Eihwaz

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, Eiwaz, Eoh : "EI"  or "Yo" Pronounced = Ee waz

Trees Yew (Yggdrasil)	Color Dark Green/Navy Blue	Totems Eagle, Hawk, Squirrel, Snake, Deer
Treasures Long Bow of Yew Distaff	Deities Skadi - goddess of death and winter	Stones Blood stone Dark sapphire
Element Fire/Earth	Qualities "The keeper of the flame"	Direction: North
Tarot Card Nine of Wands XII - Hanged Man	Astrological Sign:  Capricorn	Number: 13
Herb Mandrake, bryony	Fortnight Qtr moon between Dec 28 - Jan 12	Tide 12:30 a.m. - 1:30 am
Key Word: Togetherness

As the turning point of the runic circle, eihwaz holds the entire futhark hidden within itself. A rough tree on the outside, and perhaps the hardest of all the runes to understand fully, eihwaz is the keeper of fire: the hidden, but all-holding might of runic wisdom. As Jera embodies the interaction of opposites and the gradual growth of understanding, so does Eihwaz embody the melding of opposites and the lightning flash of revealing at the completion of initiation.

Yew
Bent bow
and brittle iron
and giant of the arrow.

Yew is the greenest of woods in the winter, 
when it burns it sputters

"Yew holds all"

"That Eighteenth I know which to none I will tell,
neither maid nor man's wife--
'tis best warded if but one know it:
this speak I last of my spells--
but only to her in whose arms I lie,
or else to my sister also."

Portents
Eihwaz is the symbol of rune magic. Avertive, deflective or defensive power is yours.
Patience, perseverance, foresight and protection against unexpected attack.
Wisdom in adversity.
The Yew was often planted around burial grounds (and is still to be found in ancient English churchyards) because it is poisonous and abhorrent to scavenging animals. From this attribute Ehwaz originates the concept of "Unlucky 13" in Anglo-Saxon culture.

Reverse
Eihwaz has no reverse.

Converse
Your defensive abilities are dormant and must be realized.
What appears as a danger will be easily averted through patience and concentrated effort.

This rune is the turning point in the runic journey, and represents the transformation the initiatory process. All rites of passage, particularly those marking the transition into adulthood, contain the symbolism of death, the idea being that one's former 'self' has died and given birth to a new persona. Eihwaz is the passage through which we must enter the realm of Hel in order to gain the knowledge and acceptance of our mortality, as well as those mysteries which can only be learned from the dark Lady of the dead. The process is a truly frightening one, but it is something we all must go through if we are to confront our deepest fears and emerge with the kind of wisdom that be taught but must be experienced. Eihwaz is the gateway to this wisdom, and lies between life (Jera) and rebirth (pertho).

Eihwaz is the immovable object standing against all irresistible forces.

Divination: It suggests the passage and communication between different worlds and layers of reality, that of spirit and living. Possibly a new or different stage on life. You are being asked to elevate your point of view.  The
situation at hand may be a difficult one to understand.  The time calls for meditation on the spirit rather than on the problem.  The answer will come to you.  When the conventional methods of finding harmony result in a stalemate, remove yourself from the immediate proximity to the situation, physically and mentally.  Align yourself with the spirit within.  Possibly, you re being compelled to see with the eyes of your soul.  Step back and look at the bigger picture.

Magical: Magically it can be a rune of wisdom when invoked in accessing the mysteries of Yggdrasil. In mythology, Yggdrasil is the tree from which Odin hung to obtain the answers to the mysteries of the runes. This means Eihwaz can be worked to obtain understanding of all mysteries.

It can take the natural state of energy or events to the next logical step and bring profound Change, Ease or Transition.

~Overcome difficulties.

~To find a person or a thing.

~Used to make wands or staves.

~Strengthen the will.

~Used to call upon wisdom from earlier existences.

~Used to both Store and Send Power.

~Lend strength and provide a firm foundation>

~Protect you from yourself by rendering you sensible and thoughtful.

~End situations and solve problems.

Stone Magic: If you can find tumbled versions of the stones listed above you can carve the Eihwaz rune on them for particularly effective talismans.  Use the smoky quartz to help you "see through a glass darkly" when you are working with Lèas. 

Use the Sugilite as a representation of the trunk of the Yew tree as an aid to travel between worlds.  It also aids when working with Lèas, since one of the stones properties is to provide support as we move from the comfort of the things we've done well (our south node or the dragons tail) to the challenges of our north node/the dragons head.  Moldavite when used with the help of Nwyvre reveals the green fire (more on this later)

Questions

Where should you be strengthen your personal foundation during this period?