The Ogham (pronounced Oh-am) is a series of notches, called flesc (flay-shk) arranged along a stem line (the Horizontal line in my pictures) and were commonly carved into a standing stone.  Each 'letter' of the alphabet are called Feda (fay-dah).  These names are probably part of the reason the Ogham is known as the tree alphabet, since in Gaelic Flesc means "Twig", and Feda means "wood" .  There are no historical ties between the Ogham, and any other manner of writing, so it would appear  that this Alphabet is truly unique amongst  Ireland, Wales, and England, with the most examples being in southern England.  Not much is known about it's  origin, but many speculate that it has Pictish origins

On this page, I'll outline some of the basic meanings of each Feda, and it's uses in divination, and Spell work. 

 if you would like further information on anything here, As always, feel free to

Birch (December-January)
Name- Beithe 
Letter- B
Identification- The Silver birch is the most common. It has a straight silvery-white trunk, and drooping branches.  It's leaves are small with ragged edges, and  are placed  on alternating sides of the stalk. It also produces both male (purple) and female (green) flowers.  At the beginning of winter, the flowers turn scaly, and drop into winged seeds.
Magickal-  This tree serves to set things in motion, in it's correct order.  This tree also represents Birth/rebirth.
Divination- Changes, Beginnings, and purification.
Herbal Uses- An invigorating Tea can be made from a dozen leaves and a pint of water.  Be careful though.... it will cause frequent urination, but because of that, Birch is very useful in clearing any infections from that area.  Steam inhaled from a mixture of boiling water and birch leaves will clear a blocked nose.  And a sweet clear wine can be made with the sap.  And the sap is commonly used as a flavoring.

Rowan (January-February)
Name-  Luis
Letter- L
Identification-  this tree has smooth, shiny gray bark, with little pores all over it.  It's leaves are long and slender, with forward pointing 'teeth'. In May  it is covered with little white flowers, which gradually turn into bright red berries, which are edible, but have a very bitter taste.  
Magickal-  This tree is known as the quicken tree.  It's commonly used for protection, it is also one of the most prominent trees in Celtic legend
Divination- control your own life, beware of those who would try to control you.
Herbal Uses- The Berries are very bitter, but are edible, and are commonly  mixed with other berries to add a bite.  The berries  are an excellent  source of vitamin C

Alder (March-April)
Name-  Fearn
Letter- F
Identification-  It's bark is gray, and rough and is usually covered by young shoots.  It's leaves are round and sometimes has notched tips. When cut, the wood appears a blood red color, but fades to yellow when seasoned.
Magickal- Alder symbolizes challenges, and facing up to them.  Use Alder in your Magick to  bring strength to face challenges.
Divination-  Help in making choices. 
Herbal Uses- Fresh leaves are an excellent insect repellant. a distillation of the leaves and bark is a good relief  for burns and inflammations.

Willow (April-May)
Name- Sail 
Letter- S
Identification- It has a thick trunk covered with heavily ridged dark gray bark.  It's leaves are long and slender, and covered with silver hairs which give the tree a shimmering appearance. The long slender Female catkins (Male and female catkins are on separate trees) produce fluffy seeds that are easily carried away by the wind.  
Magickal-  The willow is symbolic of the foundation of spiritual matters, use this tree in your Magickal work for a deeper understanding of the spirits and elementals.
Divination- Balance your life.
Herbal Uses- Willow bark contains the chemical which is the source of aspirin.  A paste made from leaves or sap, when applied externally to the sexual  organs, will increase sexual ability, however, when taken internally will decrease sexual desire.  a weak solution of the leaves and sap makes an excellent gargle, and has a soothing effect on sore throats, and it acts as a nasal decongestant, and can be used as a soothing eye lotion.  A stronger solution of the leaves and sap is an effective shampoo against Dandruff, dry skin, spots and blemishes, and makes a good styptic, which can stop minor bleeding with ease. 

