E and I
The vertical column of the World Tree
2nd aett 5th rune
Yew in the form of the World Tree
as the giver of life and death
Communication death regeneration
knowledge dreaming magic
Yew
Mandrake
Lapis lazulii sapphire blue topaz
herkimer diamond
Dark Blue
December 28 thru January 13
1230 am thru 130 am
The Germanic name Ezck or Eihwaz
The Anglo Saxon name Yr or Eoh
The Norwegian name Eo
Eihwaz represents the vertical axis
of the world that twisted through the
massive trunk of Yggdrasil the World Tree
Because Yggdrasil was represented by a yew tree
Eihwaz is one of the most powerful and magical
runes
The yew tree is an evergreen known for longevity
but it also contains a toxin known to affect the
central nervous system Because of this early rune
usres cut staves from yew trees thus combining
longevity with toxicity again illustrating energy
that has the polarities of death and regeneration
The stave of Britsum is a preserved runic talisman
that was carved in yew wood some time between
500 to 650 CE Its inscription is interpreted as
Always carry this yew Strength is contained in it
Odin He was the god of nobility and warriors
not the common man Many heroes genealogies begin
with Odin including that of Sigurd or Seigfried
Odin had two watchdogs the wolves Geri and Freki
whom he constantly fed and two ravens Hugin and Munin
which represented thought and memory Odin sent his
ravens out each day to gather news from the world
and bring it back to him Odin was destined to be
swallowed by the Ferris Wolf at Ragnarok but even
though he knew his fate he still chose to do battle
exemplifying the warriors code of honor
Eagle spider horse wolf raven serpent dragon
jaguar dolphin eel salmon butterfly dragonfly
lizard kingfisher hound moth
All the elements
13
Scorpio
The Hanged Man
Eihwaz came into being when Odin in his quest for
knowledge hung from the spinning Yggdrasil and discovered
the runes and their meanings The word for the World Tree
Yggdrasil means Yggs horse Ygg was another name for Odin
and horse was a metaphor for the gallows After coming back
from the shamanic experience of hanging from the tree
Odin had not only gotten the runes but also as the wild
hunter the ability to travel between the realms of life
and death
Eihwaz was also associated with Uller god of hunting
and archery who ruled Asgard during the cold part of the
year The son of Sif and an unnamed frost giant Uller was
also god of the Wild Hart His home in Asgard was called
Ydalir meaning yew grove because the yew is best for bows
Understands the knowledge of the cosmic or World Tree
Releases you from the fear of death
Develops your creative and magical abilities
Increases your divination skills
Communicates bewteen different realms of awareness
Practices lucid dreaming
Communicates with your ancestors
Eihwaz eihwaz eihwaz
Iwaz iwaz iwaz
E e e e e e e e e e e
Iwu iwa iwi iwa iwu
Iwo iwe iwi iwa iwu
E e e e e e e e e e e
As the axis that grows through and connects
the three realms of the upperworld Midgard
and the underworld Eihwaz is a lifegiving energy
and a powerful stave of protection and banishing
Tiwaz which is the first rune of the third aett
also moves through the three realms but with an
emphasis on separation With Eihwaz the emphasis
is on communication and the connections between
the three realms in other words moving through the
thresholds As with the World Tree the roots grew down
into the underworld the straight line of the trunk was
the Earth and the top branches and leaves were in the
upperworld home of the gods and goddesses
Eihwaz is ideal for working with different planes of
being including the realm of dreams When you use this
rune as a divination tool it may reveal a new or
different stage or course in life It can also be
used for protection and to move someones energy
out of your space The number thirteen is the most
powerful magical number it only beganto be considered
unlucky with the advent of Christianity
The Rune of Purpose a strongly protective
rune connotes driving steadily to a goal
Obstacles may arise but will be overcome
speed is less important than constancy
Results may or may not be dramatic but they
will be certain
In the West and North Europe Yew has
been connected with symbolics of the runes
magic death ever since the oldest times known
Respect paid to it dates from the times older
than the Celts and has been lasting until
this day in the Christian tradition The reasons
for such a respect are numerous its
eternal evergreen color is the symbol of life
during long winters while the red berries
the color of blood also symbolize life
In addition Yew lives for exceptionally long
being practically immortal
Eihwaz is the thirteenth rune in the sequence
marking the middle of the alphabet It is the turning
point in the runic voyage and symbolizes change
as consequence of the process of initiation
All transition rituals especially those introducing
the young into the world of the grownups feature
an outstanding symbolics of death the basic idea
of which being that an old person has to die so as
to make birth possible of a new mature to be
person In this sense the rune is close to Death a Major
Arcana from the Tarot which also occupies the thirteenth
position
Eihwaz is the passage that takes us to the kingdom
of Hel which is necessary for us to gain insight into
the basic idea and accept our own mortality This is a
mystery only possible to learn with assistance of death
it self the process of liberation understanding in
itself facing the deepest fears wisdom acquired through
own experience Eihwaz is the bridge leading to that
wisdom stretching between the Life Jera and the new birth
Pertho
When used in divination it signifies change
initiation confrontation to fear
turning point and death
For use in magik for bringing about a complete
change for facilitation of going through life
Eihwaz features no specific upright and
and reverse positions Eihwaz represents change
with no interruptions way out of problems without
any difficulties evasion of possible traps
Eihwaz says that the person asking the question
is going to experience change of job shortly
That change will be causing dissatisfaction
at first however bringing much success
and happiness on the long run Eihwaz
does not speak of ones own personal work
rather being able to relate also to change
in relations or change of the superiors opinions
and attitudes It can also stand for change
in the physical sense of place of work
In some instances Eihwaz speaks of difficult
current situation one can simply see no
way out It announces that the situation
is going to start changing for the better
soon that relief is approaching
In general Eihwaz announces the inevitable
change which brings along positive outcomes
and results
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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