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Tree of Life,
Tree of Knowledge
Tree of Worlds |
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Yggdrasill
Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its
ground
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Tree of Life,
Tree of Knowledge
Tree of Worlds |
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Yggdrasill is the Norse cosmic tree – an Ash tree, at the center of all worlds supporting the universe. It is the World Tree of life and knowledge, and of time and space.
Its roots span the yawning chasm of nothing and chaos, which is filled with many worlds. One of its roots extended into Niflheim, the underworld; another into Jötunheim, land of the giants; and the third into Asgard, home of the gods. At its base were three wells: Urdarbrunnr (Well of Fate), from which the tree was watered by the Norns (the Fates); Hvergelmir (Roaring Kettle), in which dwelt Nidhogg, the monster that gnawed at the tree's roots; and Mímisbrunnr (Mimir's Well), source of wisdom. If these waters dry up Yggdrasill dies. After Ragnarök (Doomsday), the world tree, though badly shaken, was to be the source of new life.
If you drink from the Mimir, you will get wisdom and understanding. Odin thought it was so important to be wise that he gave one of his eyes for a drink from the spring. From that time on, he only had one eye, but he was the cleverest of the gods. Odin went on to invent Runes, the Nordic system of writing.
"Odin hung from the world tree, Yggdrasill, impaled on his own spear,
He hung for nine days and nights, then he saw the Runes in the underworld ,
He reached down and took the Runes, runic knowledge gave him power ."
The runes bring insights that emphasize the importance of poetry in lifting the human spirit out of the chaos of day after day of struggle.
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