Yggdrasil (Yggdrasill)
Center of the Cosmos - Norse Mythology
The World Tree - Axis of All Nine Realms
Description & Appearance
Yggdrasil (Old Norse: "Odin's Horse" or "Terrible Steed") is the immense cosmic ash tree that stands at the center of Norse cosmology, connecting and sheltering the Nine Worlds. Its branches extend into the heavens, its trunk passes through the middle world of humans, and its three great roots reach into the depths where primordial forces dwell. As the axis mundi, Yggdrasil is the central sacred structure of Norse mythology, the pillar around which all existence is organized.
\uD83C\uDF33 Physical Form
- Immense ash tree (askr)
- Ever-green, never withers
- Branches spread over all worlds
- Three great roots extend below
- Trunk forms the cosmic axis
- Crown reaches into the heavens
- Largest and most sacred of all trees
\uD83C\uDF0A The Three Wells
- Urd's Well: Well of Fate, where Norns dwell
- Mímir's Well: Well of Wisdom, Odin sacrificed eye
- Hvergelmir: Roaring Cauldron, source of rivers
- Each well nourishes a root
- Waters contain primordial power
- Sacred dew (aurr) drips from branches
- Wells connect to different realms
\uD83E\uDD85 Creature Inhabitants
- Eagle: Unnamed, sits atop crown
- Veðrfölnir: Hawk between eagle's eyes
- Níðhöggr: Dragon gnawing roots
- Ratatoskr: Squirrel carrying insults between
- Four Stags: Dain, Dvalin, Duneyr, Durathror
- Countless serpents among roots
- Various birds in the branches
\uD83E\uDDD9\u200D\u2640\uFE0F The Norns
- Three sisters dwell at Urd's Well
- Urd: That which has become (past)
- Verdandi: That which is becoming (present)
- Skuld: That which shall be (future)
- Water the tree daily
- Apply white clay to heal bark
- Weave the fate of all beings
The Nine Worlds
Yggdrasil connects and contains the Nine Worlds (Old Norse: Níu Heimar) of Norse cosmology. These realms are home to gods, humans, giants, elves, dwarves, and the dead, each occupying different levels of the cosmic structure.
Mythology & Stories
\uD83D\uDC41\uFE0F Odin's Self-Sacrifice
Odin hung himself on Yggdrasil for nine days and nights, pierced by his own spear, sacrificing himself to himself to gain the wisdom of the runes.
- Hung without food or drink
- Pierced by Gungnir, his spear
- Gazed down into the depths
- Screamed as he took up the runes
- Fell back with runic knowledge
- Hence "Yggdrasil" = "Odin's horse" (gallows)
- Foundation of runic magic
\uD83D\uDCA7 Mímir's Well
To drink from the Well of Wisdom, Odin paid with his right eye, gaining cosmic knowledge and sight beyond mortal ken.
- Mímir guards the well of wisdom
- Located beneath one of the roots
- Odin sought its waters
- Price: one of his eyes
- Eye remains in the well
- Gained wisdom of all worlds
- Mímir's head later advises Odin
\uD83D\uDC32 Níðhöggr's Gnawing
- Dragon dwells at the roots
- Constantly gnaws at Yggdrasil
- Represents destructive forces
- Feeds on corpses in Hvergelmir
- Enemies with the eagle above
- Ratatoskr carries their insults
- Continues until Ragnarök
\uD83D\uDD25 Ragnarök
At the end of the world, Yggdrasil will tremble but ultimately survive to shelter the new world that emerges.
- Tree will shake at world's end
- All beings in its branches will fear
- Fire of Surtr will rage
- Yet Yggdrasil survives
- Líf and Lífthrásir hide within
- The human couple survives
- Repopulate the new world
\uD83C\uDF08 Bifröst Bridge
- Rainbow bridge connects Asgard to Midgard
- Built by the gods
- Burns with sacred fire
- Guarded by Heimdall
- Gods cross daily to Urd's Well
- Will break under giants' weight at Ragnarök
- Part of Yggdrasil's cosmic structure
\uD83D\uDCDA Literary Sources
- Poetic Edda: Völuspá, Grimnismál, Hávamál
- Prose Edda: Snorri Sturluson's systematic description
- Gylfaginning: Most detailed cosmological account
- Skaldic poetry: Kennings reference the tree
- Rune poems: Connections to Odin's sacrifice
- Sagas: Various references
- Adam of Bremen: Description of Uppsala tree
Associated Deities & Beings
Numerous divine and supernatural beings are associated with Yggdrasil, either dwelling within its structure, tending to its well-being, or drawing power from its roots.
Odin
The Allfather sacrificed himself on Yggdrasil to gain the runes. The tree's name means "Odin's Horse."
The Norns
Three sisters who dwell at Urd's Well, watering the tree and weaving the fate of all beings.
Níðhöggr
The dragon who eternally gnaws at Yggdrasil's roots, representing the forces of chaos and decay.
Mímir
Guardian of the Well of Wisdom beneath the tree. His severed head continues to advise Odin.
Heimdall
Guardian of Bifröst. His horn Gjallarhorn will sound at Ragnarök from beneath the tree.
