Eihwaz is the long “i” sound.

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

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

Eihwaz is the long “i” sound, but is rarely used in written script

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

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

A day of connections, new possibilities, and new contacts is the indication of Eihwaz for today. I recently acquired a new book, “The Encyclopedia of Natural Magic” by John Michael Greer. He gives an entry for the yew tree, and I particularly like his indication for magical uses for Yew. Mr Greer writes “Use Yew for protection from spirits, especially spirits of the dead. It is particularly useful in exorcism, and laying ghosts to rest.” Definitely also a fitting use for Eihwaz also, although I would say for both, it would work equally well, both in driving spirits away, but also calling them forth.

Eihwaz has the long “i” sound, but is not used in writing regularly.

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

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

Eihwaz, the yew tree, Yggdrasil in the underworld, but also the tree that connects, for all things enter in the realms below, but also the rune of defense, in the sense that “the best defense is a good offense.” Sometimes, to enter the realms below and walk the road ot Hel, and yet still live, you need to turn your perspective around. Sometimes to make those connections, things need to be seen from a different angle that it outside your usual tunnel vision.

Eihwaz doesn’t have an exactly letter or vowel correspondence. It’s sound is similar to the long “i” sound.

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

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

Eihwaz, the yew tree, is the rune of connection. Not partnership or exchange, but the connection that lies in the center of all things, and connects all things together. In that sense, it is also a rune of defense, the defense being actively engaged in your environment, alert and aware to what is going on around you and able to respond to it, in essence, you are connected to your space. It is also a rune of magic, as it describes the connection between all things, and that is lies at the heart of most magic, often known as sympathy and contagion. That which is below is like that which is above, and that which is above, is like that which is below.In that Eihwaz is the connecting rune, it shows connections happening. What type of connections and with whom (or what) should be explored, but in a general sense, it indicates that doors are open, and access has been granted.

Eihwaz the long sound of the vowel i

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem (from ragweedforge.com)

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.

The names of Eihwaz are translated as Yew, a type of evergreen (taxus species) that has poison fruit and is toxic to humans. It is also much used in construction bows, but that particular facet belongs to Yr. In the esoteric sense, Eihwaz is the rune of Defense, but also a rune that represents Yggdrasil as the world tree upon which everything is connected, and so it shows connection. To have it show up today with Gar as the rune of the week, an aspect of Yggdrasil with the rune that represents the whole of Yggdrasil itself is kind of a big thing, I think. The combination of those runes shows that essential oneness, and a deeper sense of connection to it, at least for today.