Customer Reviews

Celtic Wisdom Sticks: Ancient Ogam Symbols Offer Guidance for Today [With Book and 21 Sticks and Cloth Bag]

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In the old days, we had to go out in the groves and cut our own... It's still a good exercise, but for those who want an introduction to this method of divination, the Celtic Wisdom Sticks by Caitlin Matthews are ideal. Based upon the Irish Ogham writing, an ancient script used not only for writing but also for the teaching of hidden wisdom, the Wisdom sticks open the user to an entirely different form of divination than the more familiar Tarot cards.

The kit consists of an instruction book, a set of Ogham sticks, and a bag in which to keep them. There are 20 triangular shaped, pointed sticks, each having the name and letter of the Ogham written on it, plus the Ogham itself burned into the stick with a wood burner. An additional four-sided "direction" stick is included, with each side bearing one of the less traditional diphthong Oghams. This stick is used to indicate a direction -- north, south, east or west -- which modifies the meaning of the traditional sticks. Several different layouts for reading the sticks are included in the book, as well as descriptions of the trees represented by the Oghams, the lore connected with those trees, and the meaning of the Ogham as modified by the direction stick.

In a brief note on the publication data page, the author states that, "The ogam oracle of the Celtic Wisdom Sticks has been conceived through a fusion of textual research, poetic insight and shamanic analepsis or far-remembering by which the Irish filid (poets) used to discover lost or forgotten information." There is more wisdom in that statement than meets the eye, for anyone who has worked with oracles, and is honest about it, understands that the user is as much a factor in the oracle as is its lore and history. That being said, I have to take the book to task for being overly concerned with the modern obsessions of personal problems, self-criticism and "relationships". If you are unduly affected with this kind of thing, to the point that it consumes your thoughts, perhaps an oracle is not what you need -- oracles are not substitutes for psychoanalysis, and should not be used as such. This is particularly true with the Oghams, being representatives of the natural forces of the Trees and Earth. Think about a mighty Oak, or a thousand year old Yew -- does it care about how anybody feels, or how to overcome its "negativity", whatever that might be? If you worry about this kind of thing, then, on the other hand, the Wisdom Sticks just might connect you with the Tree forces you need for your own inner strength.

Keeping the above comment about a fusion of research and far-remembering in mind, I have a few comments of my own about the Ogham oracle. For those who are familiar with other methods of divination, and particularly the Tarot, there are some important differences with the Oghams. The Tarot is an esoteric system, with its roots in abstract concepts and psychic insights, and as such is strongly connected with the mental state of the diviner. This tends to give readings with the Tarot an analytical and critical dimension, as well as making the system susceptible to misreadings based upon the biases and expectations of the reader, and other conscious and unconscious mental factors. The same may be said of Ogham cards and rune cards, for they are still abstract representations.

Ogham sticks, and to some extent rune stones as well, are more closely connected with natural forces and situations, and are relatively insensitive to the mental state of the reader. Far more important to these methods are the time of year and day, phase of the moon, place where the reading is done, the direction one is facing while doing the reading, and even to some extent the weather. These considerations are minimally important with the Tarot, but they are absolutely crucial in the use of the Oghams. You can imagine yourself in a grove of oaks or in a temple, and this will work almost as well as being there with the Tarot, but not so with the Oghams. The Oghams align themselves according to natural forces much as a compass needle aligns itself with the earth's magnetic field, and if those forces are distorted or inappropriately aligned, readings will not be accurate. Attempting a divination in matters pertaining to Brigid at Samhain, for example, is bound to produce erroneous results with the Oghams. The other side of this coin is that the Oghams, like the rune stones, tend to wear their meaning in your face, so to speak. While one can usually twist the Tarot to mean whatever one wants, the Oghams are relatively immune to this kind of mental trick. The Oghams are down-and-dirty shamanistic divination -- the Celtic equivalent of "the bones" -- and are best suited to those who are ready to face reality with the courage to accept it and, where necessary, the will to change it.

