Mythology around runes: Eihwaz

Mythology of Eihwaz:


Ullr, the great hunter and wanderer of the northern wastelands, is the god connected with this rune. A sure shot with his yew bow, Ullt was accustomed to taking risks. It is even Claimed that he once impersonated and replaced Odin as King of the gods of Asgard for a while. More usually, Ullr lived in a place called Ydalir, The "valley of the yews", when he was not out terrorising wildlife with his bow. The myth of Ullr's replacement of Odin is very ancient. It may be that both gods were considered to be two sides of the same coin, Odin governing the summer months and Ullr the winter. The legend of a wild huntsman careering through the skies of northern Europe survived beyond the middle ages and entered the folklore of many countries.

Eihwaz

"Eoh is a tree with rough bark, hard and fast in the earth, supported by its roots."
                                                                        
                                                         "The Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem"


This rune was known as Eoh, its pronunciation is "Y" or the alternatively "E" or also "Ei" in words like "Einherjar".
Most of the concepts associated with Eihwaz relate to trees. The rune is said to symbolise variously the apple tree, the poplar and the yew. The latter identification seems to be the most potent, because it was from the yew that bows were made. The yew is often found in vicinity of graveyards, so it becomes a symbol of the past growing into the future. It is probably also connected with Yggdrasil, the "world tree", the backbone of the universe. Eihwaz is another rune associated with horses, too, especially the mighty Sleipnir, The eight-legged steed of Odin. The herb bryony is the vegetable symbol of the rune.


Meaning:

The appearance of Eihwaz in a reading idicates progress. Even if your life seems to be moving at a snail's pace, a new situation will soon manifest itself and events will speed up so much that you may find it difficult to keep track of everything. You'll need to pay close attention to happenings around you to keep up.
adaptability and a readiness to make speedy decision will be vital if you are to make the most of this positive rune. Eihwaz is closely associated with hunting skills, so you must act as though you were an archer of old: wait until your target is in your sights and then, when the moment is right, strike out for it. Don't worry that you may miss your moment, or, indeed, miss the target: you have the acumen and shrewdness to choose the correct time and to act boldly when the accasion arises.
Eihwas shows that bravery has every indication of success.
This rune encourages you to gather your courage and take a risk. Its message is one of  ''nothing ventured, nothing gained '', and now is the time to take action. Eihwaz is thus considered to be a lucky rune for gamblers and those who live by their wits. Its appearance in a reading may show the positive influence of a strong-willed person, especially a woman.
Another good aspect of Eihwaz is that , under its influence, expected problems will not arise. The rune also indicates long-term benefits, even if you have ti put up with an uncomfortable or stressful situation for a short while, eihwaz is said to be a beneficial indicator for students and is also held to dispel storms and to calm tempestuous emotions.
Eihwaz has no inverted meaning.

Body Part: Skin, your body's first line of defense.
Associated Maladies: Skin diseases, skin infections, oversensitivity, rashes.
Action: Overdefending.
Solution: Help build up the body's defenses.