Eihwaz Rune Meaning: The Yew, Death-Rebirth & Endurance
Eihwaz is the yew tree — evergreen, long-lived, and poisonous, a tree the Norse planted in graveyards because it seemed to bridge life and death. As a rune, Eihwaz is the world axis (Yggdrasil itself was sometimes linked to the yew): the vertical line connecting the underworld, the earth, and the sky.
Core Meaning
Eihwaz is transformation through endurance. It marks the passage between one phase of life and the next — not a violent ending, but a deep, structural change you survive by standing firm. It also offers protection, like the yew's deep roots.
Upright
- Death & rebirth: an ending that makes space for renewal
- Endurance: the strength to hold steady through transition
- Protection: a defensive, grounding force during change
Reversed (Merkstave)
Reversed Eihwaz suggests resistance to necessary change, fear of endings, or feeling stuck between two phases. The transformation is happening anyway — clinging only prolongs the discomfort.
In Love
A relationship undergoing deep transformation. For some, the end of one chapter; for committed couples, a profound deepening through a shared trial.
In Career
Marks a turning point — leaving an old role, surviving restructuring, or enduring a slow but meaningful shift. Stand firm; the new shape is forming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Eihwaz mean death?
Symbolically, yes — but as death-and-rebirth, transformation, not literal death. It's about endings that enable renewal.
What does Eihwaz mean reversed?
Resistance to change, fear of endings, or feeling trapped between phases.
Is Eihwaz a protective rune?
Yes — the yew's deep roots make it a grounding, defensive force during periods of transition.