In sum, I recommend this set for those who would like to explore an ancient but often forgotten method of divination, and for those who seek the wisdom of the Trees, and who want -- or need -- to experience their powers.

First off, let me say that I have incredible respect for the work and writings of Caitlin Matthews. I have followed her line of inquiry into the Celtic visionary tradition over the years and feel that she has done an incredible service to both Celtic and non-Celtic descendants by what she has produced. Her research into Ogam to produce The Celtic Wisdom Sticks is keeping in her prolific strides to produce time-tested, yet relevant means for people to deepen their practice. Her work on the Ogam is very good both via scholarship and translation but, probably even more importantly, via utilizing some of the very visionary states of consciousness employed by our Irish ancestors. The book really is very innovative in its consideration of the Ogam--speaking openly that the sacred markings have a utilitarian purpose, but also a visionary application.
The actual "sticks" in the set The Celtic Wisdom sticks--at least in the ones I received--were not really that great, but I have since realized that, truly, they are merely meant as a guide--and that if your soul takes to the Ogam, and the soul of the Ogam takes to you, that you will eventually make your own set that has the mark of your own energy within them. And, I would recommend doing this. The 'forfedha' letters on the Four Airts, or Four Directional Indicator stave is truly ingenious and adds a remarkable sense of visionary continuity with other visionary practices in the Celtic tradition. The particular indicator stick I received in the set was a little imbalanced--which I think can throw a reading off and is another reason for making your own staves--but I find this innovation, like everything else Caitlin does, to be truly cutting edge, while honoring of the ancient.
Many of the suggested readings are also beautiful, combining the best of intuition with the nature of this lore to guide those who walk in this way with a quality of "the next step," which any working oracle should do. The Oghams, like the Runes and the Yarrow Sticks of the I-Ching, are not a static and lifeless oracle, but a living, breathing being that becomes a co-walker in your life.
To this end, I feel that the book is well worth the purchase, but I would recommend using the actual sticks that one receives in The Celtic Wisdom Sticks as simply a model or guide for creating your own set. Definitely reap the harvest of Caitlin's analepsis, as she puts it, but buy this set primarily for the book.

I have enjoyed much of the Matthews' writings, both when together and on their own, but I'm not so elated with this. I was fortunate enough to pick this up when a book shop was closing down and so got it at a very low price, I'm not so sure I would have been so forgiving if I had to pay full price.

I have read quite a lot on the Ogham, and aside from Robert Graves' White Goddess, this is probably the most inspired and innovative spin on them I have come across, although it is not the most insightful. Now whilst I agree that the Ogham should not be looked upon only as a "tree alphabet", if one has decided to emphasise this approach then there should be a little more about the nature of the tree and how this affects ones interpretation of the individual staves. Just my personal opinion!

That aside, the actual practical side of the book is a geat idea, enough to redeem it at any rate! I particularly admire the work gone into the quatrains, which are far more insightful than many of the traditional word oghams, which have lost much meaning in their translation. These add so much more to the depth of reading one can traditionally get from them, and has revived my flagging use of them.

This book has altered the way I use the ogham quite considerably, but I shan't be using the staves that come with the set, I'll stick to my own (oh the comedy!). Mine came with two that were losing their bark and in a fraying bag. Rustic,or just shoddy? I think the latter. That aside, it is true that making one's own staves is a much better idea. My own set I spent a while over, collecting the wood of each tree and bush to make them with, all in all a much better way of doing it!

This would make a nice gift for a Celtic fan. The one thing that disappointed me was that the sticks are all from the same wood. I was expecting that they would be made from the trees they represent. Other than that, I really like the presentation. The guide book is well researched, as Catlin's writing always is, but as a divination tool I found it rather cumbersome. Since each stick has four different meanings, depending on whether it falls in the North, South, East, or West, it seems a bit more complicated than it needs to be.

Some good insights from these, but they're not pleasing in the tactile sense. The wood is very rough & does not invite you to roll the sticks in your hands, for fear of a splinter. I suppose the intent was roughhewn charm, but these would have been better with a little polish to the edges.

