Yggdrasil : Viking world tree
The tree is a symbol that still fascinates me. I've covered it in a number of blog posts but hadn't yet ventured into Nordic traditions.
So today I’m showing you an incredible, majestic tree. This is Yggdrasil, also called the World Tree in Nordic mythology, that is to say a giant tree which connects the various parts of the universe.
Its history is fascinating.
Yggdrasil represents the axis around which the Nordic universe is organized. The tree in question is inhabited by many creatures, including an evil serpent, Nidhogg, who gradually eats away at it, and an eagle, Hræsvelgr, who fights against Nidhogg.
The roots of Yggdrasil, which extend into sacred places like Urdarbrunnr and Hvergelmir, symbolize the connection between the different dimensions of the Nordic universe. They connect the world tree to the realms of Niflheim, where darkness reigns, and Helheim, the realm of the dead, adding a dimension of mystery and complexity to its character.
In the stories of Norse mythology, Yggdrasil is often mentioned as the place of worship and decision where the gods of Asgard, among whom we find the famous Odin and Thor, who meet to deliberate and make crucial decisions for the destiny of the nine worlds.
Through these few words I hope to have made you want to discover this fascinating symbol of Nordic mythology!
Yggdrasil: meaning and origins
In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil can also be spelled Yggdrasill. Its name literally means "Ygg's horse" or "destrier du Redoutable", the Redoutable (Ygg) designating the god Odin.
The symbol of the world-tree is present in many civilizations, yet they have never been in contact: it is so common to find this world-tree that it is considered an archetype, i.e. a primitive and universal symbol forming part of the collective unconscious.
Perhaps that's why we haven't really found any trace of the exact origin of Ygggdrasil. What we do know for sure is that it is deeply rooted in the beliefs and traditions of the ancient Germanic and Scandinavian peoples.
Yggdrasil plays a central role, embodying the connection between the nine cosmic worlds. Its name, derived from Old Norse, has multiple meanings. It is sometimes called the World Tree or the Tree of Life. It is associated with Odin, the principal Norse God, known for his quest for wisdom and knowledge.
All Trees of Life share a common meaning: the cycle of life and death, and the interconnection of all things in the universe.
Roots and branches: symbols of connection
The Yggdrasil is often described as a gigantic tree, a giant Ash in fact, a tree with roots sunk deep into the lower realms and branches reaching for the heavens. In tree symbolism, the Ash is considered a symbol of powerful solidity. In Scandinavian traditions, it symbolizes immortality and serves as a link between the three levels of the cosmos. It links gods, humans and mythological beings.
According to Norse mythology, its roots are anchored in three sacred places. The first root plunges into the depths of Urdarbrunnr, the well of wisdom, where Norn Urd resides and destiny is woven. Another root extends to Mimir's Well, home of Mimir, guardian of wisdom and knowledge. Finally, the third root lies near the well of Hvergelmir, source of the rivers that feed the nine worlds.
The inhabitants of Yggdrasil
Yggdrasil is home to a multitude of mythological beings. These include the Norse gods Odin, Thor and Freyja, who reside in the various branches of the tree, but also other beings such as the Norns (deities of destiny) and sacred animals like the serpent Jörmungandr.
Perhaps the most famous of these sacred animals is the eagle perched on its upper branches, surveying the worlds with piercing eyesight. It can be seen in various representations of Yggdrasil, as in the one on the right. Similarly, the golden stag, Dainn, grazes on the tree's leaves, symbolizing fertility and regeneration.
The eagle and serpent seen together (as in the engraving above) symbolize the opposing concepts of matter and spirit, Earth and Heaven, instinct and intellect, the banal and the sublime, and thus the unity of the cosmos. In Norse mythology, the eagle stands at the top of the great world tree, counterbalanced by the serpent that coils around the tree's roots.
What is the world's tree?
There is not one, but many answers to this question. And why? Simply because the World Tree, also known as the Cosmic Tree or World Tree, is a recurring symbol the world over! It's a symbolic tree that links the different planes of existence, or supports the universe itself.
This concept of axis mundi is present in many traditions. This concept of axis mundi is present in many traditions. Literally, Axis Mundi translates to "Axis of the World", the axis around which the world revolves and which relates the Heavens to the Earth and the realms below. It is a universal concept, often defined symbolically as a tree or standing stone, a mountain, the omphalos, the lingam, the Vajra and the North Star.
In Norse mythology, as we've just seen, it's the Yggdrasil that links the nine cosmic worlds. It is often regarded as the central pillar of the Nordic universe, supporting the various kingdoms and representing the connection between them.
In Hindu tradition, it's the Ashvattha, also known as the Ficus religiosa or Sacred Tree of Peepal. It is associated with creation, wisdom and longevity, and is often venerated in religious and spiritual practices.
In Egyptian mythology, Jewish Kabbalah and Christianity, the Tree of Life symbolizes creation, fertility and the connection between heaven and earth.
Many traditions have incorporated the symbol of the world tree into their cosmology and spirituality. Obviously, some aspects may vary, but overall the World Tree remains a powerful symbol of cosmic connection and understanding of the universe.
Where is the Viking Yggdrasil?
Don't look for it on the world map, you won't find it! This is a mythological tree. According to Nordic stories, the World Tree is located at the center of the Nordic cosmic universe.
