Eihwaz Rune Deep Dive: Norse Mythology & Symbolism

BY NICOLE LAU

Introduction: The Cosmic Axis

Eihwaz (ᛇ) stands as the axis mundi—the World Tree that connects all realms, the spine of existence, and the path of transformation through death and rebirth. To understand this rune is to understand the Norse belief that all worlds are connected through Yggdrasil, that death is not an end but a gateway, and that the greatest wisdom comes through ordeal and sacrifice. From Odin hanging on the World Tree for nine nights to the sacred yew groves where shamans journeyed between worlds, from the yew bow that defended communities to the understanding that transformation requires descent into darkness—Eihwaz reveals that we are all connected through the vertical axis, that endurance brings wisdom, and that what dies is reborn stronger. This deep dive explores the mythological depths, historical context, and philosophical complexity of the thirteenth rune.

Historical Context: The Sacred Yew

Yew in Norse and Germanic Culture

The yew tree (Old Norse: ýr, Old English: eoh) held profound sacred significance:

Physical Properties:

• Longevity: Yews can live for thousands of years—some European yews are over 2,000 years old
• Regeneration: Yews regenerate from their own decay—branches root, creating new trunks
• Toxicity: All parts except the flesh of the berry are deadly poisonous
• Strength: Yew wood is incredibly strong yet flexible—perfect for bows
• Evergreen: Yews stay green through winter—symbol of eternal life

Sacred Uses:

• Sacred Groves: Yews grew in holy places, marking sacred ground
• Graveyards: Yews planted in burial grounds—guardians of the dead
• Weapons: The English longbow (which dominated medieval warfare) was made of yew
• Rune Staves: Yew wood used for carving runes—connection to Odin's sacrifice
• Protection: Yew wood talismans for protection and warding

The Yew Paradox:

• Death (poison) and Life (evergreen, longevity) in one tree
• Destruction (deadly toxin) and Protection (shields, bows)
• Ending (graveyard tree) and Beginning (regeneration)

This is Eihwaz: death and life are not opposites but partners.

The Yew Bow: Weapon of Defense

The yew bow was the supreme weapon of medieval warfare:

Why Yew?

• Sapwood (outer layer) is flexible—stores energy
• Heartwood (inner layer) is strong—resists compression
• Together they create the perfect bow—flexible yet powerful
• A yew bow could shoot arrows 300+ yards
• English longbowmen dominated battlefields for centuries

Eihwaz Teaching:

• Strength comes from flexibility (yew bends but doesn't break)
• Defense requires both softness (sapwood) and hardness (heartwood)
• The tree of death (yew) becomes the tool of life (protection)

Eihwaz in Norse Mythology

Yggdrasil: The World Tree

Yggdrasil ("Odin's Horse") is the cosmic ash tree that connects all nine realms:

The Structure:

• Three Roots: One to Asgard (gods), one to Jötunheimr (giants), one to Niflheim (primordial ice/Hel)
• Three Wells: Urðarbrunnr (Well of Fate, where Norns dwell), Mímisbrunnr (Well of Wisdom), Hvergelmir (source of all rivers)
• Nine Realms: All connected by the tree's structure
• Inhabitants: Eagle in branches, serpent Níðhöggr gnawing roots, squirrel Ratatoskr running between them, four stags eating leaves

Yggdrasil's Nature:

• Constantly under threat (Níðhöggr gnaws roots, stags eat leaves)
• Yet constantly renewed (Norns water it daily)
• Suffers but endures
• Connects all existence—without it, the cosmos collapses

Eihwaz Teaching:

• We are all connected through the World Tree
• The axis endures despite constant assault
• Suffering and renewal are constant
• The tree IS the cosmos—we live within it

Odin's Sacrifice: Hanging on the World Tree

The most profound Eihwaz myth is Odin's self-sacrifice:

The Hávamál Account:

"I know that I hung on a windy tree
nine long nights,
wounded with a spear, dedicated to Odin,
myself to myself,
on that tree of which no man knows
from where its roots run."

