck but without total loss, healing from illness or madness
Notes: Technically speaking, Suibhne is not a deity, but rather a cultural figure associated with madness and the power of poetry and its magic. Formerly the king of Dál nAraide, he is cursed to insanity and flees into the woods, where he lives in the bushes, naked, eating nothing but herbs. Despite this, he has magical powers and is famous for his poetry and visions. Rags and bushes also have associations with healing rituals, for instance the "clootie trees" of Scotland which were trees or bushes tied with rags torn from the clothing of sick people in hopes of healing.