Ash (February- March)
Name- Nion
Letter- N
Identification- This tree can grow to be about 130 feet tall if left to grow.  It has smooth greenish gray bark which cracks open as the tree gets older.  It's leaves are long, on opposite sides of the stalk with as many as 13 leaves on a stalk.  It has black buds, and it's seeds grow in small clusters with a black wing on each. the seeds are commonly called Ash Keys.
Magickal-  Production, fate and confinement.....
Divination- Feeling bound
Herbal Uses- The sap acts as a minor appetite suppressant.  The leaves and bark are a laxative and can ease arthritis.

Hawthorn (May-June)
Name- Huath 
Letter-  H
Identification-  Can grow to 45 feet, but are mostly cropped into low hedges. It's bark is gray-brown and is flecked with small scales. and is covered with hard thorns. it's flowers are tiny and white, and turn to bright red berries it's leaves are on alternate sides of a twisted prickly stalks and have deeply divided lobes, which make them look like small oak leaves.
Magickal-  Disruption.  Use hawthorn in your Magick to better understand the problems  you may face.
Divination- Being held back.
Herbal Uses- The leaves make a pleasant tea, and has the effect of easing circulatory problems, and nervous conditions.  The tea is also a useful remedy for people who suffer from sudden emotional distress.  The juices and sap are useful in calming Asthma, rheumatism, and laryngitis.

Oak (June-July)
Name- Duir 
Letter- D
Identification- It has a short trunk, and a large full crown and can reach over 113 feet.  it's bark is smooth and shiny, but as the tree ages it starts to crack and deep fissures appear around the trunk.  It's leaves are on alternate sides and are deeply lobed with 4 or 5 lobes per leaf.  
Magickal-  Use the Oak tree  in your Magick when you want to invoke strength, or protection, also  the hearth and home... for the best results try using Holly with oak, since they work well together
Divination- Strength, security.
Herbal Uses-  Acorns can be ground, and mixed with water to make a paste, and is a very powerful antiseptic.  and the juice from crushed leaves can be applied directly to wounds for the same purpose.  a Gargle made from the inner bark is  excellent for sore throats.  A decoction of the outer bark  is a good fever reducer.  If leaves are soaked in boiling water and allowed to cool, it can be a very soothing lotion for tired or irritated eyes. a tea made from acorns and leaves is said to relieve  menstrual pain

Holly (July-August)
Name-  Tinne 
Letter- T
Identification- It can grow to about 65 feet.  it has evergreen leaves, and bright red berries.   it's sharp leaves are shiny and waxy it's bark starts out smooth and green but turns gray as the tree gets older.  
Magickal-  Use this tree in your Magick works when you want to invoke  protection, healing and the hearth and home.... the holly best augments the power of the Oak tree and both compliment each other wonderfully.
Divination- Guidance for problems to come.
Herbal Uses- A tea made for holly leaves is very stimulating and will induce sweating to help in riding the body of toxins and fever.  if the Berries are eaten when ripe act as a strong Purgative, however if they're dried and powered first, they'll relieve diarrhea, and heavy menstrual flows.   A poultice made from the bark and leaves can be placed on broken bones to aid in setting, and pain relief.

Hazel (August- September)
Name-  Coll 
Letter-  C
Identification-  This tree can grow to 30 feet when left alone, but is commonly cut back to produce long straight rods.  The bark is  scaly and light brown and often has yellow pores.  it's leaves are ragged, hairy and up to 4 inches long.  
Magickal- Use this tree in your Magickal workings  when you want to learn more about the other trees, or when you want to gain any kind of natural knowledge.
Divination- Creative energy for work or projects
Herbal Uses-  The Hazel nuts are rich in Mineral Salt, and are perfectly edible as they are.  If the Nuts are ground into a powder and mixed with a drink, it has the effect of soothing sore throats and easing head colds.  the husks, shells and red skin covering can be ground and drank for  relief   of menstrual pains.  The leaves, wood, and bark has similar properties of the Willow Tree.

