Phagos is the tree of old learning, of ancient ideas. For the ancient Celts, the ancestral knowledge was, of course, the Ogham and so the animal counterpart of Phagos is the crane. The crane makes ogham symbols with its long, dangling legs as it flies. It also ritually dances a circle dance with its mate. Like the bee, which dances a circle dance to communicate, this is seen as giving it access to the Spirit World. The corresponding symbol to the Norse was the rune Odal which represents the homeland and the ancestral roots that give our lives deeper meaning.

Beech trees have a smooth gray bark like fine-textured skin and large leaves that turn the light brown of paper, lingering on the tree into the winter. Beech trees are never alone in a wood. One mother tree will always have a host of children around her, just as one idea will sprout others if studied and understood.

Ideas are the most universal and useful tools. Being able to see an idea from many different aspects, understanding how it ties into different belief systems, give us a more complete vision of that idea. Knowledge and ideas are not dangerous, but the misguided perception that any belief or idea that we hold is the one true statement of dogma; not to be examined, questioned, or challenged is hideously dangerous and almost inevitably leads to prejudice and intolerance.

Whenever I have moved to a new location finding the library and bookstores (new and used) are as vital to me as finding the nearest patch of woods and flowing water that are open to the public. Whenever someone expresses a judgement, perception, or belief system that I am not familiar with I try to draw out more information about it rather than quickly disagreeing or propounding my opposing or competing ideas. "Go and find out" is always a good code to follow as long as we are careful to avoid the crocodile's jaws.

Phagos is a message ogham. Phagos is the ogham of mythic understanding on a personal scale as Nuin is the ogham of mythic understanding on a large scale. The message is that we have something to discover, learn, or understand for our personal growth. We are ready to deepen our comprehension of the old mysteries, and an aid will be sent to us. Reversed, we are warned that we have been sent a message that we have ignored. We cannot stand alone, but must use our roots to anchor us.