Research Files: Yggdrasil the World-Tree

Disclaimer: I am not a myths scholar. I am simply interested in myths and how they shape human behavior and stories. The post below is a synthesis of my research about Yggdrasil and my personal thoughts and should not be taken as verified fact, though I have done my best to ensure its accuracy. My sources are included at the end of the post.

What is Yggdrasil?

Yggdrasil is a frequently-used name to describe the world-tree in Old Norse mythology. Scholars can’t seem to agree on much about the tree, from its species (generally considered to be Ash, but not always),to the tree’s name’s origin and meaning, to how the Nine Worlds are supposedly arranged around the great tree. Even the Nine Worlds themselves are up for debate, but one thing that seems commonly accepted is that Yggdrasil is a powerful source that holds all of the worlds together at the center of the universe. Explanations of the mythical tree sometimes divide it into three realms:

Upper branches—for gods

Middle—for mortals

Lower region—for the dead

Much of what we know about Norse mythology and Yggdrasil comes from poems written and/or compiled in the 13^th century C.E., since translated many times.

It is practically impossible to know for certain the significance of Yggdrasil to the Norse people. Lack of records, the passing of time, and translation discrepancies have all undoubtedly stripped away some of the original meaning. But, that doesn’t make it any less valuable to study.

(Want another nature myth? Check out this related post– Research Files: The River Lethe)

What is Inspiration?

For me, as a researcher and storyteller, discrepancies make the legend of Yggdrasil more interesting. Sometimes, authors using mythology as a starting point stick too closely to the original myth, perhaps out of fear of “getting it wrong.” Inspiration is supposed to be a starting off point, though, not a full roadmap. The only way to truly get it “wrong” is to do it exactly as it has been done before. That’s called plagiarism, and not only is it wrong and illegal, it’s also boring. Inspiration is about finding a spark of something that excites us and then using our own lenses to interpret it.

We can confirm so little of Norse mythology and the world-tree Yggdrasil as fact. This makes it an excellent source of starting points ready to be formed into new ideas.

Yggdrasil in the Sezna Seer Universe

Trees fascinate me. They grow in strange places to a myriad of sizes and shapes. They are resilient. In many cultures and religions, they represent life or growth or strength.

I knew I wanted trees to play a role in my Sezna Seer series, and when I stumbled upon the myth of Yggdrasil, I decided to play with the idea of a tree connecting worlds.

In my story universe, certain trees are portals to both physical places, as well as temporal ones. My Igdrasil (spelling changed for pronunciation clarity) is the oldest transport tree. For a being with the right power, it allows passage to the worlds of the past, present, possible, and certain future.

Here’s a short excerpt from Amethyst in Ashes, when Talullah gets herself stuck inside the large tree.

From Amethyst in Ashes, Chapter 7

Symbols embossed the trunk, pushing out from the inside the way grass grows up through dirt. Colored fibers shimmered around the edges of the symbols. They were familiar, but Talullah couldn’t remember where she’d seen the markings before.

The ground quaked, pitching her into the tree. She hugged the trunk to steady herself, pressing her whole body against it. The metal eye dug into her flesh and she squeezed her eyes shut as tight as she could.

As soon as it had started, the shaking stopped.

Talullah fell to her knees, gaping. She was inside a circular enclosure twelve feet in diameter. The wolf was nowhere to be seen. Her shoulders relaxed.

Millions of shimmering colored lines covered the walls and hung above her, as if infinite spools of silk had unraveled in every direction. They seemed to go on forever, woven together in an infinite tapestry so she couldn’t tell where one began and another ended. She stared, hypnotized. It was as if she had crawled inside a piece of fabric and could see and touch its individual fibers.

She approached the nearest wall. An overwhelming urge to touch them came over her. Were they as delicate as they looked? Her hand shook as it hovered near the strands. No, the threads themselves vibrated, not her hand. Their colors blurred until she could no longer discern the individual lines.

Exhaustion weighed down her eyelids. Her knees buckled and she curled into a ball on the ground.

In her last moment of consciousness, she heard a hawk screech.

Falling into Igdrasil sets my main character, Talullah, on a quest for answers. Jumping into it a second time leads her into a world she never could have imagined. And her life changes forever.

(Check out Amethyst in Ashes here)

How to Use Yggdrasil as Inspiration

Here are a few ways to use Yggdrasil as inspiration in your own creative work:

What is the significance of nature in your story world?
How do your characters believe their world is divided, if at all?
What is the role of religion in your story world?
Is there a particular place that holds significance to your characters? And why is it significant?
How are different settings in your world connected? Who can access them?
Do your characters know much about their ancient lore? How do they get that information?
What could trees symbolize to your characters?
How can you illustrate your characters’ beliefs?