Apple
Name-  Queirt 
Letter-  Q
Identification-  It can grow to bout 30 feet, and it's bark is brown and flaky, and some wild trees still bare the thorns of the crab apple tree.  It's leaves are oval and have pointed tips.  
Magickal- Use this tree in your Magickal workings when you want to see all the choices before you, and when you want advice on which path to take.
Divination- a Choice must be made
Herbal Uses- A poultice made form boiled fruit, when warm relieves muscle pains, and when cooled soothes irritated eyes.  the Leaves make a pleasant tea that relieves lung congestion.

Vine (September- October)
Name-  Muin
Letter-  M
Identification- if left alone the vine can grow to a considerable size and develop a rough brown bark.  The leaves are large and round with 4 or 5 lobes with jagged edges.  The fruit of the vine is the Grape, and can be either green, red or dark purple
Magickal-  Use this tree when you want to strengthen your inner self.  
Divination- inner development, but take time to relax.
Herbal Uses-  the dried fruit is good for coughs.  the Fermented fruit is good for calming nerves, and aiding digestion.  The boiled leaves make a good lotion for sore mouths.  Fresh leaves are rich in mineral salts and are good for clearing up skin conditions. and the ash of burned branches make a good toothpaste. 

Ivy (October- November)
Name-  Gort 
Letter- G
Identification-  It's leaves are deep green, but can be marked with white.  It's leaves are waxy with 4 or 5 pointed lobes.  the long spindly stems are thin and slightly hairy, and grow quickly.  it has long thin tendrils which are strong enough to force their way through brick and concrete. if it's support is a tree it's not unusual for the Ivy to grow so thick it smothers the tree, and eventually kills it.
Magickal- Use this 'tree' only when you need to know the 'right' path to follow, as it's a very strong and overpowering presence.
Divination- Soul searching will help with decisions.
Herbal Uses- *Poisonous if too much is ingested* A brew of   fresh leaves boiled in vinegar and pressed against an ache is a good  way to relieve pain (headaches, stitches), it's also excellent for cleaning open wounds or sores on any part of the body.  A Powder made from dried leaves and berries can be used (sparingly!!) as a snuff  to clear blocked noses and stuffy heads.  it's also supposedly  good for hangovers.

Broom  (November-December)
Name-  nGetal
Letter-  nG
Identification-  it rarely grows higher than 7 feet.  it has long green stalks which host a bunch of gold pod shaped flowers in the summer.  Other than that it looks like the Gorse bush.
Magickal- Use the tree for cleansing and healing
Divination- Upsets or surprises.
Herbal Uses- a decoction of stalks and seeds will cause violent vomiting if taken in too large a dose, but if taken in small sips it's good for relieving gout, sciatica and painful joints.  Oil can be drawn from the wood if it's heated over an open flame.  This oil is good for toothaches and if boiled and allowed to cool it's good for ridding the body and scalp of parasites such as lice.

Blackthorn
Name- Straiph
Letter- St
Identification- This tree reaches a height of only 13 feet.  It is covered in long, hard thorns and grows in dense, knotted thickets.  It's leaves are small, oval shaped, dull on top and shiny on the bottom.  It has white flowers with 5 petals, with red tips.  It's bark is rough and scaly, and is bright orange just underneath the gray skin. it has round shiny purple berries called Sloes,
Magickal-  Completion. Use this when you need to make sure all your debts (on all levels) are paid... or when you need to say/do things that you find difficult.
Divination- Refusing to see the truth, confusion
Herbal uses-  the berries are edible but bitter , and  are used to flavor Jams, Sloe-gin, and (when crushed) can stop both internal and external Hemorrhages, and it makes a good astringent.  The leaves can be boiled and ,once cooled,  the decoction can be used as an excellent mouthwash and gargle for those suffering from tonsillitis or laryngitis, it also makes a soothing eye wash.  A tea made form the bark has a calming effect on the nerves. and the Juice from the berries makes a dark red dye that is next to impossible to remove from cloth. 

