Hail The Grove!

Omens. Good or Bad. They come and they go. It’s the lessons we must listen to, allow to sink in, give deep thought, and decide how we will move forward.

The Omens from Samhain and Yule have yet to be posted. Here is the remedy.

Samhain

The Omens were read by Dawn Borries.

From Dawn: Omens to Samhain. Blessings is Strength. Through gentleness with self, the situation or with others do we show our true strength and are we able to tame the situation. Work to do, find your passion, so that you may add your fire to the fire of others and shed light in dark.places. How our blessing and work.reward us and the community, we can help others see that what stands in front of them or behind should not be feared. Help them cuts ties with that which does reward them or serve their higher good.

Yule

The Yule Omens were taken by Ashley Price

From Ashley:
Ogham is an interesting system, in that there are aspects of the meanings that are quite standardized, but I find almost no true consensus among modern authors and seers. My interpretations are heavily influenced by the work of Erynn Rowan Laurie, and are based largely on the word ogham with a bit of my own ecological intuition. 

I have a set of standard questions I ask with all of my personal rites, which I used on Friday. Each fid listed will include the traditional kennings (all 3 sources) as well as my own interpretation.

-How have our offerings been received? Queirt

“Shelter of a hind”
“Force of the man” 
“shelter of a wild hind”

Queirt is associated with the apple tree, which appears frequently in Irish tales as a token for passage to the Otherworld. Queirt is accordingly this communication with the Otherworld, the ability to speak to the folk of the sid and the Gods. 

The Kindreds have received our offerings and heard our praise. 

-What blessings do the Kindreds offer in return? Muin

“Strongest of effort”
“Condition of slaughter, to wit, a man’s back”
“path of the voice” 

Muin is associated with the vine, the plant that grows on the scaffolding of others, as well as which gives us wine. While there’s a Dionysian element in muin, I see it more as the fid of proliferation, of growth and abundance, and focus largely on the kenning “path of the voice.” The Kindreds offer us great blessings, and the tools to find our voice as a grove, that we may grow and prosper together. 

-What further work do the Kindreds request? Straif

“Strongest reddening”
“Increasing of secrets”
“Seeking of clouds”

I personally feel no connection with the tree ogham for straif. Many modern authors take straif as a homonym for the English word “strife” and interpret accordingly. I disagree, and prefer Laurie’s interpretation of straif as the fid of alchemical transformation. 

This is the fid of magic, of change. With straif you can get deeper into the webs of wyrd and learn how to harness those powers. Magic wrought through skill, and not just as a gift from the Gods. 

I mentioned on Friday that this is a more esoteric reading than I would have expected for a public High Day rite, but good omens indeed. 

For those of you who read ogham, I’d love to hear your thoughts. And for those of you who don’t, I’d appreciate your reactions to what you heard on Friday, or what I’ve written here.

That’s A Wrap

Thank you all for being a part of the Grove whether you’re a member or a guest. You’re all welcome by our fire!