The Nine Worlds: The Triple Trinity

     Shamaic cultures of the world divide the univers in three different sections, which are connected by a world axis (or something similar to it). In many of this worldviews there is also a cosmic snake or dragon playing an important part. We will also find this tripartite in the Nordic mythology which is passed on to us. Unfortunately the only still known names are found in the nordic culture. How they where called in the south is not known to us anymore. Since Shamanism got almost completely extinguished, causing a vacuum, it is very hard for todays revived Shamanism in Europe to find a clear structure for itself. On one hand it is not necessary to have such structures, as they tend to cause unflexibility and they hold the danger of dogmatism and narrow minded fanaticism, which doesn’t really suit Shamanism. On the other hand this vacuum with it’s suction is the cause, that a beginner or interested person finds it very hard, if not impossible, to find an orientation in the Supermarket of Spiritualism or at least to experience some verification because of the alternative models or paradigms, which are attracted from everywhere.

      Those who start working with runes or those interested in runic shamanism or runic magic, sooner or later are confronted with the cosmology of our ancestors, even if it’s having only academical reasons. At this point I want to give an overall view of the Nine Worlds and which shamanic or mythological aspects can be experienced within them. Each one of this Nine Worlds can be experienced in a shamanic way. This by itself already subjectivies the described material and I want to remind you, that these shamanic worlds are perceived individually different.

The Nine Heavens above Asgard

In the Gylfaginning there is said to be nine further heavens, which are above Asgard. They are:

Vindlblain: Darkwind and Hregg-Mimir, Storm-Mimir
Andlang
Vidblain: Darkdistance
Vidfedmir: World-Encompasser
Hriod: Concealer
Hlyrnir: Twinlight
Gimir: fiery
Vet-Mimir: Winter-Mimir
Skatyrnir

Asgard - the first of the three upper worlds

     Asgard is located on an island in the river Hvergelmir, wich has its source in Niflheim under the three roots of Yggdrasil and which is the source of eleven big rivers. The first root of Yggdrasil lies embodied in Asgard, underneath it the spring of fate has its source (the Urdfountain). The Urd-spring is guarded by the three Nornes (Urd, Verdandi and Skuld), which have only one eye altogether. Asgard is guarded by thick walls which are protecting from the burning flames of the river and it is the home of the Aesir. In Asgard there is one root of Yggdrasil. Asgard can only be entered by a single gate. In the middle of Asgard is the Valaskjaff, the Thingplace of the gods, the celebrationhall of the fallen warriers (the Einherjer), Valhalla and the great plane Vigrid, where the Einherjer are having their daily fights and where Ragnarök will take place. There are two regions which are spread over Asgard and Midgardh: Gladsheim and Vingolf. The livingplaces of the gods and goddesses. The rainbowbridge Bifrost connects Midgardh and Asgard, the bridge is built from of air and water and is guarded by fire on its edges. In Asgard it is staticly ankerd at a place named Himminbjorg (Guardian of the Heaven), Heimdalls Tower. In Midgardh Bifrost is constantly changing its position. It takes the help of a Valkyre or a great amount of strong will to be able to cross Bifrost.

Vanaheim - the second of the three upper worlds

     Vanaheim is the Home of the Vanir (or Asynjor), the fertilitygods. Vanaheim is a place of water, of Shamans (the Seidhman and Sidhkona), of peace, of healing, of harvest, of wealth and of death. Vanaheim lies in the west.

Alfheim (Ljosalfheim) - the third of the three upper worlds

     The world of light, of fertility and of air. From Alfheim the energy flows down to the gods of Midgardh.

Midgardh - the first of the three middle worlds

     Middle-earth lies in the excat middle of all worlds, all the other ones can be reached from there. A gigantic ocean surrounds Middle-earth and within this ocean there lives Iormungand, the worldsnake which bites itself in its tail (she is a daughter of Loki).

Jotunheim - the second of the three middle worlds

     The big fortress of the giants is called Utgard (Outerworld). It lies in the mountains east of Midgardh or on the other side of the ocean, which is surrounding middle-earth. In Jotunheim live the Thursen, Etins and the giants. They are descendants of Ymirand and represent the power of the primeval chaos - which means wisdom and destruction simultaneously. The icegiants and the rockgiants are constantly trying to destroy the structures of the world. Under the second root of Yggdrasil, which is located in Jotunheim, lies the source of the spring of Mimir, whose water is the origin of deep wisdom. Wotan himself sacrificed an eye to drink from this water. Mimirs head is guarding this place.

Nidavellier - the third of the three middle worlds

     The dark habitat, which lies in the north. The Black-elfs and Black-dwarfs live there in caves and other abysses. They posess the wisdom and the magic of creating and manifesting thoughts. Same as the Light-elfs they make jewellery and magic weapons.

Svartalfheim - the first of the three lower worlds

     It is not really known where Svartalfheim lies exactely. It is located underneath Nidavellier, which actually puts it to Midgardh. The secret of the deep earth and the original cold lies hidden here. The mystical blacksmith’s and treasurecaves are found here in Svartalfheim.

Niflheim - the second of the three lower worlds

     The world of the dead, a meagre place of cold. From Midgardh it is a ride of nine days to reach the howling bridge Gfallarbru, which leads over the borderriver Gjoll. Modgud is guarding this bridge. There is a connection with Muspellheim, which is guarded by the firegiant Surt. Niflheim and Muspellheim are the primeval frost and the primeval spark, which are separated by the abyss of Ginnungagap. The third root of Yggdrasil lies embodied in Niflheim. Underneath it lies the source of the river Hvergelmir.

Hel - the third of the three lower worlds

     Behind the howling bridge lies the palace of Hel. You can see Hel and Niflheim as one world, wheras Muspellheim would be the ninth world. This is a place of cleansing. Everybody who dies comes to Hel first. For an individual amount of time - just as needed - the deceased is staying at Hel, before he goes on or gets incarnated. Even the Valkyres have to take the chosen heroes to Hel, that there can be judged over them. The ones who where abandoned by their guardian spirtits (thieves, breaker of an oath or other similar crooks) are being sent to Niflheim to get their punishment. There is an even worst place there: Nastrand, that is where the real bad crooks are taken care of. Nidhogg is gnawing at the bodies of the condemned. Good appetite! Hel is very individual in perception. Mrs. Holle (a variant name of Hel) is the godess, who resides in this region. Snow is falling when she is shaking out her beddings. To reach Hel, the river Gjoll must be crossed. A wide and icy bridge (Gfallarbru) is making the crossing possible.

Yggdrasil - the dreadfull horse, the Worldyew or axis mundi

     Yggdrasils roots lie in Asgard, Jotunheim and Niflheim. She is the world axis which connects all the Nine Worlds with each other. At Hvergelmirs spring, the third root, snakes and Nidhog, stags and goats are gnawing at the leaves. Ratatosk, the squirrel is constantly delivering insults to Nidhogg the eagle who lives in the crown of the tree. The three Nornes Destiny (Urd), Beeing (Skuld) and Necessity (Verdandi) are taking care of the Worldyew. Odin was hanging from the Worldtree nine days and nine nights to achive his knowledge of the the runes and his shamanic initiation.

© 2005 by Aufsteigender Adler