The Ordeal:

• Odin hangs himself on Yggdrasil
• Pierced by his own spear (Gungnir)
• No food, no water, no help
• For nine nights (nine = sacred number, completion)
• Sacrificing himself to himself (not to another god)
• At the point of death, he sees the runes
• He screams, grasps them, and falls
• He is reborn with the knowledge of runes

Eihwaz Teaching:

• Wisdom requires sacrifice—you must give something precious
• Transformation requires ordeal—you must suffer
• Death is the gateway to rebirth—Odin dies and is reborn
• The greatest sacrifice is self to self—not external but internal
• The World Tree is the axis of transformation
• Hanging = shamanic initiation (death, journey, rebirth)

This is the ultimate Eihwaz mystery: voluntary death leads to rebirth with greater power.

The Nine Realms Connected by Eihwaz

Yggdrasil connects all nine worlds:

Upper Realms (Branches):

• Asgard: Realm of the Aesir gods
• Vanaheim: Realm of the Vanir gods
• Alfheim: Realm of the light elves

Middle Realms (Trunk):

• Midgard: Realm of humans (middle earth)
• Jötunheimr: Realm of giants
• Svartalfheim: Realm of dark elves/dwarves

Lower Realms (Roots):

• Niflheim: Realm of primordial ice and mist
• Muspelheim: Realm of primordial fire
• Helheim: Realm of the dead (Hel's domain)

Eihwaz Teaching:

• All realms are connected—what happens in one affects all
• To journey between realms, you climb/descend the tree
• Shamans travel the World Tree in trance
• Your spine is your personal World Tree—you contain all realms

Eihwaz in the Rune Poems

Old Norwegian Rune Poem (13th century)

The Norwegian poem is lost for Eihwaz.

Old Icelandic Rune Poem (15th century)

Also lost for Eihwaz in surviving manuscripts.

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (8th-9th century)

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

"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 on the estate."

Interpretation:

• "Rough bark": The yew is not soft or easy—it's harsh, challenging
• "Hard and fast in the earth": Deeply rooted, unshakeable, enduring
• "Guardian of flame": Yew wood for fire-making, or metaphorically guarding the fire of life
• "Joy on the estate": Despite its harshness, the yew is valued, treasured
• Teaching: Eihwaz is harsh but essential, rough but valuable, challenging but joyful

Symbolic & Philosophical Depth

Eihwaz as the Axis Mundi

In esoteric rune interpretation, Eihwaz represents the axis mundi—the cosmic axis:

The Vertical Axis:

• Connects heaven (upper realms) and earth (lower realms)
• The center point around which all revolves
• The spine of existence
• The ladder between worlds
• The pillar that holds up the sky

Every culture has an axis mundi:

• Norse: Yggdrasil
• Christian: The Cross
• Hindu: Mount Meru
• Buddhist: The Bodhi Tree
• Shamanic: The World Tree or Cosmic Mountain

Eihwaz teaches: you ARE the axis. Your spine is your World Tree.

Eihwaz and Shamanic Initiation

Odin's hanging is the archetypal shamanic initiation:

The Pattern:

1. Separation: The initiate is separated from normal life
2. Ordeal: The initiate undergoes suffering, often near-death
3. Death: The old self dies
4. Journey: The initiate travels to other realms (often underworld)
5. Revelation: The initiate receives knowledge/power
6. Rebirth: The initiate returns, transformed
7. Integration: The initiate brings the knowledge back to serve the community

This is Eihwaz: transformation through ordeal, death, and rebirth.

Eihwaz and the Alchemical Nigredo

In alchemy, Eihwaz represents the Nigredo (blackening) at its deepest:

• The death of the old form
• Descent into darkness
• Putrefaction and decay
• The darkest point before transformation
• "In order to be reborn, one must first die"

Eihwaz Across Cultures: Comparative Symbolism

The World Tree Worldwide

The cosmic tree appears across cultures:

• Norse: Yggdrasil (ash tree connecting nine realms)
• Siberian: The Cosmic Larch (shamanic ladder)
• Mayan: Ceiba Tree (connects underworld, earth, and sky)
• Hindu: Ashvattha (cosmic fig tree, roots up, branches down)
• Kabbalistic: Tree of Life (ten sephiroth connected by paths)
• Christian: Tree of Knowledge and Tree of Life (Garden of Eden)

The Death and Rebirth God

Odin's sacrifice parallels dying and rising gods:

• Osiris (Egyptian): Killed, dismembered, resurrected
• Dionysus (Greek): Torn apart, reborn
• Christ (Christian): Crucified on tree, resurrected
• Tammuz (Mesopotamian): Dies and returns seasonally

All teach: death is not the end but transformation.

