Let’s just say it straight, a chara — most of what’s floating around online about Ogham is absolute nonsense.

If you’ve been in the Pagan or magical communities for a while, chances are you’ve come across the so-called Tree Alphabet, divination spreads using made-up layouts, or some kind of Celtic moon calendar supposedly based on ancient Irish lore.

Spoiler alert: it’s not ancient, it’s not Irish, and it’s definitely not real Ogham.

Where Do the Myths About Ogham Come From?

Much of the modern misinformation comes from Robert Graves and his book The White Goddess, published in the 1940s.

Now, Graves was a poet, not a historian, and while he had some romantic notions about myth and magic, he also invented quite a lot.

In that book, he took some early 20th-century theories from a scholar named Macalister (who later rejected his own work), and ran wild with them.

Graves claimed Ogham came from a forgotten moon goddess religion, brought to Europe by mysterious "people of the sea." He assigned tree meanings to each Ogham letter, arranged them into a seasonal calendar, and wrapped it all in poetic fantasy.

It’s a lovely story — but it’s completely made up. And unfortunately, many New Age and Neopagan authors took it as gospel.

Why Modern Ogham Use is Often Misleading

Because Graves’ ideas were so widespread, many people today are learning an Ogham system that has nothing to do with the original Irish tradition.

You’ll see divination sets based on trees that weren’t even native to Ireland, or layouts like “Finn’s Window” that have no basis in the medieval texts.

Even the idea that Ogham was primarily a magical system is off. Yes, there’s mention of carved Ogham in Irish myth — like the druid Dalan in Tochmarc Étaíne using four yew rods — but we don’t know how that worked, and it’s never explained.

Most of the early use of Ogham was for inscriptions, often marking land or lineage, and later as part of scholarly education.

What Makes the Ogham Academy Different?

Here at the Ogham Academy, we do things differently.

We go straight to the source — to the original inscriptions, the medieval manuscripts, the Irish language, and the lore preserved in texts like the Auraicept na n-Éces.

Our work is about reconnecting with the real roots of the Ogham script, without romanticising, modernising, or distorting it.

We’re not here to shame anyone for where they started. If you’ve used those popular tree oracle decks or learned from Graves-based sources — that’s grand.

But if you’re ready for something more authentic, more grounded in Irish culture and scholarship, you’re in the right place.

Watch the Video: The Truth About Ogham

This video below kicks off the conversation — it’s a bit of a rant, sure, but it’s rooted in decades of work and deep grá for the Irish tradition. Lora O’Brien breaks down why most modern Ogham info is misleading, and how we can start to do better.

👉 Watch now and get the full story.

🌀 Ready to Begin Your Real Ogham Journey?

• Join the 30 Day Ogham Challenge – Connect daily with the Irish Ogham tradition in a simple, grounded way:
  https://www.ogham.academy/30

• Explore Our Courses – Learn the real history, language, and spiritual significance of Ogham:
  https://www.ogham.academy/store

Slán go fóill,
The Ogham Academy Team 🌿