A faithful horse.
Before you, a raging river
A bridge of shattered stones
Your Horse hesitates
Your confidence reassures it
It crosses the dangerous path
In an enthusiastic gallop
United, rider and horse
Continue on their way.
The appearance of the Horse signifies the revelation of a new vehicle about to set in motion, a fruitful and dynamic partnership. Crossing the great river represents the shift in values and the new world that awaits us. Rider and Horse must develop deep mutual trust to cast aside all fear and leap toward the future,
Following the masculine aspect of Tiwaz and the feminine aspect of Berkano, Ehwaz expresses balance in the remarkable symmetry of both sides, as in a mirror.
We have already encountered mounts in Uruz and especially Raidho, which in the first Aett already signified the journeys essential for bringing about the necessary changes. In this final Aett, Tiwaz represents both the impulse and the direction of the journey undertaken (Fire), Berkano provides the form (Ice), and in Ehwaz this form is mature and functional: we can count on it to lead us to our goal. The genesis is now continuous.
Ehwaz shows a dynamic balance between Fire and Ice, the rider and his mount. The horizontal nature of this conjunction underscores the interdependence and lack of hierarchy between the two forces on the same plane. The arrival at this rune also signifies that the Force, the energy— —of Fire is firmly established within the form, the energy of Ice. The organic integration into the Form guarantees the functional efficiency demanded by Fire, which in turn energizes the Form.
Here, the ambiguity between our impulses and our aspirations is gone. Thanks to our prior commitment, a new form of consciousness takes hold—a harmony between Fire and Ice, our masculine and feminine sides, our highest aspirations and our desires, our instinctual forces. We have learned to go with the flow, to adapt the pace of our efforts to the difficulty of the journey, and to accept new and even unsettling encounters and situations. Our focus has sharpened, and the perception of direction and the inner path permeates our activities.
In this final part of the journey, there is a clear sense of a common goal that requires the unwavering commitment of every part of our being. This mutual recognition and respect are indispensable, for we will have to take a leap into the unknown unlike anything we have experienced before.
This interdependence in the face of the challenge ahead is thus accompanied by both a sense of humility and confidence in our ability to make such a leap, for this inner shift can “throw us off balance” if our discernment or confidence is wavering