In Heathenry, The Crows Fjord Blog

World-Tree-Master

In Norse Mythology the nine worlds are found in the branches and roots of the world tree. The tree is named Yggdrasil, which is another word for Odin’s Steed. It may be so named due to the time Odin spent 9 days and nights hanging from the tree in his search for wisdom (Havamal Stanza 138).

I know that I hung

on a wind-battered tree

nine long nights,

pierced by a spear

and given to Odin,

myself to myself,

on that tree

whose roots grow in a place

no one has ever seen.

The world tree has four harts, or stags, that climb among its branches nibbling on its leaves. It is topped by an eagle with a hawk standing on its head. The serpent creature called Nidhogg nibbles on its roots. At the base of the tree is Urd’s Well, or The Well of Wyrd, where there can be found three norns who care for the tree with the waters of the well. They also find time to determine the fates of all humankind. A squirrel named Ratatosk runs up and down the tree conveying insults from the eagle to Nidhogg and Nidhogg to the eagle.

This is the first new design I have done in some time. I uploaded it to Red Bubble as Yggdrasil. It’s printed on a bunch of products Red Bubble carries, from T-shirts and iPhone cases to tote bags and hard cover journals.

There won’t be another new design for a few months, but I am planning on doing one of the Gods/Goddesses next. Hopefully I’ll have that by mid August!

Sources –

The Poetic Edda: Stories of the Norse Gods and Heroes by Jackson Crawford, Hackett, 2015

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