Othala- Part 1

(I have Tiwaz- Part 2 written but not typed.  Will be doing that in the next couple of days.)

This morning when I pulled the rune Othala, I laughed sardonically.  I had been meditating on this particular rune all weekend due to the Charlottesville, Virginia protests and murder.  I had seen flags with this particular rune on it.  I  know that the simple-minded "understanding" of it is Homeland or Ancestors. I was informed that some of these racists call it the "life rune" and it's supposed to be a reference to pure white babies. It disgusts me they use it and don't even know it's name.

Only a white supremacist atheist, or an uneducated and anti-religious "heathen" would think this rune could be connected to racism.  Paying too much attention to Nazi Party propaganda from the 30s and 40s and not enough to the wisdom of the runes and the lessons they teach.  Not paying enough attention to the path of Odin and the Tree Yggdrasil.

So I laughed at pulling that exact rune this morning. Either I summoned it to my hand or I was handed this rune because of the timing.  This lesson needs to be fully internalized and this rune needs to no longer be appropriated by godless racists.

So here's a copy of what I wrote a few months ago.
It was particularly written for this purpose.

May 15, 2017

" I've been contemplating Othala today, since this morning. It has been breaking down into thoughts about the different runes that can be traced inside of its shape. Tracing the story of the three runes from top to bottom leads to insight behind the rune Othala itself. It tells a story of how individuals and societies breath into each other, circulate energy and thrive.

There is also a warning against stagnation, like a limb that has lost circulation, the flesh dies, and the blood is poisoned killing the entire organism.

I believe that anyone that uses Othala to justify racism, doesn't understand Othala.

Here's a basic break down of how I understand the runes found in the symbol of Othala.

Ingwaz (the shape of a diamond)

This rune is sacred space, a sanctuary. It is a necessary separation for spiritual transformation to occur, as in ritual in a temple. This space is the self, kindred, ancestors, spiritual resources, and the things we need for self care. Without this separate space to do these acts and pursue internal evolution, we cannot grow or work on our strengths which will serve us in the greater world.

This rune looks like a seed. In the darkness of our subconscious and in the privacy of the home, growth and healing can occur. This separation from the light, under the soil, is a necessary part of personal growth. However, do not become trapped here. A seed that does not germinate, rots and molders.

Gebo (the shape of an X)

This rune simply means a gift for a gift. It is an equal exchange. Our ancestors sacrificed and worked so they could survive and ultimately their energy spent brought about our existence. We respond to this gift by working and sacrificing for our own children so they may live and grow beyond needing us, just as our line of ancestors did before.

Further, the community around us also contributed to the survival of our ancestors, as did the land, the sea, and the air. The lesson of this rune is to give back to our communities and the earth equal to what we have been given. We help those who have helped us. We compost, recycle, and care for the earth and its spirits, just as we have gotten food, clothing, and shelter from it. From this exchange we create sustainability and balance.

Much like how a tree spends all summer using water and soil to create leaves in order to feed itself. Then those leaves fall to the ground and compost into the soil, once again feeding the tree so it can create more leaves. The cycle continues. Rake and cart the leaves away from the tree and you starve the roots so the tree becomes weak and sick.

Kenaz (the shape of a sideways V, downward facing in Othala rune)

This is the rune of fire, of kinetic energy. It is artistic divine inspiration, the friction necessary for evolution, destruction and recreation, for change.

To gain inspiration, we must sometimes come outside of ourselves, our sanctuary, and interact with the greater world. The kinetic energy of bouncing ideas off of other people, the friction and heat that creates, is where creative innovation lives. This rune feeds the health of the community as a whole through the social creation of ideas that lead to survival and even thriving societies.

It is like the flow of blood through the body that carries heat and creates heat at the same time. The flow of sap that feeds the limbs of the tree. If you cut off this flow, the branches fall dead to the ground.

Othala (encompasses the previous runes)

Putting together all three rune lessons, it creates a formula for both the self and society.

One must have a strong sense of self, a solid sanctuary from where they can cultivate their spiritual foundation. Their home is at the center of Ingwaz. The rune itself looks like a house with four walls.

The lack of a strong foundation, a connection to ancestors and gods, can lead to a personality that is easily influenced and swayed in any direction. A lack of morals or ethics is destructive to the self and the community. So develop a strong foundation, and an understanding of self versus other or personal boundaries, an instinctive sense of what is right.

Having done this, your gifts and strengths will be unveiled. Knowing yourself is the first step to figuring out what you have to contribute. Seek to cultivate these gifts in preparation to share them with your community.

The bottom of the rune could represent the front yard of the house. This part, Kenaz, challenges you to leave your sanctuary, get outside of your comfort zone, and mingle with others. Travel and challenge yourself to communicate with people who are different. It is through this friction, even conflict, that societal evolution occurs. Even wars have led to innovations in science as well as cultural diffusion.

Thoughts:

The danger comes from when a person hoards their gifts and knowledge, when they refuse to leave the sanctuary and interact with the greater world. This lack of diversity, not challenging our prejudices, leads to decay. Without the friction of Kenaz, there is no innovation, problems are not solved or not solved efficiently, and society begins to die. The circulation of energy is stopped and things become stagnant and begin to rot.

On a personal level, teachers cannot be found, and the teacher cannot pass on knowledge to students. The oral tradition dies, and knowledge immolates inside the mind of the hoarder. Societies that wall themselves off, that reject the lessons of Gebo and Kenaz, will suffocate inside their own walls.

Individuals that wall themselves off, lack the friction of interaction, can begin to develop mental illness, depression, and a violent personality. Even without a family history of mental health issues.  But even arguments can lead to moments of inspiration and leaps of thought.  Don't be afraid to engage with the outside world.

Growth happens where the individual interacts with the community. "