“Cattle dies
Kinsmen die
Self dies the same
But reputation
Never dies,
For one who earns a good one.
Cattle dies.
Kinsmen die.
Self dies the same.
But one I know
Never dies.
Judgement of ever dead man.”
- Hávamál
Kinsmen die
Self dies the same
But reputation
Never dies,
For one who earns a good one.
Cattle dies.
Kinsmen die.
Self dies the same.
But one I know
Never dies.
Judgement of ever dead man.”
- Hávamál
tw; death mention, suicide mention
Literal Meaning & History
The word, in all likelyhood, refers to the original yew tree.
The yew, or european yew, is a relatively small tree, only growing to 10-20 meters in height (33-66 feet) though the tallest of them measured 28 feet (92ft) tall.
It’s got a very wide trunk comparative to height and it’s a slow growing, dark coloured evergreen with bright red berries.
The yew, or european yew, is a relatively small tree, only growing to 10-20 meters in height (33-66 feet) though the tallest of them measured 28 feet (92ft) tall.
It’s got a very wide trunk comparative to height and it’s a slow growing, dark coloured evergreen with bright red berries.
It’s also an extremely toxic tree. Every part of it except the flesh of the berries is poisonous.
There are many recipes of concoctions and stories of using this tree as a means of suicide.
There are many recipes of concoctions and stories of using this tree as a means of suicide.
Some of the oldest descriptions of the heathen world tree imply that it was a yew, though in later translations this tree was replaced with the ash.
The yew tree gives excellent wood for crafting weapons, the oldest wooden artifact is a spear made of yew and the yew is said to have been preferred wood for making the infamous english longbow.
Unless cut down, the yew will live for hundreds possibly even thousands of years.
Figurative Meaning & Symbolism
This is a rune of change and of death, in many ways similar to the tarot card Death, so if you are familiar with that one, “Death” is a good key-word to keep in mind while you work with this rune, but not without it’s counterpart of “Rebirth”.
This is enduring.
This is beginning, rebirth.
This is the shelter from the storm of life.
This is standing face to face with your fears.
This is a turning point.
This is complete transformation.
This is Death.
This is beginning, rebirth.
This is the shelter from the storm of life.
This is standing face to face with your fears.
This is a turning point.
This is complete transformation.
This is Death.
The yew tree offers a safe, dry place to rest, nearest to it’s trunk, while the storm rages on beyond it’s boughs.
It offers strong wood.
It offers sweet berries.
And it is literally poisonous.
It offers strong wood.
It offers sweet berries.
And it is literally poisonous.
This is that moment in your life where the path you walk on takes a sharp turn, where everything changes, where everything changes you.
This is literal physical death, and the death of the ego, of the idea of who you are.
This is that moment’s rest between two different lives, a nap while you travel as you move to a new city, a new place, a new job, a new life.
This is making the choice to work through your issues, see that therapist, resolve your phobias, to change, to grow.
This is becoming and this is ending.
Suggested Homework
What is the single largest change you’ve experienced in your life?
This could be moving house.
This could be a massive change in your family.
This could be abandoning a career or a path of study and starting a new one, considerably different the old one.
This could be an accident.
This could be on purpose.
This could be a massive change in your family.
This could be abandoning a career or a path of study and starting a new one, considerably different the old one.
This could be an accident.
This could be on purpose.
Just, look for a big and drastic change.
(If the single biggest change is uncomfortable to you, then chose something else. It’s okay. This will be easier with a change you’ve made your peace with or better.)
Now write down the change in simple terms.
Then write down how it changed you.
Then write down how it changed you.
What are you now that you weren’t then.
What were you then that you aren’t now.
What were you then that you aren’t now.
