Well it seems for now I’m on a bi-weekly ogham journey. Given all my recent medical shenanigans, energy is at a premium, along with time. Either way, here we are on journey 8 and Eamhancholl has come to call. With Eamhancholl we meet another ogham of the Forfeda set. Eamhancholl is a very interesting meeting, as I’ll be working from one of my previous meeting with Coll. Let’s dive in.

Attributes and Associations

Eamhancholl. Amhancoll. EH-MAN-KUHL. Eamhancholl means Witch Hazel. Her phonetic value is Ae. Witch hazel and hazel are actually part of two different species, but share many similarities. While Hazel produces the hazelnut, and has distinct elongated fronds, the Witch Hazel has more blooming buds and different shaped leaves. However, Witch Hazel resembles Turkish Hazel in this way. Other similarities are in the alike use of both Witch Hazel and Hazel twigs in divining. Thus, they are considered “twin diviners”.

Witch Hazel is known for flowering and bearing fruit at the same time, and for the many different colored leaves. The fruit is a two-part capsule, containing a single glossy black seed in each of the two parts; the capsule splits explosively at maturity in the autumn about 8 months after flowering, ejecting the seeds with sufficient force to fly for distances of up to 30 feet, thus another alternative name “Snapping Hazel”. The label of “witch” actually has nothing to do with the practice of magic but comes from Old English wice, which means pliant or bendable. The leaves and bark of the Witch Hazel are often used for skin treatment.

Eamhancholl is a forfeda, however, I’ve already discussed a lot of the concepts and history of that in my previous post. Of the very few things we know about Eamhancholl is that she likely means “Groan of a sick person”, which harkens to her historical use as a medicinal herb, although these days it’s effectiveness if debated. The association with Coll is interesting in its own right and I feel a draw to its understanding of “twiness”. This aspect brings thoughts of opposite and sameness, diversity and togetherness to mind.

Other associations and uses of Eamhancholl are for purification and cleansing, which makes sense since it often thought of as medicinal.

The Contract

Eamhancholl calls me to reflect on state of my emotional clutter. I am called to evaluate what is happening in my life and clean out the unnecessary. When Eamhancholl comes to call, we are tasked with taking stock of our situations and seeing what is needed, and what we can do to better our situations, both physically and spiritually.  This is apt in my time right now as I’ve been needing a house cleansing and personal cleansing for some time given all my medical issues and other “bad luck” at the moment.

The “twinness” aspect comes into view here, and to me this feels like a “two sides of the same coin”, where we have the mind and body of one person, but these are often at odds while still working together. It’s the temptation of the one over the true needs. The sacredness and need for care, and yet the desires to do and be of our human selves. This constant battle, this twinning of the body and soul, are something strive to find balance with, and I feel Eamhancholl speaks this as well. For don’t’ we need to clean off the “dirt” within ourselves to find the truth and reality of a situation beneath? Before we can truly heal? To find balance in anything, we must first understand what that balance is.

I’ve found myself with many physical woes at this time, a continuation of my calling and initiation. As I find my body with new needs and changes, I have to realize the changes I have to make mentally and accept that in my focus on my body I must focus new paths for my mind as well. This all comes with changes spiritually as well. As part of the many sacrifices I’ve made or doings I’ve had to give up or lessen, radically accepting these changes has changed my perspective on the spiritual sacrifices, and spiritual changes I have to make. Eamhancholl comes to speak on this. This is something I thought I understood, but spending time with Eamhancholl has opened my eyes a bit. A reevaluation of the body often leads to a reevaluation of the spiritual, and this time has seen to it that I feel this keenly. I hope the house cleansing and soul cleansing that I’m working on how leads me to a fresh start.

This week’s drawing is Straif.