Jera- Part 1
I may be doing this rune in parts. I decided to just pull a rune and dive in after all.
I will also be including diagrams, in multiple colors, because I was half asleep last night and runes actually started dancing in my head. I saw parts moving around to form new runes. I'm definitely going to be exploring that dancing aspect and how runes morph into other runes. It's just going to take a while. I'm still fuzzy and I've decided to let it gestate a bit.
Funny that the first rune I start with is both the rune of Harvest and the rune of Creation or Rebirth.
Initial impressions:
Because I have worked a little with runes already I have a simple understanding of names and meanings.
The obvious thing that pops out visually is the 2 smaller Kenaz symbols. Kenaz simply is a rune for primal fire, the fire at the beginning of creation. The symbols are off center and facing each other. Unlike Ingwaz, the seed rune where the two Kenaz symbols form a parallelogram in a closed loop that focuses this creation fire into a still center, this symbol is of two open Kenaz symbols that appear to be cycling around each other. Like the path of the sun around the earth, warming just enough to sustain life, but not the intense heat of the creation fire.
I can't talk about this rune without also talking about Ingwaz because of the similarity in shapes.
If we added an Isa with the symbols in their current position it would look a lot like a bindrune of 2 Wunjo, one facing left at the top and one facing right at the bottom. Isa would block the cycle of Jera. The rune itself is about balance and a regular clockwork cycle. In order for there to be a healthy harvest, the sowing of the crops must be done rightly. Ice would block the heat needed and kill the crop.
However, the Anglo-Saxon image of Jera is a little different. We move the two Kenaz runes together into the seed image and Isa slices through this image. This would be part of the primal imagery of this creation rune. Isa breaks open the seed and begins the germination process that will bring forth the crop.
Interestingly, in agriculture, this is the case for many crops. Some plants are stronger and give better harvest when they are planted in the ground in the fall and forgotten. Pumpkin and other gourd seeds are excellent for this purpose. Overwintering hardens the seed, it breaks open in the spring and the warmth of the sun naturally brings forth the plant. Compared to this, seeds that are germinated in green houses in the spring are sometimes weaker and give smaller and fewer fruits or vegetables.
Also, in agriculture, some crops require a certain number of days of below freezing temperatures in order to germinate at all. Take away this ice principle and the crop fails. Asparagus, rhubarb, and garlic are such crops. Mild winters can create a complete crop loss. I imagine our Anglo-Saxon ancestors may have noticed this and the rune reflects this truth.
So in summary, adding Isa to the Elder Futhark symbol would disrupt the regular cycling of the sun. This symbol seems to be mostly a solar symbol focusing on the movement of the heavens in relation to the earth. The Anglo-Saxon symbol seems to be grounded more in the cycles of the soil and agriculture itself. This may reflect the cultural center of the peoples who developed these symbols. A people who look to the sun and navigation may focus more on solar and stellar meanings, where a society focused on the growth of food may focus more on what's going on with the soil and plants.
We'll see if this bears out for other symbols.
Literal Translation:
Germanic Name: Jera
English word: Year
Old English: Ger (Handbook, 41)
Letter Sound: J sometimes pronounced Y
Physical Representations Using Numerology:
If arranged from the beginning in 3 rows of 8 runes each, this rune would fall in the 2nd row, 4th rune in from the left side.
First, there is a simple line representation. Second, the tent rune representation starts on the top left and is read in a clockwise rotation and each cross represents two runes. The bottom two positions are open for a second rune to be represented. And finally, the branch rune is read from left to right and represents one rune at a time.
Divination:
This rune points to the positive meanings of rewards, a time of plenty, peace, prosperity, and proper timing
The warning of this rune are for dead-end repetition, bad timing, poverty, or conflict
(Handbook, 42)
Mythological Connections:
The authors I have studied do not specifically ascribe elements or myths to many of the runes. Some are obvious and some I have to kind of deduce from how the rune functions in the universe and in the world. This rune, because of it's seed image in Anglo-Saxon, connects to Ing or Freyr. It is a seed of the moment the right elements come together to germinate life.
In the lore, this is the moment of ice being melted by fire. This was the first step in creation, when the salty ice was melted by the primal fires and from this melting, a solution or chemical mixture was created from which Ymir emerged.
This rune in the Elder is also associated with the path of the sun and the Eagle.
(Futhark, 43, 71)
Elemental Connections:
The small Kenaz symbols connect this rune to primal fire. There is heat from the sun for germination. But there is also ice in the Anglo-Saxon which points to the salty and yeasty elements being set free from the ice by the fire.
The meaning of this rune points to earth, since Midgard is the world of manifestation. This rune represents a total potential being set free, a promise of physical prosperity, and a manifestation of the labor put forth.
(Futhark, 75 Table)
Cosmic/ Spiritual meanings:
Because this rune is a rune of sowing and harvesting, it exemplifies the Triune that Von List wrote of in his The Secrets of the Runes. The triune of birth-life-death/rebirth. This rune embodies the entire process of the trinity.
