Ruis

Ruis (pronounced ROO-ish or RAH-ish)
Elder, or Bourtree

The Round Towers
Change-Breakdown-Transition
The Thirteenth Moon

“I am a wave of the sea On a boundless sea I was set adrift”
"I have been a tide of the ocean, delivering to death and returning"
I am a tide that drags to death

Deities Nicneven, Goddess of Death and Dissolution. The Cailleach. Bheure, Crone of the Highlands.		Color Ogham Ruadh (Blood red)	Bird Ogham Rochat (Rook) Drudic Animal: Raven symbolizes healing and protection -
Class Shrub	Finger Ogham The Second Joint of the Ring Finger	Flower Deadly Nightshade, Monkshood	Animals Black Sow, Badger. Celtic Symbol : Black Horse
Magical Uses Magical Protection. Wine. Purification (outer and inner). Broomsticks or Magical Horses		Gemstone Peridot - The Inevitable Dark Green Malachite	Ruling Planet : Saturn - Sadorn Direction South
Equivalent tree for Pacific Northwest		Tree Month Dates November 25 through December 22 or The last 3 days of October	*Tresim Fedma* - Strongest red (anger) *Ruamna dreach* - redness of faces intensest of blushes
Minority Opinions RUIS, means the priesthood of Ra. Although it was well-documented in Egypt, it was not an exclusively Egyptian priesthood. The Ra-id or Ra-acha, to give it a Celtic plural ending, gave us the sun wheel. Raachas is our word raucous, so we know that they must have been a noisy priesthood! They seem to have organized knowledge in terms of rays, rather like the branches or fields of knowledge that we organize it in today.

Tree: The word 'Elder' comes from the Anglo-Saxon word aeld. Æld meant 'fire,' the hollow stems of the young branches having been used for blowing up a fire: the soft pith pushes out easily and the tubes thus formed were used as pipes - hence it was often called Pipe-Tree, or Bore-tree and Bour-tree, the latter name remaining in Scotland and being traceable to the Anglo-Saxon form, Burtre.

Symbolically, the Elder signifies the three aspects of time present in the Triple Goddess and it represents the ever-present threefold aspect of existence: beginning, middle, and end. The white flowers, which are at their best at Midsummer, were considered sacred to the Great Goddess Danu. Associated with the number thirteen, the number of the Goddess, its most powerful time would be in its thirteenth month. The red color derive from the berries of the Elder tree was used cosmetically to stimulate a blushing effect on the cheeks. In Oghamic lore, the most often mentioned characteristic of Ruis has to do with this blushing for shame, considered as a positive sign or trait.

Botanical: The common elder is a shrub which grows up to 30 feet in damp areas, near the edge of woods, and close to dwellings. Elders are grown for their black berries, which are used for preserves and wine. There are scars on the leaves which have the shape of a crescent moon. Elder branches have a spongy pith in their centers, much like the marrow of long bones, and an elder branch stripped of its bark is very bone-like. The red elder is a similar plant which grows in higher elevations, but is typically shorter. Red elder is found in North America, and it is cultivated along with other native species, but common elders are seldom seen in cultivation. Elders are in the Honeysuckle family

Expression: The Elder is a sign of evolutionary change, of a transition from one state of being to another. If understood, the realization of the mystery of this Ogham will lead to a balanced and mature outlook on life.

Divination: Ruis implies that though old things seem to be passing away, they are merely being transformed into something totally new. On the surface, this gives the appearance that they are breaking down, or being destroyed. There will be a transition or passage of some kind, perhaps physically: a trip, journey, or a change in health. There is a need to be able to let go of the things that are holding you back and accept a more transitory phase of life. This may lead to uncomfortable and frightening times when the harsh realities of life are obvious. But difficult experiences bring insight into life. There is a need to see beyond the superficial aspects of life. There is the great possibility that after a cycle ends, a new, brighter one will emerge on the horizon.

The Challenge of the Elder is the necessity of coming to terms with the endless cycles of changes. All things will undergo evolutionary changes and therefore will eventually pass away. This must be seen and understood. But there may also be a tendency to stagnate if these changes are not allowed to happen. Inactivity and apathy will result. Sadness and melancholy follow. There could be difficulty in coping with depressing thoughts or memories if one cannot let them go. There is the danger of becoming paralyzed by circumstances.

The need for a mature outlook is in focus right now. You will need to come to terms with the passing away of something old with the realization that something new is just on the horizon.

You need to learn or be aware of how to move forward. When a destructive change is imminent, perhaps it will be better to swim with the current rather than against it. That way, the move towards the future will be as painless as possible.

What you need to do to regain balance and harmony is acquire a new understanding of the way your life changes. The changes and transformation about to occur will bring a wealth of new knowledge for you. There are also some changes in store for your emotional well being and love life as well.

(N) Instability. An insecure environment is about to manifest. The physical elements in your life will be breaking apart but in the long run, something more permanent will be built in their place. There is a need for these things to break down so that something more solid can be reintegrated and rebuilt.

Your self preservation is what is in conflict. A destructive change is about to occur as the result of something being built on a dishonest foundation or unsolid ground. Your will-power and desire to get through a destructive change will bring you through to the other side unharmed.