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Sacred Symbol of Heathenry Heathen Odinism Ásatrú, the Valknot was either three separate entwining triangles or one continuous unicursal ribbon knotted upon itself. It also represented the sacrifice of the personal ego to the service of Odin and an alignment to his intentions. This bond with the god Odin was viewed as spiritually liberating. The triple knot also symbolized several different triads: the Subterranean worlds, Middle Earth, and the Heaven worlds (the main divisions of the universe along the axis of Yggdrasil); the god Odin and his hypostases the gods, Vili and Ve; and thirdly, the high triple nature of Odin. All trees were sacred to the Norse, Germanic, and Celtic peoples. On the shores of the primal sea, the gods Odin, Vili, and Vé made the first two humans, Askr and Embla, Ash and Elm, from driftwood tree trunks. The entire universe depends on the World Tree which rises from the center of Midgard. Its roots reach into the world of human beings, the world of the frost giants, and Hel; while, its branches reach up over Asgard. Niddhogg the dragon and many snakes gnaw at the roots and four stags gnaw at the bark of Yggdrasil but waters from the Urda Well of Wyrd sprinkled by the Norns, the three goddesses of Fate, healed it each day. The Well of Wyrd from which the World Tree springs was guarded by three Fates. These Etin maiden goddesses were Urđr (the past), Verđandi (the present), and Skuld (the future). The Norns reach into one's past and sprinkle the Heathen World Tree with woven patterns of the future. Mimer's Well and Hvergelmer Well also feed Yggdrasil.
World Tree, Irminsul, was Odin's axis mundi horse. He hung there for nine nights, symbolic of the Nine Worlds of the Heathen Norse cosmology, in order to obtain the runes. The Runes are named after the Finnish word for song "Runo". The ancients perceived a relationship between the Songs of Odin and the written figures of the Runic Alphabet, the Futhark. Runes were used in rituals along with nature shrines, altars (harrows), and magical tools. In a Hávamál stanza, runes are mysterious and imbued with wonder and magic. Their whispered communications and powerful protective energies deserve utmost respect. They are to be used for divination and magical inscriptions, wooden calendars, and memorial stones.
The Elder Futhark had 24
runes which over time changed to become an Anglo-Frisian Futhark that ranged
from 28-32 runes. The runes have magical properties, names, numbers, and are
deeply connected to Germanic mythology and the goddesses and gods...
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