Othala, the Rune of Inheritance

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Meaning:  inherited wealth, homeland, family estate.  Phonetic equivalent: 'o (o with a line over it)'

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem

An estate is very dear to every man,

if he can enjoy there in his house

whatever is right and proper in constant prosperity.

**This rune has no Norwegian or Icelandic poems.

Othala

Cala Gobraith, 2009

Othala- acorn to strong

oak; gifts passed from generation to generation;

objects, words, skills, gifts, memory;

offered inheritance that legacy lives

on, unobscured by time's inexorable march.

Obtain the oath of the othalai;

offer loyalty to lineage and its legacy shall be yours.

Krasskova sees this rune as home, both literally and figuratively, all that which one has ownership over, continuity of one's ancestral line, wealth and inheritance from one's ancestors, in whatever form that takes, the concept of lawful ownership and property boundaries.

Aswynn sees Othala as inherited land or family estates, genetic inheritance and inheritance of title,enclaves and the safety of the home. For her, if Inguz is the DNA, Othala represents the actual inherited traits of genetics.

For Melville, this rune represents homeland, ancestral property, family home, inheritance, ancestor spirits, sacred enclosures, universal truths and homecoming. Associations: deity- Odin, tree- hawthorn, plant- daisy, animal- salmon, bird- raven, astrology- moon, color- yellow, element- fire.

Bob Oswald considers homeland, family, inheritance, estate, possessions, ancestral home and inherited characteristics to be among Othala's aspects. Associations: deity- Odin, tree- hawthorn, plant- white clover, astrology- full moon, color- deep yellow, element- earth, stone- spinel.

Diana Paxson sees in Othala aspects such as sacred spaces, inherited spiritual affinities, and inheritance. For her this is a rune of kinship, defining family and community.

For me, this rune represents inheritance, inherited gifts and talents, heirlooms, ancestors and family. I strongly associate Othala with the branch of anthropology known as archaeology, the study of man's left-behinds. In short, the study of our ancestors' physical, tangible legacies.

Meditation associations: Grain, ancestors, vast forests, diminishing resources, legacy of past, culture, vine-covered ruins, archaeology, treasures of ancestors, carefully preserved; scent of sun-warmed sands, spiritual legacies as well as the physical.

Runes: Theory and Practice, Galina Krasskova

Power and Principles of the Runes, Freya Aswynn

The Book of Runes, Francis Melville

Discovering Runes, Bob Oswald

Taking up the Runes, Diana Paxson