It carries the world, its branches spread across the sky, down to the earth, it connects the land of the Gods of Asgard to the human land of Midgard. Its high erect trunk stands on three roots, and under each of these a spring escapes. The first is Hwergelmir, the water of Becoming. From the second, Mimir, “memory” become a divine figure, we drink the knowledge acquired in the secrets of the world. The third, the source of destiny, is called Urdbrunnen, the fountain of the past, of origins. In the highest branches of the World Ash there perches an eagle who knows many things, and between his eyes stands a vulture named Wederfölnir, the Master of Time.
The World Tree and the 9 worlds of Norse mythology
In Norse mythology, the Yggdrasil is linked to the nine cosmic worlds that make up the Norse universe. Let's set off on a voyage of discovery.
Asgard: the kingdom of the gods. It lies at the top of the tree.
Midgard: the middle kingdom. This is the world where humans live
Jotunheim: the realm of the giants (often hostile to gods and humans).
Vanaheim: realm of the Vanes, another tribe of gods.
Alfheim: realm of the Light Elves.
Svartalfheim: realm of the Dark Elves and sometimes dwarves.
Niflheim: the realm of mist, a place of cold and ice.
Muspellheim: the realm of fire.
Helheim: the realm of the dead.
9 kingdoms. Coincidence?
Perhaps not, given that the number nine is associated with beginning anew. It's also the Kabbalistic number of fulfillment. For Christians, it's perfection par excellence, since it's the product of the Trinity itself. While Roman rites were built around nine days for baptisms and funerals, Egypt had nine gods who created the universe. In the North, the god Odin hung himself for nine days and nights from the Yggdrasil tree to obtain the runes.
Tales and myths associated with Yggdrasil
Yggdrasil is associated with many stories rich in symbolism and twists and turns. The best known is certainly the death and rebirth of Odin, who hangs on the world tree for nine days and nine nights to acquire wisdom. Another very well-known story: that of Ragnarök, which is nothing but the twilight of the gods (in other words the end of the world) where we see Yggdrasil trembling while cosmic powers clash in an apocalyptic battle.
I'll tell you everything later.
Yggdrasil, Odin and the runes
The Norse epic poems, the Eddas, describe how the god Odin brought the runes to mankind after a strange ritual in which he hung from the great ash tree, Yggdrasil, for nine days and nights, pierced by his own spear, Gungnir. He hung there until he saw the runic symbols reflected in the water below.
During his agony, Odin saw the runes appear before him. By picking them up and mastering them, Odin acquired the knowledge of runes. He was able to decipher them and use them for magic, divination and other mystical powers.
The power of the runes was such that they were capable of restoring life to the dead. We can deduce from this that knowledge of the runes was initially reserved for an elite, as is the case with other alphabets, knowledge of which conferred great power. This hypothesis seems to have been confirmed, as ancient texts have been found that mention runes endowed with magical powers. Runes weren't the only ones with powers, since Odin himself had the ability to fly, change shape, bring the dead back to life and see the future. All his powers came from his ability to understand runes.
Who caused the Ragnarök?
First of all, what is this Ragnarök?
Ragnarök is an apocalyptic event.
Who caused this ending?
Loki played an important role in the series of events leading to Ragnarök because he freed Fenrir (Fenrir is a gigantic wolf considered too powerful and too dangerous by the gods to remain at large) and started a series of destructive actions.
But in the end, it is rather a set of forces and entities which seem to be at the origin of the "twilight of the Gods. Even more, Ragnarök would be the inevitable result of a cosmic conflict between the forces of order and chaos. It marks the end of one cycle and the beginning of a new one.
According to Norse prophecies, there have been a series of signs and omens before that foreshadowed the impending end of the gods and worlds. Among these signs there was, for example, the liberation of Loki, the God of discord and lies, from his fetters, the roar of the wolf Fenrir, the rising of the serpent Jörmungandr from the oceans, and other natural and supernatural phenomena indicating the chaos and destruction to come.
During Ragnarök a great battle between the forces of good and evil took place. The Gods, led by Odin, Thor, and others, faced giants, wolves, serpents, and other evil creatures. And in the end many deities die and the nine worlds are destroyed.
After the immense battle, the earth sinks into the sea, the stars disappear and the flames touch the sky.
A rebirth follows, where the remaining gods meet Líf and Lífþrasir, the only surviving human couple and called to repopulate the world. The land re-emerges from the sea, the fields grow back without having been sown and a new cycle of life begins.
A final word
I hope you've enjoyed this journey into Norse mythology.
Whether it's the Yggdrasil or the Tree of Life, the two symbols, though from different traditions, share strikingly identical symbolism that testifies to the depth and universality of the sacred tree symbol.
Symbols of nature's creative and regenerative force, both the Yggdrasil and the World Tree embody the vitality of existence and the interconnectedness of everything in the universe.
Behind each symbol lies a wealth of wisdom and teachings. In Norse mythology, Odin acquires the wisdom of the runes by hanging from the Yggdrasil, while in other traditions, the Tree of Life is often associated with the quest for spiritual knowledge and enlightenment.
Both trees are powerful manifestations of the same mythological archetype, each with its own history, meanings and teachings. It's no coincidence that these sacred trees continue to fascinate us!
To connect to the Tree of Life in your daily life
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