Beith, meaning “birch” is the first letter of the first aicme of the Ogham Alphabet. The Elder Futhark rune “Berkana” also means birch, and essentially the same thing. Though I had anticipated starting with the beginnings of each ancient alphabet, it makes some sense I think to pair similar runes and ogham for journey purposes. My next journey will begin with Fehu, as it is the first letter of the Elder Futhark.
I admit that I have trouble memorizing the symbols for the Ogham; they all look like sticks and slashes and not much in the way of pictures. In addition to my Irish ancestry, I also have some heavily Germanic ancestry, and runes come to me more naturally than I thought possible. Perhaps it’s because I’ve made so many rune sets.
At any rate, I intend to journey to understand the meaning of these runes, and possibly understand them on a deeper level and how I relate to them in addition to the ‘traditional’ meanings.
Traditional meaning: The birch tree is often the first tree that springs up after a massive clearing or fire, and thus represents new beginnings. However, the type of beginning is that of a much more causal and major shift as a result of the clearing. Locally in MD, this might be represented by the silver maple rather than the silver or white birch, as maples will grow wherever there is a spot of sunlight. Unfortunately, these trees are often the first to die once the growth they foster outgrows them and the Oaks and Ashes blot out the sun. The seeds fall to earth, and the process begins again at the next great clearing of the area. Birch wood will take to fire even when damp, and the white-fire quality is key to understanding the fiery tenacity and courage of the birch tree.
I tend to associate Beithe with Brighid, and Berkana with Freyja. White hot fire, goddess tree, renewal, courage. Through Birch Tar Oil which is extracted from the tree, it also has associations with protection. The Birch has many healing and medicinal qualities, from pulverizing bark to ease bruising and wounds, to crushing the leaves to make a tea, to extracting the oil, to extracting the sap to make beer, or wine or cordials. The tree-side-down soaked bark can ease joint pain, and the oils can act as an astringent and helps with herpes, eczema and psoriasis. And birch beer is delicious. A very healing, very giving tree that symbolizes new life.
The Journey: Visuals, Feelings, and Observations
Birch forest, golden leaves in fall, like a gloriously tall burning tree as though the memory of the fire that necessitated it’s growth simply burned up through the roots. The Goddess Brighid, with two arms extended; one hand full of water which spilled out and birch branches snaked up and around her arms and grew up as tree antlers through her fiery redgold hair. Her other hand was fiery with the light of the sun just behind it, through the canopy of birch leaves. I did my best to turn the journey towards Berkano, and saw the symbol carved first on a doorframe of a house in which a woman was giving birth. I then saw it carved into every bed at an army hospital. Themes of sacrifice, fire, redgold, new life.
Walks With Spirit 
