Ehwaz · Ehwaz

Tyr's Aett · No. 19 · Sound E

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Pronunciation
*ehwaz/ˈe.hwɑz/
English respellingEH-wahz

Form after Guus Kroonen, Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Germanic (2013). The asterisk marks a linguistic reconstruction — no recording of Proto-Germanic exists. The IPA follows Ringe's (2006) sound system; the audio is a synthesised approximation. Trust the IPA over the audio.

Keywords
PartnershipTrustForward movementLoyalty
Literal meaning

Horse, partnership

Symbolism

An M-like form, or two horses running abreast — the bond between rider and mount, which carries you far only when both trust each other. Alone is faster; together is farther.

Upright

Progress that comes from cooperation — a business partnership, a relationship that fits, a team in sync. You are moving steadily forward and you are not moving alone. Trust is what makes it work.

Reversed (Merkstave)

A partnership out of step, trust broken, or being stuck waiting on someone else. It can mean a collaboration that must end, or a change arriving at the wrong time.

Advice

Do not go alone where you were meant to go together.

HistoryAbove is modern interpretation, which you can edit. Below is sourced historical material.
In daily life

The horse was transport, status symbol and sacrificial animal at once. Eating horsemeat marked you as unconverted and was banned after Christianisation. The Anglo-Saxon poem emphasises the relationship between horse and rider rather than the animal alone.

Rune poem · Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem
Eh

The horse is a joy to princes in the presence of warriors, proud on its hooves; and it is always a comfort to the restless.

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem — composed c. 7th–10th c. · original burned 1731, survives via Hickes' 1705 copy. Summary of the stanza, not a verbatim translation

References →
Aett
Tyr's Aett
Element
Earth
Associated deity
Freyr, Sleipnir
Sound
E