The Teachings of Eihwaz

Eihwaz is a powerful rune of Elder Futhark. It represents the Yew tree. Yew trees have long been sacred in many cultures and communities. These trees have been used traditionally to make bows, for their highly regarded resilience and flexibility. The bow uses tension as a tool to hit a target and achieve a goal. Sometimes to achieve that goal, we have to release and let go while trusting that spirit will take care of the rest.

Many lessons can be learned from this. The ability to bend without breaking and handle tension without snapping is a skill we all should see immense value in. If we can embody the spirit of the Yew and what Eihwaz represents, we can learn to accept tense situations and flow with them rather than fight the change and remain stagnant. This resilience is an amazing tool to help us through the ups and downs of life.

The Yew also represents change, eternity, death, and rebirth. Learning to flow with the changes of life and observing the change of seasons in life will help maintain balance and peace in our own lives.

Artwork by Jamie Warren (Yours Truly)

Like when we fall from a distance, our risk of injury is much less if we remain loose and roll out the tension rather than remaining stiff and trying to land on our feet. Or when boxers fight, they do not remain still and stiff, but loose and responsive to oncoming obstacles. AKA...a fist. Rolling with the punches and remaining willing to adapt is an important lesson to instill in our lives. The ability to move, change, and flow will also release the tension of situations rather than lead to pain or disruption.

The Yew tree, representing eternity, can also remind us to zoom out and look at the bigger picture. In the grand scheme of things, most situations are but a small blip. Learning to let go of attachments or egotistical belief systems may help us achieve the goal of seeing the bigger picture in most situations. Observing our beliefs and thoughts can help us identify the key opportunities for self-growth and carving a path for our own journeys. Yew helps us use these tools to build a sense of balance, peace, and harmony within our lives.

Much like the Ouroboros, the snake looping and eating itself, also represents eternity, change, and rebirth. These symbols may be correlated and instill some of the same lessons. These symbols have deep, traditional meanings in many cultures and societies. These powerful tools can aid us in rising above some of the mental, emotional, and spiritual struggles and help us connect to our deep inner wisdom.

The Yew tree is also heavily correlated with Yggdrasil or the Tree of Life. This powerful symbol of many cultures and traditional societies represents connection, unity, wisdom, balance, harmony, eternity, and life. This sacred tree is also represented by the Kabbalah, representing the spiritual path to inner wisdom and enlightenment and delving into the relationships between possibilities and reality.

Eihwaz has been a great teacher to me. I never cease to be inspired and drawn to nature and Mother's great teachings. May the lessons of Eihwaz, the Yew, and the Bow be integrated wherever they fit into your life. May we reap from the seeds we sow and may we share our abundance with others. Blessed be.