Eihwaz in Runic Magic Traditions

Transformation and Initiation Magic

Eihwaz was used in profound transformation work:

• Initiation Rites: Eihwaz carved on initiation tools
• Death Magic: Eihwaz for ritual death and rebirth
• Shamanic Journey: Eihwaz to travel between worlds
• Ordeal Magic: Eihwaz to endure and transform through difficulty

Protection and Defense

Eihwaz governs strong protection:

• Yew Wood Talismans: Carved with Eihwaz for protection
• Boundary Magic: Eihwaz to create strong boundaries
• Warding: Eihwaz to protect sacred space
• Spiritual Defense: Eihwaz against spiritual attack

The Ethics of Eihwaz Magic

Working with Eihwaz raises serious questions:

• Can we invoke death without being ready for it?
• Is it right to force transformation on ourselves or others?
• What is our responsibility when we journey between worlds?
• How do we ensure we return from the ordeal?

Norse tradition suggests: Eihwaz work is not for beginners. Only invoke death and transformation when truly ready. Always have support. Always ground thoroughly. Respect the mysteries. Some knowledge costs dearly—be willing to pay the price.

Modern Applications & Relevance

Eihwaz in the Modern World

Ancient Eihwaz wisdom speaks to contemporary life:

• Fear of Death: Eihwaz teaches death is transformation, not ending
• Resistance to Change: Eihwaz shows transformation requires letting go
• Disconnection: Eihwaz reminds us we're connected to all realms
• Spiritual Bypassing: Eihwaz demands we descend before we ascend
• Lack of Initiation: Modern culture lacks rites of passage—Eihwaz offers them

Eihwaz and Psychology

The rune offers wisdom for transformation:

Jungian psychology teaches: individuation requires descent into the shadow, death of the ego, and rebirth of the Self. This is Eihwaz. You cannot become whole without facing what you fear, releasing who you were, and being reborn as who you truly are. The journey down is the journey up. The World Tree connects all.

The Shadow Side of Eihwaz

Every rune contains both light and shadow. Eihwaz's shadow aspects include:

• Death Wish: Seeking death instead of transformation
• Spiritual Bypassing: Escaping to other realms instead of living here
• Martyrdom: Suffering as identity, not transformation
• Rigidity: Spine so stiff it breaks instead of bends
• Disconnection: Lost between worlds, not grounded in any

The rune poem's emphasis on yew being "hard and fast" yet "joy on the estate" reminds us: strength requires flexibility, harshness serves life.

Eihwaz's Teaching for Our Time

In an age of:

• Fear of death and change
• Resistance to transformation
• Disconnection from the sacred
• Lack of meaningful initiation
• Avoidance of necessary ordeals

Eihwaz offers ancient wisdom:

You are the World Tree. Your spine connects all realms. Death is not your enemy—it's your gateway. Transformation requires ordeal—embrace it. Descend into your depths. Face what you fear. Die to who you were. Be reborn as who you are. You are rooted in earth and reaching to heaven. You are the axis. You endure. You transform. This is Eihwaz. This is the way.

Conclusion: The Eternal Tree

Eihwaz, the thirteenth rune, teaches us that we are all connected through the World Tree, that transformation requires death and rebirth, and that the greatest wisdom comes through ordeal. From Yggdrasil connecting all nine realms to Odin's sacrifice on the windy tree, from the sacred yew groves to the yew bow that defends, from shamanic journeys between worlds to the understanding that your spine is your axis mundi, Eihwaz's teaching remains constant:

You are the World Tree. You connect all realms. Death is transformation. Ordeal brings wisdom. Descend to ascend. Die to be reborn. You are rooted and reaching. You are the axis. You endure. You transform. This is Eihwaz. This is the mystery.

Further Exploration

Continue your Eihwaz mastery with:

• Eihwaz Rune: Complete Guide to Meaning & Magic - Foundational correspondences and meanings
• Eihwaz Rune in Practice: Transformation, Journey & Endurance - Hands-on rituals and techniques

May Eihwaz give you strength to endure, courage to transform, and wisdom to journey between worlds. You are the World Tree. You are the axis. You endure. You transform. Onward through Heimdall's Aett—the journey deepens.