Elder (December)
Name-  Ruis 
Letter-  R
Identification- This tree can grow to about 30 feet, It's bark is light brown, and is covered with deep ridges and grooves.  It's leaves are broad and oval shaped, and are on alternate sides of the stalk, and are usually in groups of 5 to 7.  The flowers are small and off-white with 5 petals and a strong, sweet scent. It produces clusters of black shiny berries in the fall.
Magickal- Use this when you feel the need to assert yourself (Magically or otherwise) as an individual.  
Divination- End of a cycle or problem
Herbal Uses- The leaves and Berries are used in wines and jams and are both rich in vitamin C  A tea made from the flowers is good for the treatment of coughs and sore throats.  A shampoo made from boiled berries  will permanently darken hair, as well as cleaning it. A distillation made from the  flowers is a good skin cleanser, excellent for reliving headaches, and relieving the common cold. The bark of  new shoots can be dried and used as a laxative. Different colored dyes  can be obtained from different parts of the tree: The Bark produces a deep black dye, the leaves produce a bright rich green, the flowers produce a light blue or lilac dye, and the berries make a dark red dye.

Fir
Name- Ailim 
Letter- A 
Identification- The only Fir tree native to the British isles is the Scots Pine Which can grow to an impressive 170 feet.  It's bark is clearly halved, with the lower half being deeply fissured, and a brownish red, and the top half being a brighter red and much smoother. It has long, thin needles that grow in twisted pairs. It's "fruit" is the Pine cone, which eventually open to drop winged seeds.  Like all Pine trees, the seeds will only start to grow after they've been burned, or at least heated to a high degree.
Magickal-  Use this tree when you feel your life has become stagnant, and you feel the need to move forward.
Divination- Learn from the past.
Herbal uses- it is the source of Turpentine, Resin, Tar  and good, quality Charcoal.  A tea made from new shoots, if boiled gently and allowed to cool is good protection against urinary, kidney, and bladder infections.  the tea also makes a soothing bath.  An inhalation of hot vapors is good for clearing blocked noses and sinuses.

Furze or Gorse
Name- Onn
Letter- O
Identification- Like the broom, it seldom grows over 7 feet. It resembles a cluster of (fast growing) green stalks with numerous inch long spikes up and down them.  It's flowers are bright yellow and smell like coconut. It blooms in mid summer. 
Magickal- Use this tree when you're faced with a moral dilemma
Divination- Important information
Herbal Uses- It has no known herbal uses

Heather
Name- Ur
Letter- U
Identification- It's a twisted and tangled plant which specializes in growing where nothing else can.  It has thin stalks that are very tough and much longer than they seem since Heather grows horizontally.  It has small ball-like purple, blue and pink flowers whish exude a delicate aroma, not unlike Honeysuckle.
Magickal- Use this 'tree' when you need to see just where you stand in the scheme of things.
Divination-  Healing, and development on a spiritual level.
Herbal Uses- It's only herbal use is as aromatherapy, in which it's very useful in soothing nervous disorders.

Aspen
Name- Eadhadh
Letter- E
Identification- It can grow to 65feet, with a thin, silvery-gray trunk, with little black diamonds.  It's leaves are rounded, with 'serrated'  edges, and on opposite sides of a flat stem. It's because of the flat stems that the tree looks like it's trembling, even in the slightest breeze.
Magickal- Use this tree when you want to invoke the natural safeguards of the natural world.
Divination- doubts or fears.
Herbal Uses- No herbal uses

Yew
Name- Idhadh
Letter- I
Identification- It was once thought that these trees had a life span of about 800 years, however, recent studies have shown certain Yew trees in England may be as old as  4000 years.  It's an Evergreen and has dark green needles that sit on alternate sides of a light green stem.  It bears bright red fruit that has a single seed. It's bark is light brown and flaky, the wood is orange-brown and has a very attractive grain. It was used in making longbows, and was harvested to near-extinction for this purpose.  The wood was used for bows and other weapons as far back as the stone age..
Magickal- Only invoke this tree when you can't find what you're looking for in the other trees.
Divination- complete change in life direction or attitude.
Herbal Uses-  Poisonous  No medical purposes what-so ever. In fact the entire tree is very poisonous, whether it's alive or dead.