In the cool Celtic climate, the GrapeVine required much care in order to bear fruit and became symbolic of sacred knowledge and spiritual initiation, as well as a symbol of sensuality and emotions. The Vine of the Ogham Alphabet is the GrapeVine. Sacred to the deities, grapes were (and are still) used in the making of wine, allowing those who indulge to speak with truth...at least as they perceive it to be...and to release inhibitions. Wine was also once used to stimulate prophecy in the seers by allowing such sages to reach deep within their inner selves, with intuition acting as their guide. Unlike the other Ogham trees and shrubs, the Vine is a more cultivated species. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that the Vine has been known and propagated in the British Isles for a very long time. The distinctive fruits and foliage of this hardy and long-living plant appear frequently on Bronze Age artifacts. Within the Ogham, the Vine is known as the "Weaver," given its tendency to entwine around others, often linking two together. To the Celts, this was indicative of the need to understand the importance of respect toward the options and actions of others. A determined shrub, the Vine is often found in hard-to-reach areas, leaving a delicate and beautiful path in its wake. The fruit of the Vine has long been known to release inhibitions and loosen tongues, thus allowing those who partake of its harvest to speak more freely. It is, however, easy to fall victim to the Vine's intoxicating nature. Noah, the biblical patriarch, is said to have planted a vineyard on Mount Ararat afte........ more