Eihwaz Rune (ᛇ) — Meaning, Upright & Reversed
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Eihwaz (ᛇ) — Elder Futhark rune 13 of 24. endurance, death and rebirth, Yggdrasil. Upright and reversed meanings for love, career, and spiritual guidance.
Eihwaz
- endurance
- death and rebirth
- Yggdrasil
- protection
- transition
Meaning
Eihwaz (yew tree) is associated with Yggdrasil, the world tree, and with the yew's nature as simultaneously poisonous and immortal — the tree of death that lives for thousands of years. It governs transitions between worlds, endurance through trials, and the understanding that what appears to be an ending is a passage.
- Rune name
- Eihwaz
- Letter
- ᛇ (EI)
- Number
- 13 of 24
- Ætt
- Hagal's Ætt (second)
- Element
- Earth
- Yes / No
- Neutral
Upright meanings
General
Endurance through a difficult transition. A threshold between phases. Death-and-rebirth energy: something is ending so something else can begin.
Love
A relationship undergoing profound transformation. The death of one dynamic and the birth of another. Endurance through change.
Career
A significant transition — not necessarily negative, but demanding. The end of one phase and the beginning of another. Persevere.
Spiritual
Standing at a threshold between the old self and the new. The yew tree's deep time: this transition is part of a longer cycle than it appears.
Reversed meaning
Resistance to necessary transformation. Clinging to what must end. Fear of the threshold.
Love (reversed)
A relationship held together past its natural ending. Refusing to allow transformation.
Career (reversed)
Holding a position or role past its useful life. Resisting change that would ultimately be positive.
Eihwaz in dreams
Ancient trees — especially yews, oaks, and world-trees — dark forests, thresholds, doorways between worlds, and experiences of death-without-dying may carry Eihwaz's energy. Dreams of passing through to somewhere entirely different invoke this rune.
Historical background
The yew (*Taxus baccata*) is one of the oldest living organisms in Europe, with individual specimens living several thousand years. It is simultaneously poisonous and the source of the arrow, both killer and weapon. In Norse cosmology, Yggdrasil (the world tree) is sometimes identified as a yew, connecting Eihwaz to the axis of the cosmos, shamanic journey, and the boundaries between realms.
Real-world reference: Eihwaz rune on Wikipedia — for the general background concept this page applies to a specific sign or house.
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FAQ
What does the Eihwaz rune mean?
Eihwaz (yew tree) is associated with Yggdrasil, the world tree, and with the yew's nature as simultaneously poisonous and immortal — the tree of death that lives for thousands of years. It governs transitions between worlds, endurance through trials, and the understanding that what appears to be an ending is a passage.
What does Eihwaz mean in a rune reading?
Endurance through a difficult transition. A threshold between phases. Death-and-rebirth energy: something is ending so something else can begin.
What does reversed Eihwaz mean?
Resistance to necessary transformation. Clinging to what must end. Fear of the threshold.
What is Eihwaz's element and ætt?
Eihwaz belongs to Hagal's Ætt (the second ætt of the Elder Futhark) and is associated with the Earth element. It is rune number 13 in the 24-rune sequence.
What does Eihwaz mean in dreams?
Ancient trees — especially yews, oaks, and world-trees — dark forests, thresholds, doorways between worlds, and experiences of death-without-dying may carry Eihwaz's energy. Dreams of passing through to somewhere entirely different invoke this rune.