The Rune Series: EIHWAZ (Yew)
The Rune of Yggdrasil
The Runes of this series belong to the Elder Futhark, one of the oldest alphabets in recorded history. Each Rune has endless interpretations and deep meanings; while their origin and/or intent is lost to history, most interpretations come from the ‘Rune Poems’, possibly written around the 8th century. This series will explore the Runes through a personal journey and interpretation of them, alongside knowledge collected from written works, such as ‘The Book of Runes’ (R.Blum, 1982), and the intricately crafted website ‘Runesecrets.com’ by Tyrael.
Greetings Dear Reader,
Welcome back to the Rune Series where we explore the ancient Runes through a psychological, practical, spiritual and philosophical lens.
You can check out the rest of this series below:
There’s a few songs I’d like to recommend for this Rune. Many neopagan musical groups have materialised over the past decade and most of them have at least one song titled ‘Yggdrasil’. I can recommend the versions from Danheim, Forndom and I’d argue Wardruna’s ‘Roltlaust Tre Fell’ is also pretty much a song about the Tree of Life, contained in the aptly named album ‘Yggdrasil’ (2013).
EIHWAZ
Yew or Ash?
Also known as Ēoh, EIHWAZ begins the second half of the sacred Runic cycle. This is where things start to get more esoteric, mystical and abstract. Despite its literal translation being ‘Yew Tree’, I’d argue that this Rune is the one that best represents the concept of the Tree of Worlds in Norse myth, also known as Yggdrasil.
“An ash I know there stands,
Yggdrasill is its name,
a tall tree, showered with shining loam.
From there come the dews
that drop in the valleys.
It stands forever green over
Urðr’s well.” (Poetic Edda)
Yggdrasil is famously translated as an ‘Ash’ instead of a ‘Yew’, however note that the ash isn’t ‘forever green’ while the yew tree conifer is apparently one of the oldest-living species. Riccardo dalla Corte investigates this difference Here and I invite you to have a look if curious, as the present article has a different focus.
The Cosmic Tree
Rune Series 13/24
Second Aett: Eihwaz, Iwaz, Eoh
Meaning: ‘Yew Tree’
Associated English letter: Y
Whether ash or yew, Yggdrasil is one of the most important elements in Norse myth. Supported by three great roots, this mystical tree gathers all nine worlds/realms in its branches, among which there is our world (Midgard) and the world of the gods (Asgard).
As already explored through ANSUZ, Odin hung himself from its branches in order to attain wisdom and discover the Runes. This concept relates beautifully to the connection between EIHWAZ and the next Rune, PERTHRO, as one leads into the other just as life leads into death.
The tree as a symbol features in many other mythologies (see the Tree of Knowledge in Biblical myth, or the Etz-Hayim in the Kabbalah) and its ancient power in our collective consciousness is likely also derived from the simple fact that it links the lower worlds to the higher: any tree has its roots in the earth, but grows toward the heavens.
Similarly, all humans walk with their feet on the earth, while their heads are in the clouds (some more than others, but you get my meaning). Jokes aside, you use your feet to traverse the linear, solid matter of our world, but you use your mind to investigate abstract concepts/ideas that have no solidity. In this sense, one is lower (don’t confuse with worse!) and the other is higher.
There is a lot to say about Yggdrasil but I will try not to stray off-topic as we’re investigating the Rune associated to it. For more information, check out this page as well as the rest of the work done by independent scholar Daniel McCoy.
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Kundalini
The vertical shape of this Rune may point to the concept of the tree, but another interesting connection suggested by Tyrael is that of the human spine and its association to the energy flow of Kundalini.
‘Kundalini’ energy (meaning ‘serpent/coiled’) is a very ancient concept, first mentioned in the Upanishads (9th — 7th centuries BCE). According to these Hindu sources one may, through practice, direct this flow of sacred energy starting at the bottom of the human spine and moving up through the energy points known as ‘chakras’ to reach the top of the head. Doing so will likely trigger awakening/mystical experiences and advanced states of consciousness.
In my own meditation practice there have been rare instances when I experienced something similar to what these stories try to convey. If you, dear Reader, have had related experiences with Kundalini energy, please let me know in the comments!
Some Neopagan sources online find ways to associate the chakras to the old Norse word ‘hvel’ (meaning ‘wheel’), suggesting that the ‘Nine worlds’ therefore, could correspond to the chakra energy centres. While this is a bit of a stretch, it remains a fascinating idea.
Please remember that all available information about Norse myth comes from Christian monks anyway, who likely were just as biased as we are. Not one word that you’ll read about Norse myth here or elsewhere is historically objective — it’s all entirely interpretative, and I think that’s the beauty of mythology anyway.
How to use EIHWAZ
Coming back to our Rune, we could see the shape of the Sacred Tree holding the nine worlds as we see the human spine holding up the rest of our skeleton which, in turn, sustains the biological structure of our bodies. There is great mystery in contemplating the relationship between the upper and the lower, the outer and the inner. “As above, so below” goes the alchemical dictum.
According to some sources (check the page above by D.McCoy for more info), our world of Midgard is located at the bottom of Yggdrasil’s tree trunk, while Asgard, being the realm of Odin and the gods, would be somewhere near the top or crown. This distribution doesn’t sound surprising to our western post-Christian minds, as we are used to perceiving the Divine above and the material below.
One isn’t better than the other because one couldn’t be perceived or understood without the other. There would be no above without below and vice-versa. As you contemplate this, think about your human condition in this very troubled and imperfect realm of Midgard that we exist in. What meaning would Asgard and its gods have without us? Who would talk and think about them? In this sense, realise the perfection of precisely where you are right Now.
And breathe.
Blessings,
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