Next up on our ogham journey is Onn. 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
Onn (pronounced On) is the second fíd of the last aicme (not counting the forfeda). There is not an agreed-upon translation for the word Onn, but it may come from an Old Irish word that is similar: fonn. This word refers to the sole of the foot or a foundation. The keyword associated with this fíd is movement, like that of the wheel of a chariot. It is associated with several different plants including the Ash tree, Heather, and Gorse. For this post, we will focus on Gorse.
According to Weaving Word Wisdom, there are three traditional word oghams associated with Onn. These are:
- congnaid ech - helper of horses, i.e. the wheels of a chariot, wounder of horses; hastener of horses (horsewhip)
- féthem soíre - smoothest of work; smoothest of craftsmanship
- lúth fían - desire of the fianna, i.e. heather, sustaining equipment of warrior or hunting bands
We can read part of these word oghams from The Ogham Tract.
Congnamaid echraide, helper of horses, the onnaid of the chariot, i.e. the wheels, that is onn, furze, with him, for it is by onn, o, that the wheels of the chariot are written. Also, comguinidech, equally wounding, i.e. whin. Hence it was put for that letter which is named onn, o, owing to identity between them, for onn is a name for each of them; and it is from whin that the name onn was put for the Ogham letter o.
The word oghams give rise to the many different directions the meaning of this fíd can take, but we will get to that in a moment. You can see in the passage above that Onn is associated with both horses and chariots. In this instance, Onn is both the foundation of stability and the wheel of movement, two concepts closely tied to this fíd. This fíd also has a connection with warriors and battle, leading us to a connection with putting in the work and fighting for what we believe is right or what we need.
When it comes to Gorse, it is heavily tied to horses and livestock. It was so valuable as a source of food for cattle and horses that there is an old Irish folk saying about it: “gold under furze, silver under rushes, and famine under heather”, all pointing to the different food sources for livestock. Laurie writes that Gorse burns furiously when it is dry and it was used as part of the purifying fires that cattle were driven between as they were “sent out to the shielings” at the beginning of grazing season.
There are many ways this fíd can connect in our lives, especially when we think of how important our foundations are, how vital movement is, and how difficult it can be to fight for what you know is right.
The Gorse Plant
Gorse itself is a fairly popular plant in Ireland, widely disbursed among the countryside wherever it will grow. It is also known as whin or furze, and it makes a wonderful habitat for small insects and spiders. In turn, the birds who make their nests in the spiny evergreen bush have plenty of food to eat! A lot of people underestimate the importance of Gorse in the ecosystem, but it plays a vital role in the continuing existence of many insects, spiders, and birds alike!
One of the wonderful things about Gorse is the flowers. They are a beautiful, vibrant yellow, catching the eye of anyone who sees them from far away. Gorse also blooms year-round and has spiny, evergreen leaves. During the dark and cold months of Winter, Gorse is a wonderful reminder that the Wheel continues to turn and there is light after the darkness.
In Divination
In a divinatory reading, Gorse showing up can mean many different things depending on the context and question asked. It can indicate a need to reevaluate where your life is headed. It can also indicate some sort of travel. Another interesting meaning associated with Onn is that of an inner journey, especially as it relates to foundations and the stability of movement. I know, that sounds a bit oxymoronic, but it isn’t. When we take trips or make a large move, our movement needs to be stable. If we wobble all over the place, it is sort of like having a loose tire on an axel that can come off at any time. Our movements need to have purpose and drive behind them, supported by the weight of our decisions and our beliefs.
Here are some keywords I’ve come up with in my studies for Onn regarding divination.
- movement
- journeys, both inward and outward
- foundational stability
- satiety and satisfaction
- Otherworldly matters
- spirit work
- setting and keeping boundaries
- going where you are wanted
At the end of every fíd in her book, Erynn has questions and linked concepts to think about for each one. For Onn, she writes the following…
Where is my journey taking me? How do I follow my path?
A Personal Note
I have never pulled Onn for myself in a reading, but after learning more about it, I know that this is another fíd that I could probably do some deep work with, especially as it relates to spirit work and the Otherworld!
Sources and Further Reading
– Celtic Ogham Symbols and Their Meanings
– The Ogham Tract
– [1] Weaving Word Wisdom by Erynn Rowan Laurie
some of the passages from The Ogham Tract are easier to read than others, but that’s why we have multiple sources to help us make sense of everything 
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