eihwaz ᛇ

Pronunciation: AY-whaz

Alternative names: eoh, ihwaz, iwarz, ih, yr, er

Translation: yew

Sound: uncertain; proposed are “ee” as in “need” or “a” as in “cat”

Associated Concepts and Interpretations

Change/leaving behind old ways/transformation

Death/cycle of life-death-rebirth

Defense against danger/bow/protection

Enlightenment

Gateway/threshold to the underworld

Immortality

Link between worlds

Magic

Overcoming obstacles/following flow

Past life recall

Strengthening/endurance

Toxicity/poison

Union of opposites/paradox

Yew

Yggdrasil/world axis/axis mundi

Associated Rune Poems

(as translated by Bruce Dickins, 1915; public domain)

A number of interpretations are derived from the various runic poems and those associated with this rune (where available) are included below for further consideration.

Norwegian:

ᛦ Ýr er vetrgrønstr viða;
vænt er, er brennr, at sviða

ᛦ Yr
Yew is the greenest of trees in winter;
it is wont to crackle when it burns

Icelandic:

ᛦ Ýr er bendr bogi
   ok brotgjarnt járn
   ok fífu fárbauti
   arcus ynglingr

Yr - Yew
   Bent bow
   and brittle iron
   and giant of the arrow

Anglo-Saxon:

ᛇ Eoh byþ utan unsmeþe treow,
   heard hrusan fæst, hyrde fyres,
   wyrtrumun underwreþyd, wyn on eþle

Eoh
The yew is a tree with rough bark,
hard and fast in the earth, supported by its roots,
a guardian of flame and a joy upon an estate

last updated: 05 jan 2022

A list of references is available.

Audio associated with this rune is a creation of the author’s and is released to the public domain. Back-linking and attribution are appreciated, but not required, for use.