Next up on our ogham journey is Muin. Not sure what ogham is? Here is a quick refresh…
Ogham is an ancient Irish inscription alphabet that was used to inscribe headstones and other important markers. In mythology, it was created by the God Ogma (OH-muh) to warn Lugh about a plot to steal his wife. Today, Ogham is used in magic and divination.
If you want to learn more about what ogham is in general, I wrote about that here: Irish Tree Language - The Ogham 
I also have a video explaining the origin story of ogham that you can watch here: https://youtu.be/CWEm2pcAFc8
We have officially reached the third aicme of the Ogham as we learn about Muin. The word itself is associated with love, esteem, and trickery, while the keyword given for this particular fíd is communication. This is another fíd that can be difficult to pull in a reading but not because the meaning is more negative. Instead, this fíd deals with communication in all its forms, from the confessions of passion to the wickedest of lies. It deals with the way others communicate to you but also with the way you communicate to others. Muin is a fíd of finding your voice, especially if you are not used to using it to your full potential.
According to Weaving Word Wisdom, there are three word oghams associated with Muin. They are as follows.
- tressam fedmae - strongest of powers, i.e. the desire or affection for another, strongest of effort, strongest in exertion
- árusc n-airlig - condition of slaughter, proverb of slaughter
- conar gotha - path of the voice
We can read part of these word oghams from The Ogham Tract.
Tresim fedma, strongest of effort, that is muin, vine, m, with him, i.e., owing to identity of name with muin, back of man or ox, for it is they that are the strongest in existence as regards effort.
Arusc n-airlig, condition of slaughter,muin a man’s back, m. Hence for its synonymous letter.
The Ogham Tract gives us insight into how we can interpret this fíd in a reading. The first, Tresim fedma, is the strongest of effort. This points to how complicated communication can be. Even if you are being deceitful, holding up lies can be a very stressful process that requires a lot of effort. On the other side, being the most honest and vulnerable version of yourself can also take a lot of skill and effort. Putting yourself out there and opening yourself up to others also opens you up to being hurt or taken advantage of.
The Vine
The Vine is not a traditional tree at all but it is listed as the tree for this fíd. The finemain (vine) covers many different types of vine, but in this case, it may specifically refer to grapes. An interesting thing to note is that grapevines are not native to Ireland, nor do they grow easily in the Irish climate. Erynn Rowan Laurie thinks that Muin being tied to grapes or vines is a nod to the importance of wine to early Christian ritual, as the alcoholic beverages associated with early Celtic ritual are mead and ale.
What is interesting to me is the association here with grapes and communication, especially if we are speaking in terms of alcohol. It is common knowledge among adults familiar with alcohol that drinking it tends to leave one feeling pleasant and relaxed. Drink too much, though, and you will feel absolutely horrible. It brings to mind a phrase I have often heard said about those who drink and become a bit chatty – drunken words are sober thoughts – leaving many people to think that alcohol can help with communication in both good ways and bad. It can open you up to be more vulnerable and honest, but it can also let fly anything you have been keeping hidden or secret from others.
In Divination
There are many ways you can interpret Muin in a reading, but they will all most likely have to do with putting in the work or communicating in some form. One suggested interpretation of Muin from Weaving Word Wisdom is that of physical manifestations of truths such as passion and desire. Knowing this, it is clear that this fíd covers communication in all forms, not just verbal or written. To understand what Muin might mean in your reading, the context of your situation will be important as well as any other feda that you pull if you do so.
Here are some keywords I’ve come up with in my studies for Muin regarding divination.
- desire
- passion
- trickery
- lies and deceit
- half-truths
- ignorance
- vulnerability
- love languages
- effort
- burdens, often heavy ones
- concealment
- heavy emotions
- flattery
- finding your voice
At the end of every fíd in her book, Erynn has questions and linked concepts to think about for each one. For Muin, she writes the following…
How do I communicate with others? How do I interpret what they are saying to me?
A Personal Note
This is another víd I don’t have a personal connection with. I have always tried to be an honest person. It is hard sometimes, especially when honesty feels like it will cause more harm than not. However, I think I can relate to this fíd through some personal work on finding my voice and speaking my mind. I am pretty good at being honest, but speaking up when I am struggling has always been an issue.
One suggested method of working with Muin in magic is for self-expression. Personally, I may explore this part of Muin in a spell or ritual sometime in the future.
Sources and Further Reading
– Celtic Ogham Symbols and Their Meanings
– The Ogham Tract
– [1] Weaving Word Wisdom by Erynn Rowan Laurie
So much has been lost.
. Let the excavations begin.
Sometimes, that lesson can just seem straight-up negative, but those difficult ones can help reinforce our boundaries and push us into scenarios that we would otherwise be ignorant of. That’s what I seem to find for myself, even if it takes me a moment to realise the value in what I’ve been through and realise what I’ve learnt from it.
Thanks for sharing!
