The Norse World Tree of Nine Worlds, Yggdrasil

Upper Worlds

1) Asgard - The realm of the ruling gods, the Aesir. Gods such as Odin, Thor, and Balder belong to this tribe. In our soul cosmology, the first world represents our god consciousness, the higher self.

2) Alfheim - the realm of the light elves. Though not the Aesir, they are Upper World spirits of enlightenment and awareness. Some think of this realm as a world of the semi divine, of demigods and enlightened ancestor spirits who live with the elves. In our personal inner tree, Alfheim is our intellect and awareness.

Middle Worlds

3) Midgard - the realm of mortals. Humanity is found in the center of the tree. Some gods are more concerned with the realm of the mortals than others. In our inner anatomy, Midgard is the middle self and the body. Here we find our day-to-day consciousness.

4) Niflheim - the realm of ice energy, one of the primal forces in the Norse cosmology. Ice is the power of stasis and solidity. Many would equate it with the earth elemental principle.

5) Jotunheim - the realm of the giants. Mythically the giants are in battle with the gods. They represent the forces of motion and change within all things. This force could be equated with the air elemental principle.

6) