Those who are not familiar with Scandinavian mythology and anime culture have hardly heard of the Yggdrasil tree and how important it is for everything. Many people underestimate the importance of mythological plots, which often hide knowledge that is very necessary for humanity under the guise of metaphors and allegories. What kind of tree is this, how it looks, and what is its feature, is described in detail in this article.
What it is?
Ash Yggdrasil, World Tree, Cosmic tree, Tree of Peace, Yggdrasil - all this is about the same symbol that embodies the whole concept of the structure and being of our universe. Usually it is depicted as a gigantic tree with a wide crown and root system, similar in size (like reflection in water).
German-Scandinavian mythology claims that the roots of this tree connect the three lower worlds, the branches - the three upper worlds, and also, intertwining with each other, they additionally balance the three middle worlds, to which our physical world belongs. The legends say that the World Tree grew before the appearance of the gods, planets, that is, in fact, is the basis of the whole universe.
What does the tree of the World look like in terms of myths?
It is better to begin the description of the tree Yggdrasil with the idea that our Universe is the coexistence of several parallel worlds, nine, according to information from esoteric rare works, which are on three levels:
- The lower, or underground level, consisting of three worlds.
- Medium - level of people.
- Supreme, heavenly.
The Yggdrasil tree has three roots, each of which permeates all three levels, eating from a special source: the middle worlds are fed by the Urd, the lower ones are the Boiling Cauldron (in Scandinavian it sounds like Hvergelmir), and the heavenly worlds are fed from the source of Mimir. It is thanks to the Cosmic Tree that all these nine worlds interact to form a single Universe. In historical sources, Yggdrasil is often depicted with animals or birds in the branches, sometimes with a dragon-like lizard (or snake) that coils between the roots.
Each leaf of Yggdrasil (sometimes fruits) is often depicted in the form of a star and symbolizes the past and the future, that is, fate, while the tree itself rests on top of a mountain, sometimes a pillar or column.
Heavens worlds: where do the gods live?
The upper level consists of three worlds (however, like all other levels), each of which has its own inhabitants, energy and symbolic images:
- Asgard rises above all worlds. It is there that the coveted Valhalla and the abode of the supreme aces-gods, such as Thor, Odin, Frigg, are located. Here the Guardians of the universal lock live, who monitor harmony in all worlds.
- Vanaheim. Here rests peace, tranquility, and at the same time abundance. In this world there are deities who have ceded the aces the right of primacy, although sometimes on this basis there are still differences between them. The twins Freyr and Freyja, their father Njord, are the brightest representatives of this territory, responsible for fertility of any kind, procreation and sexuality in general. Agriculture is also their paraphy. According to legend, the entrance to this place is located in the Black Sea region, some researchers even point to the Kerch Strait and argue that Vanaheim and Sarmatia are the same point on the map, only the parallels are different.
- Llesalvheim is considered the world of bright energies and eternal fun: elves live in it (alves, as the Germans call them), good spirits and other positive creatures. There are no people here at all. This world has a second name - Alvheim, which additionally indicates who lives in it.
Middle world - the world of people
The branches of Yggdrasil extend very widely, covering also all three middle worlds in which the following mortal beings live:
- Midragd (literally translated: middle place) is the main space for people to live in, which contains physical objects: continents, oceans and seas. The energies of this space are tuned to the lowest level available for understanding, and everything material that exists in the Universe, but at the same time, feelings, strong will and strong spirit are also Midgard’s properties.
- Etunheim is the world inhabited by the main opponents of the upper world and their inhabitants. These are the Etuns - giants who are older than some gods and incredibly strong. This world is separated from Asgard only by the Yving River. It is believed that Utgard (the second name of this place) is a concentration of intelligence, mental power and limitless imagination. All these aspects are the strongest in all worlds.
- Muspelheim - this world means "fire land", and here's why: it is inhabited by creatures from the fire, which are called the Turs. They possess the powerful power of transformation, and in both directions: both for creation and for destruction. This world existed before the appearance of all the others and was always considered the abode of passion. According to ancient legends, the ruler of Muspelheim, the fiery god Surt, during Ragnarok (apocalypse in Scandinavian mythology) will burn all living things.
