Shamanism Shaman Shamanic Journey Healing
Heathen World Tree Shamanism

There were the Aesir, goddesses and gods of the tribe or clan associated with crafts, order, and kinship; and the Vanir, goddesses and gods of fertility and the Forces of Nature, who are not part of the clan but associate with it.

Heathenry Heathen Ásatrú was an Ørlag faith of magic, fate, and destiny facilitated by Galðr, magical incantations, Galdrastafr, magical symbols, Gandr, magical staffs and wands, Spa, predictions, and Spákona, soothsayers.

The 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.

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.

Depiction of Yggdrasill with Assorted Animals that Live There
Illuminated Image from the 17th century Icelandic Manuscript AM 738 4to
Now in the care of the Árni Magnússon Institute in Iceland

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The Well of Wyrd from which the World Tree springs was guarded by three Fates. These Etin maiden goddesses were Urðr (the past), Verðandi (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. 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 Man in the Moon in English literature refers to the Man in the Moon in Heathenry Heathen Ásatrú where the moon was always a masculine presence, while the Sun was always a feminine presence.

Od was similar to the concept of Shamanic Ecstacy. Od was the gift of ecstasy provided to humans by the Heathen goddesses and gods. It was what separates humanity from other animals, and was our eternal link with the Heathenry gods and goddesses.

A 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.

Heathenry Heathen Ásatrú as Shamanism focuses on the discovery and comprehension of the mysteries and magic of the land itself with the Heathens honoring the nature spirits of the waters, trees, and rocks, more than on the mythos of the goddesses and gods.

Gathering in kindred groups for bloats, the Heathen folk often make an outdoor altar of a cairn of stones and use images of the Heathen deities made of clay and wood. Holy tools of the Heathens include drinking horns that are deemed more traditional than a cup, blessing bowls and twigs, and the god Thor's hammer, for cleansing and blessing...Go back

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Shamanism Shaman Shamanic Journey Healing Copyright © 2002-2008 Maureen Grace Burns, Blessings Cornucopia. All Rights Reserved. Public Domain Image Depiction of Yggdrasill with Assorted Animals that Live There from the 17th century Icelandic Manuscript AM 738 4to, now in the care of the Árni Magnússon Institute in Iceland from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:AM_738_4to_Yggdrasill.png]. Accessed December 9, 2006.

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