Akme of the Birch – Germination of the Seed
The Ogama system Ogama, a product of human reflection on the inner creative forces of nature, of its own potentials — «natura naturata» — is an extremely useful instrument for selectively awakening certain inherent impulses in any stable, internally coherent system. In this sense, each fid serves as a kind of trigger, awakening and activating one or another process within the system.
Contemporary druids represent such a system as a tree, a description of the life cycle of that tree.
The four principal akme Ogama accordingly correspond to the four main stages of this life process, and each fid corresponds to a stage.
The first stage in a tree’s life is the germination of the seed, which is described by the first akme.
The symbolism of the birch — a pan-European concept of a maternal-protective principle — in this case expresses both the protective husks of the seed itself and the safeguarding function of the earth that nurtures its early development.
Thus the first akme as a whole corresponds to the White Goddess, the goddess of life and birth. This idea is graphically expressed in the “right” position of the notches of the feda of this akme.
At the same time, as we have already mentioned, the principal “spirit” of each akme is expressed by the second fid; in this akme it is the rowan — a profusely fruiting tree whose red berries adorn the winter snow, which symbolizes the passive, winter character of those “hidden”, potential processes to which the first akme is devoted.
So, the first fid — Beith (in older pronunciation — Bhech), Birch — is one of those examples where the original name itself corresponds to the tree that expresses the essence of this trigger: a state of safety. The birch is a symbol of beginning, the manifestation of life, the awakening of the forest after winter, and of seeds after they fall into the earth. Celtic peoples often buried their dead in caps of birch bark to help them become “seeds” and rise to new life, and also to protect them from possible dangers of the otherworld. Thus the Magus uses Birch energy to awaken new life and activate maternal, generative, and protective impulses.
The second fid — Luis (Liss) — Rowan, sometimes Elm. The word luis more precisely means “flame” or “herb”; rowan in modern Irish is caorthann, in Welsh criafol. Accordingly, the symbolic field of this fid points to the concept of fire, as the burning of vital forces, the primary creative impulse, which is expressed by the rowan’s red berries, fire, or burning grass. Accordingly, this fid represents in nature the initial activation of life forces in the seed, the surge of life, the “will to live” in any system. Therefore, the use of the Rowan is appropriate when rousing the internal activity of the system.
The third fid — Fearn (Fjarn) — Alder. Alder grows in marshes, and thickets of this tree indicate the presence of “solid ground” among the bogs. Being resinous and resistant to rot, alder was used to protect objects from moisture, to make pilings, and in British mythology, it is linked to the embalmed head of the king-hero, Bran. Thus Alder symbolizes the system’s ability to create new living space for growth; at the tree’s life stage — the opening of the seed — its sprouting, the outward manifestation of its vital drives. Thus the magical use of the fid Fearn can assist in opening potentials, their outward manifestation, the unfolding of creative possibilities, and clear new space for creation.
The fourth fid — Saille (Sail) — Willow. As Alder symbolizes the fiery, expansive aspect of life, the Willow corresponds to its “yin” watery character. The willow is called “the sacred tree of poets”, implying one aspect of inspiration — its deep, aquatic nature. At the level of germination, this fid denotes the start of sap movement in the sprout, the emergence of living activity in the sense of being “alive“; at the system level — energy circulation. Accordingly, the magical application of the Willow fid consists of awakening the system’s flow, unblocking its streams, and mentally — activating feelings and intuition, and deep emotions.
The akme of germination is completed by the fifth fid — Nion (Nyin) — Ash (the word itself translates as “split branch“, which indicates the beginning of branching, the system’s emergence beyond unidirectional development). The ash was considered a “binding” tree, and although the druids did not attribute to it the same foundational symbolism as the Scandinavian erils, the mythic motif of connection and joining is nevertheless characteristic of this tree everywhere. It was believed that the roots of the ash go deep into the earth while its branches reach high into the sky, which ensures the tree’s “coupling” action. Ash was often used to make the druids’ “magic wands” and broom handles, which also speaks to an understanding of the energy of unity contained in the tree. At the seed stage, this fid signifies the shoot’s appearance above ground, and the transition of energy from a “hidden”, potential state to the manifest. At the forest stage, the same aspect denotes the emergence of foliage in spring, the awakening of the forest and the activation of its “connecting” function. Accordingly, the magical use of the Ash fid consists of activating the system’s external manifestation and establishing links between the system and its environment, allowing the object to grow into the fabric of the cosmos and find its place within that community.
Thus the first akme covers the initial stage of birth of a system’s energetic life, the emergence of its properties and characteristic features.
Practically like the tree of sephirot…
Later I will pay attention to this system. For now, my Hebrew is enough for me. It holds much Power and understanding…
I also recommend paying attention to Roman numerals. They were created long before Hebrew, and their matrix has its own Power. It is expressed in character. And if the alphabet is close to a handmade creation and manifested specifically as the matrix of this world, then the digit is executed in the vibrations of a particular area of worlds, and its purpose is much broader.