Related Terms • Nine worlds • Horn of Odin • Mjolnir Related Resources What is Asatru? The Havamal (sayings of Odin) Glossaries • Symbol Glossary • Alternative Religions Glossary • Glossary of Magick and the Occult

A stylized image of Yggdrasil, the Norse World Ash, the giant mythological Tree that holds together the Nine Worlds or realms of existence. This image appears on the famous Överhogdal Tapestry, which dates to the year 1066 and depicts the events of Ragnarok, the apocalyptic tale of Pre-Christian Norse legend.

It encompasses the Nine Worlds, and is guarded by the serpent Jormungandr. Yggdrasil is one of many variations of the Cosmic Axis or Universal World Tree known to all human cultures.

Yggdrasil is home to many creatures, most notably the serpent or Dragon Nidhogg, lurks in the base, The Rooster Gullinkambi (golden comb), who lives at the tree's peak, and the squirrel, Ratatosk, who carries messges between them. These animals can be viewed as metaphors for the human body.

According to Norse legend, Yggdrasil is where the god Odin hung upside-down for nine nights in order to obtain the Rune Alphabet. Beneath the roots of the World Ash lies the spring, Mimir, to which Odin sacrificed an eye to gain wisdom.

Modern diagram of Yggdrasil

Related Symbols:

Related Resources:

• The Overhogdal Tapestry (Offsite)
• Asatru
  The customs, history, and links on Norse Spirituality on About.com.
• Runes- The Alphabet of Odin
  Discover the ancient oracular alphabet of the Norse, the meanings of the Runic characters, and learn how to do a basic divination with Runes.
• Asatru symbols
  Emblems of Norse religion illustrated and explained.