We have come to the 13th rune in the Futhark. This is also the 5th rune in Hagal's ætt. 5 is a number that very much wants to be seen, heard and noticed.
If you have walked past a yew tree without noticing it, then you must have been walking in your own bubble. I have three "atheist friends" who live a little in their own bubble, but even these people notice the yew. Yews have a kind of aura that says: "See me, but tread carefully!" I have these trees in the neighborhood and I always slip past, with awe in my gaze, and often I whisper a brief greeting.
One of my favorite gods, Ull, lives in the yew forest and has hunting weapons made of yew.
The yew represents death, rebirth and magic. If you get Eihwaz in a rune reading there is no reason to panic. The rune can mean death, but it is by no means certain that it heralds physical death. It can herald so much else. The last time I got it up together with Raido, my car was assaulted, beaten up and subjected to so much vandalism that it ended up in the car graveyard. The runes gave warning, and I turned pale … was there a danger that I would end up on a "nasty journey"? But then it was my car that had to pay with its life. A friend who got Eihwaz in connection with a house purchase ended up buying an estate of a deceased person. Well, the runes speak their language, and then it is up to us to interpret them.
Death – it is a topic that frightens many. We don't know for certain what happens to us after death. We can get glimpses of what awaits behind the veil … but we don't have the full overview. People talk about Near-Death Experiences, and it is clear that there is something waiting, but we really don't know what – other than that it is "something". But isn't that part of the thrill of being a witch, shaman, druid, seeker … figuring out life's mysteries? I have yet to meet a shaman, witch, druid or seeker who has NOT pondered life and death and all the mysteries one encounters in between :-)
Then there is Eihwaz and the steady stream of rebirth. We are not the same today as we were just five years ago. Nor will we be the same as we are today five years from now. We are constantly changing – Eihwaz's rhythm.
When it comes to magic, Eihwaz is a powerful rune. It is said to reinforce all magical abilities that exist. On the pouch I keep my runes in, I have embroidered Eihwaz, and sometimes I use the Eihwaz rune on herb blends. When I have my "outdoor sessions" I carry Eihwaz with me. I feel that it gives a little extra strength. And of course Eihwaz is with me when I visit the cemetery. It somehow belongs there.
There are many who discuss whether Yggdrasil is a yew tree or an ash. I don't take part in that discussion, because I think both sides have good arguments. I fully agree that the yew has birth, death and magic within it – there is a rhythm of its own around the yew that must be experienced.
The tree is poisonous, but you know – some of the poison can be used to create medicine against cancer. The poison can thus be used to fight a deadly attack … Evil shall drive out evil, evidently. :-)
Of the star signs I think Eihwaz resonates best with Pisces and Scorpio. The Pisces sign is a sign that dives deep when they are searching for something, and Eihwaz is a rune with truly great depth. Eihwaz is really a rune one should go deep into. I choose the Scorpio sign because Scorpio is "life, death and transformation". It is also about strength. I know an incredible number of Scorpios who present themselves as weak, but – flat rather – they are strong like few others and their sting can be deadly poison.
Pluto is a clear choice when it comes to this rune. No one clears things out like Pluto, no one transforms better, no planet/planetoid brings more death or life than Pluto!
The tarot card Death feels like the right choice together with Eihwaz. For here it is not a question of what you are willing to let go of, but now you have to let go. Outer forces take from you what you are holding on to. Let go and flow with it. The tarot card Death is number 13 in the Major Arcana, and Eihwaz is rune number 13. I just mention this, again. :-)
Of crystals, Irene Resaland picks out Nuummite. Nuummite is a stone associated with deep transformation and inner strength, much in the same way as Eihwaz and Pluto. This rare mineral from Greenland has a dark and mysterious appearance, and it is said to help the one who wears it to face their own shadows and find the courage to go through life's challenges. Nuummite is therefore seen as a helper for those who want to go deep, let go of old patterns and strengthen their inner power – exactly as Eihwaz encourages us to do.
Plants that correspond with Eihwaz
I will start with chervil. It is actually a plant that has been used to "escort" the soul from earthly life over to the next life. It has also been a symbol of the new life that springs forth in spring. Backup Granny, Alette, was particular that chervil should be sown in a bed, not in a box. "It must have room," she said and patted the plants lovingly. She also believed that chervil pumped vitality into people who had given up and were severely depressed. An acquaintance who works as a medium says that a cup of chervil tea cleanses her and puts her more easily in contact with those who have passed over.
Medically I know little about chervil's properties, but I know that great-aunt Augusta made a kind of poultice of chervil and applied it to aching joints before wrapping a bandage around them.
Cretan dittany is also a plant I associate with Eihwaz. While the ancient Greeks saw this plant as something they could use in romance. For it was very romantic to receive a bunch of Cretan dittany from suitors. Well, in our part of the world Cretan dittany is a plant for Samhain, the night of the dead, you know … and it is used in various dishes served at Samhain. I, for my part, use dittany on pizza and in my tomato soup. I think that's good – but most people brew tea from it and take an astral journey. I also bring a little with me when I visit the graves of those closest to me – then they get a little dittany and a little chervil, as a gift from me.
Pennyroyal is a plant that fascinates me. The Greeks used this plant to drive out illnesses. The patient had bunches of pennyroyal hung up over their bed so that the illness would be driven out. I think it is wonderful to use when "Spirit" is to be called in – whether to read cards or for other inquiries. It is as if pennyroyal works like an "emergency switchboard" and "Spirit" comes quickly when a little bowl of the mint is set out. In Serbia, pennyroyal is used when a dying person is restless and anxious about death. Then they set out a bowl of pennyroyal beside the dying person.
I do not recommend eating this mint. It has toxic substances in it. A little in food is fine, but use it very carefully for "internal use".
Tansy has been used both in the world of medicine and for magical rituals.
This herb is known for its strong, bitter taste and its characteristic yellow flowers that light up along roadsides and in meadows over the summers. In the old days tansy was often used to protect oneself against evil spirits and unwanted energies, and people hung up bouquets of the plant over doors or placed the plant under the pillow to ensure a good night's sleep. Medically, tansy has been used against everything from digestive complaints to fever. One of its uses has been as a remedy against intestinal parasites, and it was usually used as tea or herbal extract. It is, however, important to be careful with the dosage, as tansy is poisonous in larger amounts. In a magical context it is linked to cleansing and protection, and it is said that tansy can help break old patterns and strengthen courage, in the same way that the Eihwaz rune encourages us to welcome changes. Some places they hang tansy up outdoors to prevent insects, demons and other "riffraff" from entering the house. Well, I have tried – and the insects got in, but I noticed nothing of demons and "riffraff" :-)
When I write about Eihwaz I cannot get around the Yew. If you have the opportunity, take a trip to the nearest Yew and talk with it. It really has something magical and powerful about it.
In Wales, in a cemetery in Defynnog, you can see a yew that is estimated to be around 5000 years old. I have never seen this tree with my own eyes, but it is on my "must see list" and one day I will make the trip there. Will you come along? :-)
Then I conclude here and move on to Perthro – rune no. 14.
