Hey! Yew!

[entropymail]

No: HPFGUIDX 90025

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Meghan Chalmers-McDonald
<frost_indri at y...> wrote:
>   So all the talk about EIHWAZ made me curiouse. I looked it up.
SOme places it looked more like a bit of lightning than others, so...
meh...  But then you read that it is the symbol for the "Yew tree."  
>  
>   I was just reading Voldimort's rebirth sceen when I noticed, this:
>  
>   "They were standing instead in a sark and overgrown graveyard; the
black outline of a small church was visible beuond a large yew tree to
their right." (OoP, US HB, p.636)
>     
>   This seemingly innocent detail is mentioned several times, down to
it's leaves, in the telling of Voldimort's rebirth. <snip>
>  
>   I am as of yet, uncertain what these things could mean. The first
thing that come to mind is that this is confirmation that IF the
symbol on Harry's head is eiwhaz, then it is very likely that the mark
is from the wand that Voldemort held, and not from Lily.  In addition,
I think we should keep an eye out for eiwhaz and yew, since they seem
to hold an importance, and possibly beyond the scar.  
>  
>   Any ideas?

I love this stuff! Okay, this is what I have been able to divine:

1) Yew trees are evergreens, and can live for an incredibly long time
(2,000 or more). 

The yew tree is held sacred by the Druids; it symbolizes death and
rebirth. Because its branches grow into the ground, when the central
trunk dies, the tree lives on and the branches become new trees. The
yew tree also symbolizes transformation, great age, and reincarnation.

(This seems to have a lot to do with Dumbledore. He obviously has an
intimate understanding of immortality/reincarnation/death, as
demonstrated by his collaboration with Nicholas Flamel on the
philospher's/sorcerer's stone and his connection with Fawkes and
phoenixes, which are known for their long lives and rebirth. I have
always had a sneaking suspicion that Harry must in some way be
Dumbledore's successor *reincarnate*, if not literally, then
figuritively.)

2) Yew holds and conducts energy very well. It is believed to be a
good shield for magical energies: magic that directly hits the wood is
reflected.

(Of course, this correlates in a big way with Harry and Voldemort's
meeting at Godric's Hollow.  For whatever reason, Voldemort's curse
was reflected off of Harry and back onto V.)

Harry may have some yew-related protection, either provided by that
lightning bolt scar of his (if it actually came from Voldemort), or by
some of the ancient magic Lily provided before her death (in that
case, the lightning bolt is not really a lightning bolt, but a rune).
 Or, perhaps Harry *is* the yew tree. In a symbolic sort of way, of
course.

:: Entropy ::