Yggdrasil Although each tree had different meanings to the ancient Celts, the tree was uniformly venerated as a source of wisdom and hope, as well as a reminder of the eternal cycle of the seasons. To the Scandinavians, Yggdrasil was regarded as the great tree of knowledge and was symbolic of the regeneration of life itself. Trees are symbolic of the interconnection of all life — they help create oxygen and are vital to the planet’s ecosystem. Thus, it is not surprising that the World Tree, or axis mundi, is a symbol common to many societies.  Within Celtic tradition, the great oak tree is the most revered, and the Druids are said to have worshipped amongst the ancient groves. The Celts had a magical alphabet and a Calendar based on trees. The tree figured prominently in Celtic life; and, the old Celtic word for oak (Duir); the word Derwydd or Duirwydd (oak-seer) is believed to be the origin of the word Druid.  Yggdrasil specifically is the World Tree of Norse mythology. It is the axis mundi that links to various worlds of the universe. The trunk of Yggdrasil is rooted in Hel, the world of humans and the frost of giants. The center stem runs up through Midgard, the earth, which it supports. It emerges from the mountain, Asgard. The gods are thought to assemble at the base of the mountain, known as Valhalla.  The heaven of the Norse gods can only be reached by Bifrost, the bridge of the rainbow.  The Norse believe the stem of Yggdrasil spreads its branches over the entire sky; the leaves are the clouds, their fruits are the stars. The great Norse god, Odin, was said to have hanged himself on Yggdrasil for nine days and nights to learn the runic mysteries. At the foot of the tree were various springs and wells, including Urd's Well, that of the Norns, and the well of Mimir (wisdom). Four stags — Dain, Dvalin, Duneyr and Durathor — which symbolise the four winds, are believed to live in these branches, feeding on the flower nectar and dripping dew from their antlers to the earth. Upon the top branch perches the eagle and on its head, sits the falcon, Vedfolnir, the watchful lookout for the gods. The squirrel, Batatosk, signifying rain, snow, hail and the evaporating water, runs up and down the tree, trying to stir up strife between the eagle and the serpent-monster, Nidhoggr. The serpent-monster, gnaws constantly on the roots of the tree, attempting to destroy the earth's foundation. The second stem of the Yggdrasil springs up in Muspellsheim, the warm South where the three Norns are: Urth, the Past, Verdandi, the Present, and Skuld, the Future dwell and the gods sit in judgment. Three roots connect Yggdrasil to the three wells that flow beneath: The Well of Mimir — whose waters are the source of all wisdom, The Well of Fate — Urdabrunnr guarded by the Norns, and The Well of Hvergelmir — or Roaring Kettle — the source of many rivers that flow into one. The third stem rises in the Nifleheim, the cold North, were all the knowledge of mankind flows from the fountain of the frost-giant, Mimir, the personification of Wisdom.  The ash tree (Fraxinus) itself is the Nordic Tree of Life, symbol of strength and vigor, because the first Norseman, Ask, sprang from an ash tree according to Norse mythology.   Sources: Davidson, HR Ellis. Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions. Syracuse University Press: 1988. Drury, N. The Watkins Dictionary of Magic. Watkins Publishing: 2005. Dunwich, G. Wicca A to Z: A Complete Guide to the Magickal World. Citadel Press: 1997. Fleming, D. The Oxford Companion to World Mythology. Oxford University Press: 2005. Lehner, E and Lehner, J. Folklore and Symbolism of Flowers, Plants and Trees. Dover Publications,  2003. Personal Knowledge/traditions. Page updated 2 Dec 2006 Celtic Background and Ireland's OWN logo by Míchealín Daugherty Copyright © 2006 Ireland's OWN All Rights Reserved.