Nordic Mythology 3 - The tree of life, Yggdrasil

I'll tell you about the world tree, some call it the tree of life, or the tree of knowledge. The Vikings called the tree Yggdrasil. It is supposed to be an enormous ash tree, but science dispute that. Some say it is in family of tacks because it is evergreen. It's size, however, make this tree so special. It stands on three root branches.

The first is rooted in Aasgaard, the home of the Gods, the Æsirs. They have a quell there, called Urd's quell. It is where the Gods summon to consult each other. It is guarded by the three Nornes; Urd, Verdande and Skuld, the two last means future/fate and guilt. Urd is the healing elements.

This root is at centre of Ođin and his family in Valhalla, but also the Vanirs (pron. 'waanears) the Gods of sorcery, fertility and wisdom. And Alfrheim, the home of the light elves are around this centre.

The second root is in Midgaard, the world for the humans, the Jotnes (pron. Yotun, pl. Yotnes) in Jotunheim, the dark elves in Svart Alfrheim (black elves home) and lastly Nidavellir, the home of the dwarfs. This root branch is guarded mainly by the Rimtusses, under earth creatures.

This root branch nourish from Mimir's quell where the heads of the wisest creatures are preserved. Mimir is among them. He was beheaded during the great war between the Vanirs and the Æsirs. His name is found back to the Old Veda in India. He was so wise that even Ođin comes to consult him at special occasions.

The third root branch stretches out to Nivelheim, the outskirt of the universe it nourish from the quell Kvergelme. The river Elivagar streams from Kvergelme towards Ginungagap where it freezes to ice as it falls over the edge.

The worm Nidhogg (Hate hack) gnaw this root branch and one day it may even destabilize and kill the Yggdrasil. The Nornes with Urds quell are the ones really nourishing and caring for the tree. They sprinkle it's scars and wounds with water from Urd. The meaning of Nid has been carried into English language as the word "need". The ancient Nordic meaning is an all consuming drive for revenge, so it has been greatly moderated in modern language

Once there was a war where Ođin and his brothers killed the giant Yme and all his family, except Bergelme and his wife. Other wars between Gods and other creatures has been fought as well, and new will come. Every time it leaves scars and Nid. Despite some harmony between the inhabitants of the world the hate still gnaw the root of Yggdrasil and Yggdrasil's roots are the connections and continuity of everything. The Nornes see the Nid and know the tree's fate. They will guard it through the final Ragnarok when the world as we know it will end.

The roots branches further and stretch to connect both Mispelheim, the land of fire and Nivilheim the land of ice and fog where also the dead rest in Hel, or Helheim. It isn't exactly a Hell, because it is cold there. The worthy dead will be brought to Valhalla by the Valkyries to live with the Gods.

The tree crown is the ongoing stream of life. It spring from the past and stretch towards what is to come. It is a busy world. And always changing. It is evolving and it gather new insight, create new options continuously. It is the tree of wisdom of both good and evil. Once Ođin hang himself from the tree for nine days to learn the secrets of the runes. The name of Yggdrasil may stem from that event.

Yggr is one of the many names for Ođin, meaning the terrible. It is carried into modern English in the word "Ochre".
Drasill is horse. Meaning riding to hang, almost the way they lynched crooks in the old time.

As it is understood by us:
The school of life is a tough school and sometimes you even have to sacrifice a lot for specific wisdom and knowledge.

There are a lot of animals living in that tree. I have mentioned Nidhogg. He has a large family with him. They all gnaw the root and curse the Gods and life for something.

In the top of the tree crown sits the eagle Vidofnir, wide viewing the events in life, trying to calm Nidhogg and his family with telling the story in perspective. The squirrel, Ratatosk climb up and down the tree stem communicating messages between them. It is a symbol of how old stereotype opinions are perpetuated by lack of direct communication.

A lot more to say about Yggdrasil, but now you already know more than most people and you know how the Vikings used story telling to educate each other. The story telling could lead the listeners to specific features and a wise story teller could even slightly change the story to fit a specific issue they felt needed attention. Sometimes a good story is a way to reach an unpeaceful soul better than a direct confrontation.

The one who doesn't learn from the tree of life is doomed repeat his errors again and again!