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

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 symbols 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. See more