Magin Rose

Today we welcome in the half month of Jera – the rune of time, harvest and reward for effort.  The rune will be at its most powerful on the day of the winter solstice, the two halves of the rune signifying the balance of summer and winter and promising the return of the sun even on the darkest day.  With its two halves, Jera reminds us to look back over the previous year and take stock of our achivements, and also to look forward to the coming year – what do we need to sow and harvest in the future?  In this respect, Jera might be likened to the Roman God Janus who faces future and past simultaneously, seated upon a throne resting on the hinge of the year – Jera is that hinge.

Jera’s energy builds slowly, its manifestation like that of a tree grown from a single seed.  Whereas Teiwaz speaks of divine balance, and Gebo speaks of ethical balance, Jera speaks of natural balance – the laws of Mother Nature herself are signified by Jera.  Not taking more than you need, recycling, temperance and moderation – all of these deeds honour Jera.  Not that you can’t eat, drink and be merry – far from it, Jera simply counsells balance in all things.

Jera is a rune of time, its name literally meaning ‘Year’, but is connection with the cycle of the harvest also relates to the land itself.  Jera is the twelfth rune in the Elder Futhark, together with Eihwaz it forms the very centre of the Futhark (again, like a hinge joining the two halves).  The Eihwaz rune is sometimes referred to as the ‘axis mundi’, the World Tree itself; while the Eihwaz rune stands tall, the Jera rune can be envisaged as revolving around its centre – forming the Middle World, Midgard, the realm of man. 

At the level of the individual, Eihwaz and Jera can be used to connect the inner and outer world – bringing calm and balance, allowing you the space to journey within and discover your desires.  Sit quietly and visualise the Eihwaz rune in silver, running through the centre of your body – your own axis, the core of your being, following the line of your spine; chant ‘Eihwaz’ (eye-wahz) until you can feel the power of the rune flowing through you.  See the Jera rune form in gold around you, its two halves revoving around you at the height of your solar plexus, notice how fast the rune is spinning, whether it feels steady or frenetic – chant the rune and let its power merge with that of the Eihwaz rune.  As you chant, focus on the pace of the Jera rune, spinning around you – speed it up if it seems slow and sluggish, or slow it down if it seems frantic and disordered.  Once you have achieved a steady and even rhythm for the Jera rune, sit in silence and allow the runes to speak to you.