So I have picked up my runes again. There is a story to that, but I won’t be sharing it here because I don’t have all day to fiddle diddle in my blog. Suffice it to say that there will be a wee shift in the content here as I dive back into my spiritual roots.
Old English Rune Poem
Yew is on the outside
a rough tree
and hard, firm in the earth,
keeper of the fire
supported by roots,
it is a joy on the estate.
Old Norse Rune Poem
Yew is the greenest wood in the winter;
there is usually, when it burns. singeing
Old Icelandic Rune Poem
Yew is a strong bow,
and brittle iron,
and the arrow of Farbouti
(Farbauti = a giant)
The Yew is an evergreen and many believe that it may actually be the Tree of Life in Northern European myth, Yggdrasil, although popular belief holds that this is the Ash. I won’t rehash that argument today, though. Eihwaz symbolizes transitions, important changes, and enlightenment. In Nigel Jackson’s rune card illustration, he links it to the gallows, strengthening the association with death. He also links it to the Norns and the weaving of one’s Wyrd. If you look closely there is a tiny spider in the bottom right-hand corner and a thread that travels throughout the image. Frigga’s spindle is also there, another hint of the unavoidable call of destiny. The bow hints at Ullr, a skilled hunter, and his home, Yewdale. Yew is the wood of choice when making bows. In the lower-left corner is a sprig of Yew. Yew can be used with great care in spell jars designed to protect property or people, particularly where abuse or violence is suspected. All parts of the yew are poisonous, except the flesh of the berry. The seed inside the berry is the most poisonous part of the yew, though, so take great caution when using in magick. This is not a beginner plant.
This rune allows energy to travel up and down its body exiting at either end thus showing energy traveling freely between the worlds. Eihwaz is the symbol of as above, so below.
The wood of the Yew is strong but still retains some degree of flexibility. It is durable, resistant to rot, and has a striking appearance when finished, making it an attractive building wood. It is also toxic, though, and must be handled with care. I have heard that Yew produces an excellent fire that burns like hardwood (Yew is a softwood) but for every article online supporting its use in fire-building, there are equally as many warnings against its use.
This rune promotes mental toughness and stokes the inner flames of discipline. When Eihwaz appears in your life, it is time to step off the train to seek independence from socially constructed ideas or concepts that do not serve you – it is time to make your own way. Like the Ace of Swords in Tarot, Eihwaz rocks your world by opening your eyes to the true nature of things. This can be shocking or upsetting but at the same time knowing the truth can be liberating and for some, comforting.
It can also show up when something must end so that we may move forward. Sometimes our spiral of time touches back on the past and Eihwaz shows a person or situation coming back for one last hurrah so that closure can occur. Sometimes it means that you will lose someone, either the relationship will end or they will cross over. You can pull other runes to gain clarification. As this is a daily rune pull, just know that when Eihwaz shows up, the effect tends not to be subtle.
“The truth will set you free but first it will piss you off.” -Gloria Steinem