This is a truly brief introduction and not the complete creation story of the nine worlds, but relevant parts leading to Yggdrasil with passages from both the Poetic and Prose Edda. This in order to get to the parts about Yggdrasil and its role and importance in our faith and fates. In Norse cosmology, the creation of the world began in the vast emptiness of Ginnungagap, an eternal void where no form or life existed. From this void emerged two primordial realms: Niflheim, a frigid world of frost and ice, and Muspelheim, a blazing land of fire and molten heat. These contrasting realms stood at opposite ends of Ginnungagap, their elements destined to shape the cosmos.
In Niflheim, a great spring, Hvergelmir, burst forth, that fed rivers of ice and frost that flowed into the void. At the same time, Muspelheim radiated immense heat, its flames stretching across Ginnungagap. When the freezing waters from Niflheim met the scorching heat of Muspelheim, they created a transformative reaction. The ice began to melt, and from the rising steam and droplets of water, the first being, Ymir, the primordial frost giant, was born.
“Erst was the age when nothing was:
Nor sand nor sea, nor chilling stream-waves;
Earth was not found, nor Ether-Heaven,
A Yawning Gap, but grass was none.”
Prose Edda
“The streams called Ice-waves, those which were so long come from the fountain-heads that the yeasty venom upon them had hardened like the slag that runs out of the fire, these then became ice; and when the ice halted and ceased to run, then it froze over above. But the drizzling rain that rose from the venom congealed to rime, and the rime increased, frost over frost, each over the other, even into Ginnungagap, the Yawning Void.” Then spake Jafnhárr: “Ginnungagap, which faced toward the northern quarter, became filled with heaviness, and masses of ice and rime, and from within, drizzling rain and gusts; but the southern part of the Yawning Void was lighted by those sparks and glowing masses which flew out of Múspellheim.” And Thridi said: “Just as cold arose out of Niflheim, and all terrible things, so also all that looked toward Múspellheim became hot and glowing; but Ginnungagap was as mild as windless air, and when the breath of heat met the rime, so that it melted and dripped, life was quickened from the yeast-drops, by the power of that which sent the heat, and became a man’s form. And that man is named Ymir, but the Rime-Giants call him Aurgelimir; and thence have come the races of the Rime-Giants, as it says in Völuspá.”
Prose Edda
Ymir’s existence marked the dawn of life in the Norse cosmos. This immense and powerful being gave rise to new life from his very body. As he slept, sweat formed beneath his arms, creating additional giants, while his legs produced yet another. Meanwhile, the melting ice of Ginnungagap revealed Audhumla, a primordial cow. Audhumla sustained Ymir with her milk and nourished herself by licking the salty ice. As she licked, she uncovered Búri, the ancestor of the gods.
Búri’s lineage led to the birth of Odin, Vili, and Vé, three mighty brothers destined to shape the cosmos. Recognizing the chaos and danger posed by Ymir, they united to slay the primordial frost giant. From Ymir’s body, they crafted Midgard, the world of mortals. His flesh became the land, his blood formed the seas, and his bones shaped the mountains. They surrounded this mortal realm with a vast ocean.
“Of Ymir's flesh the earth was fashioned,
And of his sweat the sea.
Crags of his bones, trees of his hair,
And of his skull the sky.
Then of his brows the blithe gods made
Midgard for sons of men.
And of his brain the bitter-mooded
Clouds were all created."
Prose Edda
"She (Audhumla the cow) licked the ice-blocks, which were salty; and the first day that she licked the blocks, there came forth from the blocks in the evening a man's hair; the second day, a man's head; the third day the whole man was there. He is named Búri: he was fair of features, great and mighty. He begat a son called Borr, who wedded the woman named Bestla, daughter of Bölthorn the giant; and they had three sons: one was Odin, the second Vili, the third Vé. And this is my belief, that he, Odin, with his brothers, must be ruler of heaven and earth; we hold that he must be so called; so is that man called whom we know to be mightiest and most worthy of honor, and ye do well to let him be so called."
Prose Edda
Yggdrasil, the great World Tree, of Ash would emerge tying the realms together in an eternal balance. Within it the Gods created their world of Asgard – one of nine worlds. This became the home of Odin, chief of the Aesir, and his race of Gods. Bifröst, the Burning Rainbow Bridge connected Midgard to Asgard. This vibrant bridge was guarded by the ever-watchful Heimdallr.
“Then said Gangleri: "Where is the chief abode or holy place of the gods?" Hárr answered: 'That is at the Ash of Yggdrasill; there the gods must give judgment every day." Then Gangleri asked: "What is to be said concerning that place?" Then said Jafnhárr: "The Ash is the greatest of all trees and best: its limbs spread out over all the world and stand above heaven. Three roots of the tree uphold it and stand exceeding broad: one is among the Aesir; another among the Rime-Giants, in that place where aforetime was the Yawning Void; the third stands over Niflheim, and under that root is Hvergelmir, and Nídhöggr gnaws the root from below. But under that root which turns toward the Rime-Giants is Mímir's Well, wherein wisdom and understanding are stored; and he is called Mímir, who keeps the well. He is full of ancient lore, since he drinks of the well from the Gjallar-Horn. Thither came Allfather and craved one drink of the well; but he got it not until he had laid his eye in pledge. So says Völuspá”
Prose Edda
As Yggdrasil grew ever larger, a new realm emerged on one of its branches a lush and fertile land teeming with life: Vanaheim. A race of gods here the Vanir, known for their connection to nature, fertility, and magic. However, strife soon flared between the Vanir and the Aesir, the gods of Asgard, leading to a prolonged and bitter war.
Neither side could claim ultimate victory, and the conflict ended in a stalemate. To establish peace, the two factions forged a truce, sealed by an exchange of hostages. Members of each pantheon were sent to live among their former enemies to foster understanding and unity. Freyr and Freyja, two prominent Vanir deities, joined the Aesir. Freyr, known for his role as a god of prosperity and harvests, was granted dominion over Alfheim, the radiant realm of the elves.
Yggdrasil is home to various sacred creatures. Among them is Níðhöggr, a monstrous dragon-serpent who gnaws at the tree's roots in Niflheim, weakening its foundation. In contrast, a great eagle perches atop the highest branches of Yggdrasil, embodying wisdom and vigilance,
“…and he has understanding of many a thing; and between his eyes sits the hawk that is called Vedrfölnir.” Prose Edda
Ratatoskr, a mischievous squirrel, scurries up and down the tree, delivering messages between the eagle and Níðhöggr, often stirring conflict between the two.
At the base of Yggdrasil, among its vast roots, lies Mimir’s Well, a source of unparalleled wisdom (more on Mimir in a separate post), as well as the sacred Well of Urd. It is at the Well of Urd that the gods gather to hold judgment and council. Here reside the three Norns, the mysterious maidens who govern destiny: Urdr (Past), Verdandi (Present), and Skuld (Future). These powerful spirits weave the threads of life, shaping the fates of gods, mortals, and all living beings. Their spinning and weaving work ensures the delicate balance of the Norse cosmos, tethered to the ever-growing, ever-changing, yet burdened Yggdrasil, whose vitality reflects the state of the nine worlds it sustains.
“Thence come the maidens mighty in wisdom,
Three from the dwelling down beneath the tree;
Urd is one named, Verdandi the next,
On the wood they scored, and Skuld the third.
Laws they made there, and life allotted
To the sons of men and set their fates.”
Poetic Edda
A depiction of Yggdrasil
The Norns

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