It's also part of a trilogy. The first rune in this trilogy is Raidho which represent horse but also the path of the sun in the sky or the force that guides this path. Sunna is said to drive a chariot of horses through the sky pulling the sun. Jera is the yearly cycle of the sun's path. Sowilo represents the sun itself. (Futhark, 42-43)
Magickal uses:
One must always be very careful in the usage of runes. If one does not know the subtle meanings or the mythological connections of the runes being used, forces not anticipated could be brought forth, or the rune could be combined with others in a way that would frustrate or counter act the intended working.
* Fertility, Harmony, Enlightenment, Manifestation into the material plane
Final Meditations:
I'd like to point out the picture I posted above. In it I have used three colors to represent the three different runes I see inside the runes pictured. I did not add a color for the Laguz or Wunjo that I see inside Raidho. I guess I'll get to that later when I actually discuss that rune.
I see the runes cycling around each other and the colors help me keep track of that movement. In Raidho I see the two Kenaz runes overlapping and being held in place with Isa. This holds the heat of the sun and directs it, as a horse holds the rider and is both directing and is directed. In Jera I don't see Isa but the two Kenaz runes have rotated around each other focusing passed each other as if the earth were in the middle and their gentle heat warms it. Then in Sowilo they overlap again to form a new shape. As if the two warmth principles combine to form the Sun itself facing in both directions to heat up all of Midgard.
I need to meditate on this more. I just came to me last night and I'm a bit fuzzy on this principle.
Book: The Rune Poem by Jim Paul
This rune contains all the aspects of the growing season. This poem has been Christianized and this rune is said to be an act of "grace" that benefits rich and poor alike. from the earth's bounty. Since it is true that both rich and poor need to eat, and it is the labor and not the morality of the person that determines the harvest, the Christianized understanding is still valid. This is also the first growth rune after three winter runes: Hagalaz, Nauthiz, and Isa.
Book: 3 Paths Through Midgard by D. Jonathan Jones
This poem is really beautiful and I recommend it highly.
In the stanza that deals with this rune, the author remembers the cold, hard winter where soldiers practiced with their weapons and fighting each other. Hard work and toil on the practice field will earn a good harvest on the battle field.
"How we die gives meaning to our life." (page 21)
This harvest is to die valiantly in battle rather than as a slave to another.
"Give me liberty or give me death."
I will also be including diagrams, in multiple colors, because I was half asleep last night and runes actually started dancing in my head. I saw parts moving around to form new runes. I'm definitely going to be exploring that dancing aspect and how runes morph into other runes. It's just going to take a while. I'm still fuzzy and I've decided to let it gestate a bit.
Funny that the first rune I start with is both the rune of Harvest and the rune of Creation or Rebirth.
Initial impressions:
Because I have worked a little with runes already I have a simple understanding of names and meanings.
The obvious thing that pops out visually is the 2 smaller Kenaz symbols. Kenaz simply is a rune for primal fire, the fire at the beginning of creation. The symbols are off center and facing each other. Unlike Ingwaz, the seed rune where the two Kenaz symbols form a parallelogram in a closed loop that focuses this creation fire into a still center, this symbol is of two open Kenaz symbols that appear to be cycling around each other. Like the path of the sun around the earth, warming just enough to sustain life, but not the intense heat of the creation fire.
I can't talk about this rune without also talking about Ingwaz because of the similarity in shapes.
If we added an Isa with the symbols in their current position it would look a lot like a bindrune of 2 Wunjo, one facing left at the top and one facing right at the bottom. Isa would block the cycle of Jera. The rune itself is about balance and a regular clockwork cycle. In order for there to be a healthy harvest, the sowing of the crops must be done rightly. Ice would block the heat needed and kill the crop.
However, the Anglo-Saxon image of Jera is a little different. We move the two Kenaz runes together into the seed image and Isa slices through this image. This would be part of the primal imagery of this creation rune. Isa breaks open the seed and begins the germination process that will bring forth the crop.
Interestingly, in agriculture, this is the case for many crops. Some plants are stronger and give better harvest when they are planted in the ground in the fall and forgotten. Pumpkin and other gourd seeds are excellent for this purpose. Overwintering hardens the seed, it breaks open in the spring and the warmth of the sun naturally brings forth the plant. Compared to this, seeds that are germinated in green houses in the spring are sometimes weaker and give smaller and fewer fruits or vegetables.
Also, in agriculture, some crops require a certain number of days of below freezing temperatures in order to germinate at all. Take away this ice principle and the crop fails. Asparagus, rhubarb, and garlic are such crops. Mild winters can create a complete crop loss. I imagine our Anglo-Saxon ancestors may have noticed this and the rune reflects this truth.
So in summary, adding Isa to the Elder Futhark symbol would disrupt the regular cycling of the sun. This symbol seems to be mostly a solar symbol focusing on the movement of the heavens in relation to the earth. The Anglo-Saxon symbol seems to be grounded more in the cycles of the soil and agriculture itself. This may reflect the cultural center of the peoples who developed these symbols. A people who look to the sun and navigation may focus more on solar and stellar meanings, where a society focused on the growth of food may focus more on what's going on with the soil and plants.
