"Y"
The sacred union of heaven and earth,
the dynamic rotation of the
summer-winter cycle
2nd aett, 4th rune
Signifies the life cycle or cycle of the sun
Cycles, right action, completion, fertility,
natural law, continuation
Oak
Rosemary
Emerald, malachite, aventurine,
green tourmaline
Green
December 13 - December 28
11:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.
The Germanic name: Gaar (Jera)
The Norse name: Ar
The Anglo-Saxon name: Ger (Jara)
The Icelandic name: Ar
The Norwegian name: Jara, Ar
The word Jera means "year" and refers to
the cycles of existence. Jera cannot act
against the natural order of things. The
Old Norse name ar relates to the word ari,
meaning "eagle," symbolizing the swift flight
of the archtypal sun. Numerically, it is
the twelfth rune and a powerful number
with respect to time, in that there are
twelve months in a year and twice twelve
hours in a day.
Jera embodies the completion of a cycle,
and represents the dynamic rotation and
changes in a cycle. This is displayed in
the eternal contrast of opposites that
make up the whole. It is used in magic
for a good harvest, because of its
association with fertility.
Frey-Originally one of the Vanir nature
gods, Frey controlled the weather (sunshine
and rain), and was associated with the winter
solstice. He ruled Alfheim, the land of the
elves. His horse, called Blodug-hofi, could race
through water and fire. Gullinbursti, his
golden-bristled boar, given to Frey by the
dwarfs, pulled his chariot and ship. Skinbladnir,
Frey's magical ship, would travel on land, sea,
or in the air. Though it was large enough to hold
all the gods and goddesses, Frey's ship folded up
and fit into his pocket when not in use. His
sword, when unsheathed, swung itself if a wise man
wielded it and fought opponents on its own power.
Frey's wife was the beautiful giantess Gerd. After
seeing her from Odin's throne, Frey lent Skirnir
his sword and horse. Only after Skirnir threatened
Gerd did she agree to go with him. Frey was killed
by the fire giant Surt at Ragnarok.
Eagle, boar, horse, hound, bear, squirrel,
grasshopper, chipmunk, cow, deer, duck, hare,
ladybug, peacock, swallow
Earth
12
The Sun
The Emperor
In the poem The Voluspa, Gullveig is "Thrice
burned, thrice reborn, often laid low, she
lives yet." The three previous runes related
to the Norns, who in their roles of past,
future, and present represented aspects of
time. The fourth rune of the second aett,
Jera, represents time as a whole.
This rune is associated with cosmic
fertility and Vanir god Frey. He was
called Argud in Icelandic, which means
"year god." This related to his role as
god of sunshine. He wooed Gerd, daughter
of the frost giant Gymir, and when the
two of them consummated their relationship
in the forest of Barri, they brought the
barren forest to life with the merging of
the ice-covered earth and the fire of the
sun. Symbolically, this story depicted the
world emerging from the ice of the third
rune Isa, into the fire of Jera, much as
the seasons move from winter to spring
every year.
Understands the circular flow of Oneness
Works with natural patterns, such as seasonal cycles
Increases ceativity and fertility
Increases harmony
Learns how polarities work together to make the whole
The power of manifestation
Jera, jera, jera,
J j j e e e r r r a a a
J j j j j j j j j
Ju ja ji je jo
Jur jar jir jer jor
J j j e e e r r r a a a
Jera embodies dynamic form, representing
the change toward completion. One of the
two "central runes" in the scheme of the
Elder Futhark, Jera affirms the cyclical
nature of this world, including the
twelvefold cycle of the sun. It deals
with the sun's yearly path, as Raidho
deals with the sun's daily path and
guiding force. Sowilo, the eighth rune
of this aett, is the archtypal sun.
Because of its relation to the annual
cycle, Jera symbolizes natural law and
the fruitfulness of effort. If the magical
pattern is set up in accordance with
natural laws, and the energy is with you,
your harvest will be abundant. A plentiful
harvest can happen only if the right things
have been done at the right times.
The Rune of Hope and Expectation relates
especially to expectations of success and
contentment. Enjoy the realization of earlier
sacrifices and labors, along with the
flourishing of your planted seeds.
In this contemporary time or state-of-the-art
technologies that suit the environment to Man's
needs, even to his wishes, forgotten has been
people's close connectedness with the annual
cycle, which is especially notable in northern
climatic regions. Change of season has never
understood in itself just change of weather
conditions, rather also determining daily
activities, even nutrition habits and choice
of food. Change of seasons used to be the
foundations of life of ancient plowmen in the
North, who never fought the Nature but rather
lived in full harmony with it.
With all Indo-European peoples traditional
calendars understood in themselves differentiation
between two (main) seasons: Winter, and Summer.
Year was calculated as starting with the beginning
of Spring, while the peak of a yearly cycle were
rites and festivities connected with the period of
harvest, falling in the time of the summer solstice,
when the Sun is in its topmost point, after which
its power starts declining. Successful harvest meant
material security during the yearly cycle that came
next, and it is exactly because of this that Jera unites
the harvest and the year in its meaning.
In the rune sequence Jera follows Isa the way the summer
exchanges the winter. With a turn of the Wheel the icy
stagnation gets broken, and the period of prosperity
and fertility is brought about. In essence, with this
leap from Isa to Jera disconnected gets the sequence
of the "negative" runes this aett started with. The
change is no consequence of any struggle against the
ice or unjust fate, but rather the consequence of
experience and patient waiting for unavoidable change.
In this manner Jera is the link connecting the life
extremes. This rune says that storms come and go, with
the Sun, however, being always here, and the life
being good - generally viewed.
When used in divination it signifies: change,
cycle renewal/repetition, motion, movement,
productivity, unavoidable development, just
reward.
For use in magik: for bringing change about;
for fertility and growth.
Jera has no specific upright and inverse positions.
Jera is the symbol of connecting incomplete end points,
paying old debts.
The rune announces that the person asking the question
will, within a year after the day/date of spread interpreting,
harvest recognitions and rewards, as the result of previous
engagement and efforts invested over a rather long period
of time. The rune is a good omen in sense of business proposals
or official presentations. If the question is asked to the
Runic Wheel, the rune's exact-meaning depends on the house
it occupies at the moment.
Jera often appears in connection with persons who are
connected with law in some way. The person asking the
question can possibly be a police officer, lawyer, judge,
or perhaps active in some other line basing on enforcement
and practising of law.
Fehu
Uruz
Thurisaz
Ansuz
Raidho
Kenaz
Gebo
Wunjo
Hagalaz
Naudhiz
Isa
Jera
Eihwaz
Perdhro
Algiz
Sowilo
Tiwaz
Berkana
Ehwaz
Mannaz
Laguz
Ingwaz
Othala
Dagaz
Rune Interpretations
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