Ratatoskr
The squirrel who runs up and down Yggdrasil, carrying insults between the eagle and Níðhöggr.
Cultural Significance
\uD83C\uDF33 Sacred Trees in Germanic Culture
- Sacred groves central to Germanic religion
- Irminsul pillar of the Saxons
- Thor's Oak at Geismar
- Uppsala temple's sacred tree
- Individual trees as local cult sites
- Christianization targeted sacred trees
- Tree symbolism in rune meanings
\u2638\uFE0F Axis Mundi Concept
- World Tree archetype across cultures
- Connects heaven, earth, underworld
- Shamanic cosmic pillar
- Center of the universe
- Path between realms
- Similar to Mount Meru, Omphalos
- Universal religious symbol
\u16A0 Runic Connections
- Runes received by Odin on tree
- Tree symbolism in rune staves
- Eiwaz rune represents yew/Yggdrasil
- Rune casting as consulting tree's wisdom
- Galdr sung at sacred trees
- Runes carved on wood from sacred trees
- Connection between tree and prophecy
\uD83C\uDFA8 Artistic Representations
- Medieval manuscript illustrations
- Viking Age carvings
- Romantic era paintings
- Modern fantasy artwork
- Tattoo and jewelry designs
- Album artwork in metal music
- Film and game visualizations
\uD83D\uDCDA Modern Influence
- Tolkien's Two Trees of Valinor
- Fantasy literature world-building
- Video game cosmic structures
- Marvel's cinematic Yggdrasil
- Neo-pagan Asatru practice
- Environmental symbolism
- Popular culture icon
\uD83C\uDF0F Comparative Mythology
- Finnish Ilmatar/world-tree
- Siberian shamanic world tree
- Hindu Ashvattha (cosmic fig)
- Mayan Wacah Chan (world tree)
- Chinese Jianmu (building tree)
- Indo-European tree symbolism
- Universal shamanic motif
Accessing Yggdrasil (Spiritually)
As the cosmic axis connecting all Nine Worlds, Yggdrasil is accessed through spiritual practice, shamanic journeying, and ritual rather than physical travel.
\uD83E\uDDD8 Shamanic Journeying
- Visualize the great ash tree
- Journey up branches to upper worlds
- Journey down roots to lower worlds
- Meet spirits and beings along the way
- Drum-induced trance states
- Guided meditation techniques
- Seek wisdom from each realm
\u16A0 Runic Practice
- Chant runes received from the tree
- Rune meditation connects to Yggdrasil
- Galdr (rune magic) invokes tree's power
- Cast runes seeking tree's wisdom
- Carve runes on ash wood
- Nine nights' vigil echoes Odin
- Sacrifice for knowledge
\u2728 Seiðr Practice
- Norse shamanic trance work
- Associated with Freyja's magic
- Journey through the worlds
- Prophecy and fate-seeing
- Staff (seiðstaff) represents tree
- High seat (seiðhjallr) ritual
- Contact with spirits and ancestors
\uD83C\uDF32 Sacred Tree Work
- Meditate beneath ash trees
- Honor local sacred trees
- Plant and tend trees ritually
- Create altar with tree elements
- Collect fallen ash leaves for magic
- Pour offerings at tree roots
- See the cosmic in the local
\uD83D\uDD2E Modern Ritual
- Asatru blót ceremonies
- Create Yggdrasil altar
- Honor the Norns at their well
- Nine worlds meditation
- Seasonal observances
- Community gatherings at sacred sites
- Personal devotional practice
\uD83D\uDCCD Physical Connections
- Uppsala, Sweden (ancient temple site)
- Iceland's sacred landscapes
- Ancient ash trees in Europe
- Norse archaeological sites
- Standing stones and ship stones
- Natural groves and sacred spaces
- Create sacred space anywhere
Related Across the Mythos
Yggdrasil as the archetypal axis mundi - the cosmic tree connecting all realms of existence.
See parallels: Ashvattha, Kalpavriksha, Tree of Life →The cosmic axis connecting heaven, earth, and underworld - center of the universe.
See parallels: Mount Meru, Omphalos, Irminsul →\uD83C\uDF0D Cross-Cultural World Trees & Axis Mundi
\uD83D\uDCDA See Also
Related Topics & Further Exploration
Sources & Further Reading
Primary Sources:
- Poetic Edda - Völuspá, Grimnismál, Hávamál
- Snorri Sturluson. Prose Edda (Gylfaginning)
- Adam of Bremen. Gesta Hammaburgensis Ecclesiae Pontificum
- Various Skaldic poems
Academic Sources:
- Lindow, John. Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs
- Davidson, H.R. Ellis. Gods and Myths of Northern Europe
- Simek, Rudolf. Dictionary of Northern Mythology
- Turville-Petre, E.O.G. Myth and Religion of the North
- Eliade, Mircea. Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy
- Bauschatz, Paul. The Well and the Tree
Comparative Studies:
- Eliade, Mircea. The Sacred and the Profane
- Puhvel, Jaan. Comparative Mythology
- Various studies on axis mundi symbolism
Modern Practice:
- Pennick, Nigel. Runic Lore and Legend
- Blain, Jenny. Nine Worlds of Seid-Magic
- Various Asatru and Heathen practitioners' guides