Post by wren on Jan 2, 2007 15:44:38 GMT -5
Úr (Heather) pronounced OOR, OO-rah
Botanical name: Calluna vulgaris Status: chieftain-tree. Sound: u.
Elaborations on the Ogham Name Úr: Úr that is Heather.
Word Ogham of Morainn mac Moín: Heather is a terrible tribe, in cold dwellings; Úr, fresh; from uir, the mound of the earth.
Word Ogham of Cú Chulainn: Heather equals completion of lifelessness, the grave.
Word Ogham of Óengus: Heather equals growing of plants.
Lovers
Visualize lovers entwined, in a bed of sheltering heather, on a bright hillside, under a rising sun.
Úr is heather, the soft bed upon which lovers lie. Upright, this is a very favorable omen for a love affair or partnership, for Úr is a tree-letter of the joys of love and romance. It tends to represent love that is meaningful and lasting, as opposed to a mere passing fancy.
Úr may originally have signified the Earth or the soil itself, as implied in the Word Oghams. Heather is, of course, a plant that flourishes on hillsides, moorland and heath. Like gorse and similar bushes, it grows across the land rather than reaching upwards as trees do. This earthly predisposition, and the softness of the ‘bed’ it naturally forms, have established its close association with the Earth and the intimate connection to love and passion in folk culture. Furrowed earth is itself a symbol of a fertile womb waiting to be inseminated.
Heather has tough stalks and bears little flowers of red, purple, white or bluish hue. These are especially favored by bees, which congregate to gather its pollen in large numbers in summer. A hillside covered with heather is fair to see. Its association with female figures (indeed, goddesses) in Celtic times is echoed in the fact that Heather remains a popular name for girls, especially in Scotland.
In Celtic stories and folktales of epic lovers, heather often signals the point where love is consummated. In this it differs from Onn (gorse), which is a tree letter of sexuality itself. Úr is a sign of love as well as lovemaking. It signals a deepening union between lovers, a shifting from the chase to the actual meeting of primal opposites.
While this is an Ogham of lovers, therefore, it also relates to partnership. At what point do lovers become partners? An important stage in this process is the acceptance of the shadow side of the other person. You may draw Úr where there are challenges to surmount in a relationship, for heather also relates to overcoming the psychological barriers which separate people.
There are many tales from the Celtic world of the ‘beauty and the beast’ type. Often an ugly female figure approaches a noble warrior, demanding that he lay with her. If he accepts, she becomes the most beautiful woman in the world. This relates to moving beyond the phase of infatuation, when appearances and illusions tend to predominate, to being able to face (and embrace) the ugly, shadow side of the one you love. As the shadow is integrated, a relationship becomes more deeply grounded and puts down roots. Thus strengthened and supported, you and your lover can branch out and flower in many directions.
The traditional ‘bed of heather’ can also signal issues of sharing a space, of living together. Perhaps you are contemplating taking the step of moving in with your lover. Heather represents a comfortable foundation for such a transition, though it also retains its associations of passion, freedom, and open spaces. You should seek to preserve these elements within your life, especially when you live together day in and day out.
Reversed, Úr is not the best sign for lovers. Perhaps you want more than the situation can support. Don’t delude yourself or try to move too fast. Allow things to progress naturally. Likewise, in an established partnership, Úr can suggest problems and conflicts. The shadow side may be surfacing and driving you apart. Try to be accepting and embrace whatever is occurring. A light touch is always the best approach in trying to guide affairs in a positive direction.
Keywords: Lovers, courtship, consummation, partnership, relationship, mutual acceptance, conquest of the shadow (in love), putting down roots, flowering together, sharing a space, living together.
Reversed: Delusion, desire, problems, conflicts, lighten up.
Botanical name: Calluna vulgaris Status: chieftain-tree. Sound: u.
Elaborations on the Ogham Name Úr: Úr that is Heather.
Word Ogham of Morainn mac Moín: Heather is a terrible tribe, in cold dwellings; Úr, fresh; from uir, the mound of the earth.
Word Ogham of Cú Chulainn: Heather equals completion of lifelessness, the grave.
Word Ogham of Óengus: Heather equals growing of plants.
Lovers
Visualize lovers entwined, in a bed of sheltering heather, on a bright hillside, under a rising sun.
Úr is heather, the soft bed upon which lovers lie. Upright, this is a very favorable omen for a love affair or partnership, for Úr is a tree-letter of the joys of love and romance. It tends to represent love that is meaningful and lasting, as opposed to a mere passing fancy.
Úr may originally have signified the Earth or the soil itself, as implied in the Word Oghams. Heather is, of course, a plant that flourishes on hillsides, moorland and heath. Like gorse and similar bushes, it grows across the land rather than reaching upwards as trees do. This earthly predisposition, and the softness of the ‘bed’ it naturally forms, have established its close association with the Earth and the intimate connection to love and passion in folk culture. Furrowed earth is itself a symbol of a fertile womb waiting to be inseminated.
Heather has tough stalks and bears little flowers of red, purple, white or bluish hue. These are especially favored by bees, which congregate to gather its pollen in large numbers in summer. A hillside covered with heather is fair to see. Its association with female figures (indeed, goddesses) in Celtic times is echoed in the fact that Heather remains a popular name for girls, especially in Scotland.
In Celtic stories and folktales of epic lovers, heather often signals the point where love is consummated. In this it differs from Onn (gorse), which is a tree letter of sexuality itself. Úr is a sign of love as well as lovemaking. It signals a deepening union between lovers, a shifting from the chase to the actual meeting of primal opposites.
While this is an Ogham of lovers, therefore, it also relates to partnership. At what point do lovers become partners? An important stage in this process is the acceptance of the shadow side of the other person. You may draw Úr where there are challenges to surmount in a relationship, for heather also relates to overcoming the psychological barriers which separate people.
There are many tales from the Celtic world of the ‘beauty and the beast’ type. Often an ugly female figure approaches a noble warrior, demanding that he lay with her. If he accepts, she becomes the most beautiful woman in the world. This relates to moving beyond the phase of infatuation, when appearances and illusions tend to predominate, to being able to face (and embrace) the ugly, shadow side of the one you love. As the shadow is integrated, a relationship becomes more deeply grounded and puts down roots. Thus strengthened and supported, you and your lover can branch out and flower in many directions.
The traditional ‘bed of heather’ can also signal issues of sharing a space, of living together. Perhaps you are contemplating taking the step of moving in with your lover. Heather represents a comfortable foundation for such a transition, though it also retains its associations of passion, freedom, and open spaces. You should seek to preserve these elements within your life, especially when you live together day in and day out.
Reversed, Úr is not the best sign for lovers. Perhaps you want more than the situation can support. Don’t delude yourself or try to move too fast. Allow things to progress naturally. Likewise, in an established partnership, Úr can suggest problems and conflicts. The shadow side may be surfacing and driving you apart. Try to be accepting and embrace whatever is occurring. A light touch is always the best approach in trying to guide affairs in a positive direction.
Keywords: Lovers, courtship, consummation, partnership, relationship, mutual acceptance, conquest of the shadow (in love), putting down roots, flowering together, sharing a space, living together.
Reversed: Delusion, desire, problems, conflicts, lighten up.