Lower or Underground Worlds
At the very bottom of the Yggdrasil tree, there are three dark kingdoms that are inhabited by not the most friendly creatures:
- In Helheim, Loki's daughter, the goddess Hel, reigns , and the faithful dog Garm guards the road to her. This place is the end of the path of everything that died by its death: whether it be an old man, an autumn leaf or a wilted flower. Also here are those who died of hunger or thirst, completing their life cycle in the world of the dead.
- Niflheim is the oldest world of cold, darkness and sheer stagnation, when there is no way to make the slightest movement. According to legend, it was from the combination of the energies of this world with the energies of Muspelheim that the first creature was born, giving life to everyone else. His name was Ymir.
- Svartalfaheim is located between the world of people, Midgard, and the world of the dead, Helheim, and is a haven of doors (tsvegri, dvorgi, or simply gnomes). These dark spirits of the underworld are the rulers of all the treasures stored underground, and the unsurpassed craftsmen who made the weapons of the supreme gods themselves.
Symbolism of animals that are associated with the World Tree
In different parts of this magic tree live animals and birds, which have a special, hidden meaning. For example, among the branches of the tree Yggdrasil live four deer, which actively eat its leaves, symbolizing that there is nothing eternal.
In the crown, at the very top, there is a huge bird resembling an eagle (one of Odin's hypostases), and on its crown, closer to the interbrow, is a hawk, which vigilantly watches everything that happens. The bucketfelnir (so his name) symbolizes the fact that nothing is hidden from the eyes of the great god.
On the opposite side, at the roots of the Tree of Life, Nidhegg, a dragon-like serpent, is bustling about to kill a magic ash tree, gnawing at its roots. This is another mythical symbol of the constant battle between life and death in the entire universe, in all worlds. A squirrel tirelessly jumps along the trunk of an entire tree, which carries word-messages from a raven to a snake and vice versa.
Her name is Ratatosk, which means Drevozub, or Ostrozub (according to various sources). Outwardly, a cute creature is actually insidious: it distorts the meaning of transmitted messages, abundantly adding swear words to incite hatred between two interlocutors who have never seen each other because they cannot leave their post.
What gives the tree power to function?
Of great importance to the tree Yggdrasil are the Norns - these are goddesses of fate, analogues of which are found in many cultures (moira, parks). The youngest, Skuld, is the goddess of the future, a middle-aged woman Verdani is the goddess of the present, Urd is a decrepit old woman who knows the past.
These goddesses live in Mirgard at a magical spring called Urd (named after one of the norn). It is considered sacred, with living water. Every day, the goddess is watered by the tree of life, which animals torture on all sides, and thus restore it, therefore it stands evergreen and spreading, connecting not only nine worlds, but also three temporary spaces: past, present and future.
Link to Ancient Runes
The interweaving of roads between nine worlds forms runes, the mysterious letters of the ancient Scandinavians. There are twenty-four of them. Nine of them, which do not change their image when rotated 180 degrees, designated the worlds themselves, which indicates a well-developed system of analogues of worlds, connecting their paths and what is happening in the Universe. For this reason, Yggidrasil was often depicted framed with these letters, emphasizing their importance.
Symbol of the Tree of Life in different cultures
Nowadays, you can often find a photo of the Yggdrasil tree in the form of tattoos, an amulet pendant, a picture carved on a small piece of wood, or just like a print on clothes. Very often, these images complement the runic inscriptions.
What is a tribute to fashion or possession of hidden knowledge that opens the door to an unknown world? It is worth noting that the image of the sacred Tree of Life is present in many nationalities: among the Saxons it is Irminsul, in Maya - Yachkhe, in the Islamic tradition it is called the Tree of Happiness, and in Hinduism - the Tree of Aswaf. This suggests that the essence of this image as the unity of the Universe will be touched more than once by global seekers of secret knowledge.