Late Summer, First Harvest
Summer is in full swing now, and the weather shows it. Hot, occasionally sticky, maybe a microburst dropping down some much needed rain to cool things off.
I'm going to talk about two runes for this writing, because they are inexorably intertwined for harvest.
First, the rune Sowilo represents the sun wheel, and the sun at its strongest, which is summer. Although now with Litha behind us and the sun making its journey back South, which means the daylight is gradually decreasing, we still enjoy sunset well past 8pm. Sowilo is vitality, for when we feel healthy, we feel we can overcome anything, be successful at everything.
It is the sun's light that kisses the crops and helps them grow full and abundant during the Spring and Summer, and has now brought them to fruition and ripeness, so it is now time to reap them.
Now we turn to Jera, the harvest rune.
The time of first harvest celebrates the blessings of the sun's life giving light to the crops we need to sustain us through the coming winter. The grains and vegetables brought in are first enjoyed fresh in various harvest celebrations, with the first sheaf and first loaves of breads being dedicated and offered to the Gods and land wights to ensure their continued blessings and protection. The rest gets canned, dried, and otherwise preserved.
We cannot survive without the sun's radiance. while true that too much of it can be detrimental, we still need it to keep us sane during the dark days of winter when many are challenged by seasonal affective disorder. It keeps us healthy and sane. Without it, our crops cannot grow, flowers cannot open, and the bees and insects that we rely on for pollination cannot survive.
In other words, no sun, no crops, no crops, no life.
So as you enjoy the celebrations of your harvest, think about the light that has shone upon all. What kind of harvest do you expect to bring in? Abundant? Then honor the Gods and share with those less fortunate. Was your reaping mediocre or possibly lean? What do you need to change? Tweak maybe, or full-fledged re-do?
As you can see, Sowilo and Jera do rather go hand in hand. The light that enables the harvest to reach fruition. Find your light, bask in it, and let it guide and help to grow your next crop.
I'm going to talk about two runes for this writing, because they are inexorably intertwined for harvest.
First, the rune Sowilo represents the sun wheel, and the sun at its strongest, which is summer. Although now with Litha behind us and the sun making its journey back South, which means the daylight is gradually decreasing, we still enjoy sunset well past 8pm. Sowilo is vitality, for when we feel healthy, we feel we can overcome anything, be successful at everything.
It is the sun's light that kisses the crops and helps them grow full and abundant during the Spring and Summer, and has now brought them to fruition and ripeness, so it is now time to reap them.
Now we turn to Jera, the harvest rune.
The time of first harvest celebrates the blessings of the sun's life giving light to the crops we need to sustain us through the coming winter. The grains and vegetables brought in are first enjoyed fresh in various harvest celebrations, with the first sheaf and first loaves of breads being dedicated and offered to the Gods and land wights to ensure their continued blessings and protection. The rest gets canned, dried, and otherwise preserved.
We cannot survive without the sun's radiance. while true that too much of it can be detrimental, we still need it to keep us sane during the dark days of winter when many are challenged by seasonal affective disorder. It keeps us healthy and sane. Without it, our crops cannot grow, flowers cannot open, and the bees and insects that we rely on for pollination cannot survive.
In other words, no sun, no crops, no crops, no life.
So as you enjoy the celebrations of your harvest, think about the light that has shone upon all. What kind of harvest do you expect to bring in? Abundant? Then honor the Gods and share with those less fortunate. Was your reaping mediocre or possibly lean? What do you need to change? Tweak maybe, or full-fledged re-do?
As you can see, Sowilo and Jera do rather go hand in hand. The light that enables the harvest to reach fruition. Find your light, bask in it, and let it guide and help to grow your next crop.
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