Jera
Alternate Spellings:
Jara, Jer, Jeran
Vocal Sound:
"Y/J"
"The Harvest"
"The Cycle"
"Year"
In our modern world, the concept of seasonal shift and reaping the harvest is not as embedded into our society as it once was, and many of us have lost touch with these cyclical changes. Unless you work with the earth or are surrounded by a culture which hasn't lost these roots, you've likely been impacted by the loss of these customs. The power of the rune Jera lies in these cyclical shifts, so today I'd like to offer suggestions on how to use this rune to bring more awareness into your life. Only then can we reap our fullest harvest.
1. Seasonal Awareness
In my experience, practicing active awareness of the seasonal cycle is one of the best nature-based spiritual medicines. When times feel uncertain, observing these changes in nature can broaden your scope and provide a sense of earthly comfort. A great way to track these changes is with a journal. Carve or draw Jera onto the cover of your journal to focus your energy (or order one from yours truly), and use it to take intentional notes on the different ways you see nature changing around you. Make it into a routine, so that you get outside on a regular basis and reacquaint yourself with your neighborhood flora and fauna. At the end of each year, look back on your notes to experience the beautiful seasons all over again.
Many of our Western Holidays were originally inspired by ancient festivals that tracked and celebrated the movement of the sun. Over the years that focus has faded, however there's no reason we can't bring back some of the original traditions. Take a look at the seasonal markers that used to be celebrated by the ancient European Pagan cultures for inspiration:
December 21st: Yule, Midwinter, Winter Solstice, Saturnalia
February 1st: Imbolc, Brigid's Day
March 21st: Ostara, Spring Equinox, Hilaria
May 1st: Beltane, May Day, Floralia
June 21st: Litha, Midsummer, Summer Solstice
August 1st: Lammas, Lughnasadh
September 21st: Mabon, Autumnal Equinox, Harvest Home
November 1st: Samhain, Halloween, Day of the Dead
2. Internal Cycle
Just as tracking external cycles can be comforting, so can tracking our internal cycles. Use the same journaling technique to track these changes, so that you feel more in control and more prepared for the future. If you're a person who menstruates, there are many good reasons to track that vital cycle in a journal! But even if you're not, it could help to track your mood, your sleep schedule, your skin health. Believe it or not, most of these things are cyclical in some way, and being aware of these shifts can help you to make any long-term changes you might want to strive for.
3. Confronting Death or Aging
Our ancestors knew that death and aging are just another part of the cycle of life. They are an essential, shared community experience that everyone must go through. However, nowadays the experience is hidden away. Our elders are seen as obsolete, and death is seen as a taboo topic. For this reason, when we finally do experience the death of a loved one (or feel it approaching us in life), we have no practiced coping mechanisms to deal with it.
End of Life Ritual:
Spend time interviewing your loved one who is nearing the end of their life. Gather stories and lessons from them, either in video or written form. Place this as a central point in your altar, along with Jera, and meditate on ways to incorporate their lessons into your life and the lives of others. This way, you will carry on their life inside the next generation, therefore continuing the cycle. Use candles to symbolize their life flame, if you feel called to.
4. Reap Your Harvest
Now that you are using Jera to monitor and track and process external and internal shifts, you are prepared to reap your harvest. Externally, this awareness can help you remember to plant seeds in Spring, and harvest your fruits in Fall. It can remind you to plan your holiday preparations, or it can inspire you to forage seasonal pieces of nature to decorate your home.
Internally, tracking your energy levels and body signals can help you plan for your most productive/introspective/vulnerable/powerful times. Personally, I've found that I have the highest energy levels around the Full Moon. (That's why all of my shop updates line up with that time of the month!)
5. Dealing with Current Events
We've all heard it time and time again - these are "unprecedented times". And that's true, in a way. But in another way, everything is cyclical. There will always be hard times, followed by a period of peace and comfort. The best thing we can do during the hard times is remind ourselves that they won't last forever. Then use the good times to build, and prepare for future obstacles. Everything ends, and the cycle will begin again.
In times when you lose sight of this universal knowledge, take a moment to meditate. Prepare your altar with items that remind you of the cyclical nature of things: fossils, eggs, bones, new growth, with Jera to unite them all. Repeat the phrase "Change is the only constant", and take comfort in happier days to come.
I hope you enjoyed this week's Inner Circle entry! This is the second post of The Rune Series, in which I explore each rune, their meanings, and their applications. Do you have a favorite rune that you want me to explore? Or maybe you have a suggestion for an entirely different subject for next week's post? Let me know in the comments below! I'm already excited to share more with you in the coming weeks.
Sending much love and light to you all,
Marin