We'll see if this bears out for other symbols.
Literal Translation:
Germanic Name: Jera
English word: Year
Old English: Ger (Handbook, 41)
Letter Sound: J sometimes pronounced Y
Physical Representations Using Numerology:
If arranged from the beginning in 3 rows of 8 runes each, this rune would fall in the 2nd row, 4th rune in from the left side.
First, there is a simple line representation. Second, the tent rune representation starts on the top left and is read in a clockwise rotation and each cross represents two runes. The bottom two positions are open for a second rune to be represented. And finally, the branch rune is read from left to right and represents one rune at a time.
Divination:
This rune points to the positive meanings of rewards, a time of plenty, peace, prosperity, and proper timing
The warning of this rune are for dead-end repetition, bad timing, poverty, or conflict
(Handbook, 42)
Mythological Connections:
The authors I have studied do not specifically ascribe elements or myths to many of the runes. Some are obvious and some I have to kind of deduce from how the rune functions in the universe and in the world. This rune, because of it's seed image in Anglo-Saxon, connects to Ing or Freyr. It is a seed of the moment the right elements come together to germinate life.
In the lore, this is the moment of ice being melted by fire. This was the first step in creation, when the salty ice was melted by the primal fires and from this melting, a solution or chemical mixture was created from which Ymir emerged.
This rune in the Elder is also associated with the path of the sun and the Eagle.
(Futhark, 43, 71)
Elemental Connections:
The small Kenaz symbols connect this rune to primal fire. There is heat from the sun for germination. But there is also ice in the Anglo-Saxon which points to the salty and yeasty elements being set free from the ice by the fire.
The meaning of this rune points to earth, since Midgard is the world of manifestation. This rune represents a total potential being set free, a promise of physical prosperity, and a manifestation of the labor put forth.
(Futhark, 75 Table)
Cosmic/ Spiritual meanings:
Because this rune is a rune of sowing and harvesting, it exemplifies the Triune that Von List wrote of in his The Secrets of the Runes. The triune of birth-life-death/rebirth. This rune embodies the entire process of the trinity.
It's also part of a trilogy. The first rune in this trilogy is Raidho which represent horse but also the path of the sun in the sky or the force that guides this path. Sunna is said to drive a chariot of horses through the sky pulling the sun. Jera is the yearly cycle of the sun's path. Sowilo represents the sun itself. (Futhark, 42-43)
Magickal uses:
One must always be very careful in the usage of runes. If one does not know the subtle meanings or the mythological connections of the runes being used, forces not anticipated could be brought forth, or the rune could be combined with others in a way that would frustrate or counter act the intended working.
* Fertility, Harmony, Enlightenment, Manifestation into the material plane
Final Meditations:
I'd like to point out the picture I posted above. In it I have used three colors to represent the three different runes I see inside the runes pictured. I did not add a color for the Laguz or Wunjo that I see inside Raidho. I guess I'll get to that later when I actually discuss that rune.
I see the runes cycling around each other and the colors help me keep track of that movement. In Raidho I see the two Kenaz runes overlapping and being held in place with Isa. This holds the heat of the sun and directs it, as a horse holds the rider and is both directing and is directed. In Jera I don't see Isa but the two Kenaz runes have rotated around each other focusing passed each other as if the earth were in the middle and their gentle heat warms it. Then in Sowilo they overlap again to form a new shape. As if the two warmth principles combine to form the Sun itself facing in both directions to heat up all of Midgard.
I need to meditate on this more. I just came to me last night and I'm a bit fuzzy on this principle.
Book: The Rune Poem by Jim Paul
This rune contains all the aspects of the growing season. This poem has been Christianized and this rune is said to be an act of "grace" that benefits rich and poor alike. from the earth's bounty. Since it is true that both rich and poor need to eat, and it is the labor and not the morality of the person that determines the harvest, the Christianized understanding is still valid. This is also the first growth rune after three winter runes: Hagalaz, Nauthiz, and Isa.
Book: 3 Paths Through Midgard by D. Jonathan Jones
This poem is really beautiful and I recommend it highly.
In the stanza that deals with this rune, the author remembers the cold, hard winter where soldiers practiced with their weapons and fighting each other. Hard work and toil on the practice field will earn a good harvest on the battle field.
"How we die gives meaning to our life." (page 21)
This harvest is to die valiantly in battle rather than as a slave to another.
"Give me liberty or give me death."
Nice! I'm really looking forward to the rest of this series. Your thinking is taking some very interesting, "outside-the-box" directions, and I don't think runes should be approached any other way.
ReplyDeleteIf I might add yet one more element to those thought processes, I wonder if you've ever considered the vertical arrangements of the runes in aetts? In this case, the fourth rune in each aett is the relationship between Ansuz (God), Jera (Harvest), and Mannaz (mankind). That looks to me a lot like the phrasing we use when pouring out a blot offering: "From the Gods, to the Earth, to us. From us, to the Earth, to the Gods. A gift for a gift."
Nice, I'll look into that. Funny how I pulled Ansuz after Jera as well.
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