Yggdrasil Tree (Tree of Life): description, meaning

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:55

Those who are not familiar with Scandinavian mythology and anime culture are unlikely to have heard of the Yggdrasil tree and how important it is to all things. Many people underestimate the importance of mythological plots, in which knowledge that is very necessary for humanity is often hidden under the guise of metaphors and allegories. What kind of tree is this, how it looks and what is its peculiarity, is described in detail in this article.

What is this?

Yggdrasil Ash Tree, World Tree, Cosmic Tree, World Tree, Yggdrasil - it's all about the same symbol, which contains the whole concept of the structure and existence of our universe. It is usually depicted as a gigantic tree with a wide crown and root system, similar in size (like a reflection in water).

German-Scandinavian mythology claims that the roots of this tree connect the three lower worlds, the branches - the three upper ones, and, intertwining with each other, they additionally keep the three middle worlds in balance, which include our physical world. The legends state that the World Tree grew even before the appearance of the gods, planets, that is, in fact,is the basis of the entire universe.

What does the World Tree look like in terms of myths?

Description of the Yggdrasil tree is better to start 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:

Lower, or underground level, consisting of three worlds.
Medium - the level of people.
Superior, heavenly.

The tree of Yggdrasil has three roots, each of which permeates all three levels, feeding from a special source: the middle worlds are fed by Urd, the lower ones by 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, forming a single Universe. In historical sources, Yggdrasil is often depicted with animals or birds in its branches, sometimes with a dragon-like lizard (or snake) that coils between the roots.

Each leaf of Yggdrasil (sometimes fruits) is often depicted as a star and symbolizes the past and the future, that is, fate, while the tree itself rests on top of a mountain, sometimes a certain pillar or column.

Heavenly worlds: where do the gods live?

The top 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 gods-aces, such asThor, Odin, Frigg. Here live the Keepers of the universal lock, who monitor the harmony in all worlds.
Vanaheim. Here reigns peace, tranquility, and at the same time abundance. In this world, deities live who have ceded the right of primacy to the aces, although sometimes disagreements still arise between them on this basis. The twins Freyr and Freya, their father Njord, are the brightest representatives of this territory, responsible for the fertility of any kind, procreation and sexuality in general. Agriculture is also their parish. According to legend, the entrance to this place is located in the Black Sea region, some researchers even point to the Kerch Strait and claim that Vanaheim and Sarmatia are the same point on the map, only the parallels are different.
Ljesalfheim is considered a world of light energies and eternal fun: elves (alves, as the Germans call them), good spirits and other positive creatures live in it. There are no people here at all. This world has a second name - Alfheim, which additionally indicates who lives in it.

The middle world is the world of people

The branches of Yggdrasil extend very widely, also covering all three of the middle worlds, in which the following mortal beings live:

Midragd (literally translated: the middle place) is the main space for people to live, 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 properties of Midgard.
Etunheim is the world inhabited by the main opponents of the upper world and their inhabitants. These are Jotuns - giants who are older than some gods and incredibly strong. This world is separated from Asgard only by the Ewing River. It is believed that Utgard (the second name of this place) is the concentration of intellect, mental strength and boundless imagination. All these aspects are the strongest in all the worlds.
Muspelheim - this world means "land of fire" in translation, and here's why: it is inhabited by creatures from fire, which are called thurses. They have a 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 has always been considered the abode of passion. According to ancient legends, the ruler of Muspelheim, the fiery god Surt, during Ragnarok (the 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 realms inhabited by not the most friendly creatures:

The daughter of Loki, the goddess Hel, reigns in Helheim, and the faithful dog Garm guards the road to her. This place is the end of the path of everything that died a natural death: whether it be an old person, an autumn leaf or a withered flower. Also included are those who died of hunger or thirst, completing their life cycle in the world of the dead.
Niflheim is an ancient world of cold, darkness and complete 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 that gave life to all the rest. His name was Ymir.
Svartalfheim is located between the world of people, Midgard, and the world of the dead, Helheim, and is the refuge of the dvergs (tsvegri, dwarves, or simply gnomes). These dark spirits of the underworld are the masters of all the treasures stored underground, and unsurpassed craftsmen who have made the weapons of the supreme gods themselves.

Symbols of animals associated with the World Tree

Animals and birds with a special, hidden meaning live in different parts of this magical tree. For example, four deer live among the branches of the Yggdrasil tree, which actively eat its leaves, symbolizing that nothing is eternal.

In the crown, at the very top, sits a huge bird resembling an eagle (one of the incarnations of Odin), and on its crown, closer to the eyebrows, there is a hawk that vigilantly follows everything that happens. Vedrfelnir (that's his name) symbolizes that nothing can be hidden from the eyes of the great god.

On the opposite side, at the roots of the Tree of Life, the dragon-like serpent Nidhogg fusses about, eager to kill the magic ash tree by gnawing at its roots. This is another mythical symbol of the constant battle between life and death throughout the universe, in all worlds. A squirrel tirelessly jumps along the trunk of the whole tree, which carries word-messages from a raven to a snake and back.

Her name is Ratatoskr, which means Treetooth, or Sharptooth (according to varioussources). The seemingly cute creature is actually insidious: it distorts the meaning of the transmitted messages, adding profuse words to incite hatred between two interlocutors who have never seen each other, because they cannot leave their post.

What gives the tree the strength to function?

The norns are of great importance for the Yggdrasil tree - these are the goddesses of fate, whose analogues are found in many cultures (moiras, parks). The youngest, Skuld, is the goddess of the future, the middle-aged woman of Verdani is the goddess of the present, Urd is a decrepit old woman who knows the past.

These goddesses live in Mirgard near a magical spring called Urd (named after one of the norns). It is considered sacred, with living water. The goddesses daily water the tree of life, which is tortured by animals from all sides, and thus restore it, so it stands evergreen and sprawling, linking not only nine worlds, but also three time spaces: past, present and future.

Connection with ancient runes

Intertwining roads between the nine worlds forms runes, the mysterious letters of the ancient Scandinavians. There are twenty-four in all. Nine of them, which do not change their image when rotated by 180 degrees, denoted the worlds themselves, which indicates a well-developed system of analogues of the worlds, connecting their paths and what is happening in the Universe. For this reason, Yggdrasil was often depicted framed with these letters, emphasizing their importance.

Symbol of the Tree of Life in different cultures

BNowadays, quite often you can see a photo of the Yggdrasil tree in the form of tattoos, an amulet-pendant, a drawing carved on a small piece of wood, or simply as a print on clothes. Very often these images are complemented by runic inscriptions.

What is it - 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, among the Mayans it is Yachkhe, in the Islamic tradition it is called the Tree of Happiness, and in Hinduism - the Aswaf Tree. This suggests that the essence of this image as the unity of the Universe will be touched upon by world seekers of secret knowledge more than once.