Thursday 3 February 2011

Yggdrasil


The Ash Yggdrasil
 
Yggdrasil is the World Tree. This is a concept repeated in most religions, past and current. The Tree of Life.
 
In Norse mythology Yggdrasil is the central or holy place of the gods, the place where they hold their courts each day.
 
Its branches spread across the world and it stands over the sky. Three roots support the tree and are spread far apart: one is among the Aesir, the second among the frost giants where Ginnungagap was once (the void before creation). The third reaches down to the netherworld of Niflheim where the well of Hvergelmir springs but the serpent, Nidhogg (Hateful Striker) gnaws its roots.
 
Under the root of the Frost Giants is the Well of Mimir the wise. He is the owner and drinks of the waters of Gjallarhorn. Odin went there to ask for one drink from this well and as a pledge he gave one of his eyes.
 
The third root of Yggdrasil is in heaven and under this is the holy well of Urd. Here the gods have their place of judgement.
 
Within the branches of Yg an eagle sits who has knowledge of many things. Between his eyes is the Hawk called Vedrfolnir (Wind Bleached). The squirrel Ratatosk (Drill Tooth) runs up and down Yg and tells slanderous gossip provoking both the eagle and Nidhogg. The four staggs move about in the branches of Yg devouring the leaves. From above the stag eats and from below the serpents gnaw.
 
Norns (the Fates) live beside Urd's Well and every day they draw water and splash this with mud over the ash so it will not whither and decay.
 
I know an ash,
it is called Yggdrasil,
a high, holy tree,
splashed and coated with white clay.
From it come the dews
that fall in the valleys.
It will always stand green over Urd's Well
The Sibyl's Prophecy
 
The dew is called honeydew and bees feed on it. Two birds nourish themselves in Urd, these are the swans we know now.
 
The existence of the World Ash supports all nine worlds. It is the pillar of existence. Each tree that stands is a tribute to Yggdrasil...to life...to the cycles of seasons.
 
It is symbolically the pillar of our existence and life as a whole.

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