This is a good book, only two things are less than perfect: the divinatory meanings are a bit vague and the casting sticks. The latter for a purely technical reason; to me, the story of Etain (the only manuscript that describes ogam being used for divination) does not support a set of casting sticks set aside as tools for ready use, I believe they were made to order whenever someone questioned the diviner, like Roman-era German lots.

Inquire if the divination tools are included WHEN BUYING USED --NOT ALWAYS THE CASE! I did not receive the Wisdom Sticks with my used copy purchase here through Amazon. Even though the picture and title are misleading, buyer beware! I've looked forward to learning more about this method of divination, while the book title itself states, "Celtic Wisdom Sticks: An Ogam Oracle", one would expect to receive the sticks! The title is NOT the description apparently, of what you will receive in the mail, if used.
Example: If someone buys a food product with the first article listed, 'vegetable', you get vegetable, for example, and for those of you going on that premise, it's apparently not meant to happen with this book. Be SURE to ask before buying, or they should remove the picture of the book showing it including the wisdom sticks, since that's what the title states too.

Next: 'Ayeah, I wish to order directions to assemble this product you won't be sending me.'
Right! Thanks to the seller, its a nice cover but still waiting on the wisdom sticks as mentioned and led to believe by the product picture as well.
At least Caitlin Matthews has never disappointed.
I also have her "Celtic Book of the Dead" WITHOUT THE CARDS!!! Previous owners of both of these books must have been cousins.

I've previously gotten another Ogham book by Robert Ellison aka "Skip" Ellison. I created my own Ogham sticks from wooden popscicle sticks and a wood burner; I've also gotten Paul Rhys Mountfort's "Ogam: The Celtic Oracle of the Trees". Both authors have approached this subject having well done in depth study and have imparted such with the reader. I simply 'attempted' to purchase the book and wisdom sticks by Caitlin Matthews to make a comparison. I guess the Wisdom Sticks will continue to remain a mystery, as obscure how a seller would allow the product to imply that it is being sold at a great price, without the actual named product. I received the directions to the product, though, thanks. I was attempting to purchase the Wisdom Sticks themselves. The book, "Celtic Wisdom Sticks: An Ogam Oracle" appears primarily to be an outline compared to the other named books. I will give it a closer inspection to learn more, whether it is a primer whose author guides with implication, thereby totally leaving it to a second guess guidance; even while intuitive readings are essentially what folks do with divination at some point, the Ogham was even more than simple fortune-telling.

As always, Caitlin Matthews poetic style is a draw for me, thus, I've been attempting to collect all her works. Unfortunate I still have an incomplete set: NO OGHAM WISDOM STICKS!

The picture, title and reviews all elude to the inclusion of a 'set' of sticks with the book.

Anyway, ASK before buying, as to whether (IF) you will receive the actual named and described product, that the title suggests. Someone please change the book's picture if all the buyer is possibly getting is a book WITHOUT THE STICKS or don't allow the USED BOOK Sellers to fill in their data unless they state NO STICKS INCLUDED. You can create a format with a required criteria before allowing it --to be responsible merchandising!

Wondering who let the buyer down in this particular instance: Amazon (lack of proper formatting for sales), or seller of used book (lack of responsible and clear advertising).
A pity when it becomes the buyers' job to clarify and his/her obligation to create the 'buyer beware' end means of honest sales and marketing. I enjoy collecting, but this part is no fun. I have better things to do with my time, but this pisses me off. I gave the seller a 4 star rating in spite of the lack of clarity, who used the annoying 'opportunity' to ELUDE to a great price for inclusionary wisdom sticks; who took the time to state 'a different cover' but did not take the time to state, 'sticks not included' because that is the way to sell your books for those who NEED MONEY, NOT INTEGRITY.
And I must mention, that if I chose to be a real arse and push the envelope, I always have the option of contacting the postal service to see about mail fraud. All things considered, should I?
Amazon, please set a criteria up in your formats for the used book sellers to either fix the option of an included or not product, otherwise, this could find a difficult wrinkle for you.