This coming weekend is the official start of autumn. Each season has its blessings, but many of us are partial to fall. Why is that?
For Southerners, it probably has a lot to do with the weather. It’s finally safe to be outside without the risk of melting into a puddle in 3.2 seconds. But there is some psychology behind it. We were conditioned as children to get excited about fall because we associate autumn with starting school, getting new school supplies and clothes, and being able to see school friends for the first time in a while. Even the changing of the leaves from green to the warmer autumn colors triggers feelings of comfort in our brains.
Autumn gives many of us warm and fuzzy feelings, and in my mind is associated with home. Fall is the time of year I want to curl up with a pile of books, cook warm foods, and spend time at home. There are tarot cards that represent autumn and the feelings it can bring — Justice, Temperance, Death, the 10 of Pentacles, and most of the Cups cards — but the divination tool I feel most closely represents this are the runes.
Now runes can be anything. One of the definitions of the word rune is a mark or letter of mysterious or magic significance. There are multiple runic systems from across the world, but typically when people think of runes, they are thinking of Nordic runes. There are multiple Nordic rune systems, but the most commonly used in modern times is the Elder Futhark.
Each rune has a divinatory meaning that encompasses concepts from Nordic cultures and belief systems. Runes might look like simple line drawings, but the ancestors knew how to pack a lot of meaning into little things. One of my favorite runes is Othala and that is the rune I associate with this time of year.
Othala is the rune of home and hearth. It represents prosperity and abundance through property or the home, as well as ancestral and spiritual legacy. Othala is stable prosperity and well-being, as well as growth. If autumn makes us want to go home and nest, then Othala is here to encourage that feeling. Othala represents the distinction between the protected and organized world of home and family and the astral world into which we go to obtain knowledge. Othala is a state of balance between these two worlds, as autumn seems to be a time of balance in the seasons.
Both the autumnal and spring equinoxes are noted as being times of balance. The daylight hours and nighttime hours on these days are equal, and spiritual practitioners often focus on balance and harmony during these times. Autumn also sits between summer and winter, balancing the orderly chaos that is often accompanied by time with friends, family, and vacations with the more actual chaos of winter weather and the winter holiday season.
Othala is a rune of protection and defense. Othala represents lawful ownership and what you have the right to protect and guard. If autumn encourages us to spend more time at home, we might find ourselves feeling more protective of our space or feel the need to improve our home and spruce up the spiritual protection. Othala is a rune that you could work into your home protection if it speaks to you.
But possession and ownership also imply the need for responsibility. What is in our possession that needs to be fixed, worked on, or taken care of? You may notice minor home repairs catching your attention or you may find yourself with the grudging need to tackle your to-do list. Although Othala focuses on the physical, it also concerns matters of spirit. What spiritual gifts do you have that need attention and practice?
Autumn is also the time of year we begin to think more about our ancestors, and Othala relates to our ancestral heritage, reminding us to honor our ancestors and their legacies.
This autumn as we wind into Halloween and winter, let the blessings and protection of Othala warm your home and heart. Happy fall y’all!
Emily Guenther is a co-owner of The Broom Closet metaphysical shop. She is a Memphis native, professional tarot reader, ordained Pagan clergy, and dog mom.
