Ash Within,
Apple Without
I recently got a few new tattoos. To me it’s interesting that one of the most simple tattoos I now have carries some of the most meaning.
Some symbols reveal themselves all at once. Others unfold over time, showing new layers of meaning as we grow. My Ogham tattoo has become one of those symbols.
When I look at it from my perspective, it reads as Nion, the Ash Tree.
The Ash has long been associated with wisdom, balance, protection, and the connection between worlds. In many traditions it is a bridge tree, linking realms and standing between the seen and unseen. For me, this meaning feels deeply personal.
I was born beneath the Ash tree on March 5, and over the years I have come to see my path reflected in its symbolism.
When I look at my tattoo, it reminds me:
I walk between realms rooted in wisdom, as a keeper of balance, that is divinely protected, and I am woven into the living web of all things.
These words describe the inner landscape of my life.
As a Sophian Druid, I am always seeking wisdom. I believe that learning never truly ends and that every experience carries a lesson if we are willing to listen. I find meaning in the spaces between worlds, in dreams, intuition, ancestors, spirit, nature, and the mysteries that exist beyond ordinary sight. The Ash reminds me to remain grounded while reaching toward those deeper realities.
Yet there is another side to this tattoo.
Because of its placement, when others look at it, they see something different. To them, it reads as Quert, the Apple Tree.
At first I found this amusing. Then I realized how meaningful it truly was.
If Ash represents who I am within, Apple represents what I offer to the world.
The Apple has long been associated with the wisdom of the heart, healing, abundance, blessing, and the Otherworld. It appears throughout Celtic stories as a symbol of sacred journeys, transformation, and the gifts that nourish the soul.
When others look at my tattoo, I like to think it says:
I follow the wisdom of the heart, embrace life’s gifts with gratitude, and trust the unseen paths between worlds that lead toward healing and wholeness.
This feels like the outward expression of my path.
I believe love is strongest when it is given freely. I believe gratitude transforms ordinary moments into sacred ones. I believe healing often begins when someone feels seen, heard, and accepted exactly as they are. Whether through words, listening, teaching, nurturing, or simply walking beside another person for a while, I hope to leave the world a little gentler than I found it.
In many ways, the Ash and the Apple complete one another.
The Ash speaks of wisdom sought.
The Apple speaks of wisdom shared.
The Ash is the journey inward.
The Apple is the gift offered outward.
The Ash teaches balance.
The Apple nurtures healing.
Together they tell the story of who I am striving to become.
Inner self: Wisdom.
Outer self: Healing.
And perhaps that is the true gift of this tattoo. It reminds me that growth is not only about what we learn for ourselves, but also about what we cultivate and share with others.
Like the Ash, I continue to seek wisdom.
Like the Apple, I hope to offer healing.
And like both trees, I remain rooted in the great living web that connects us all.
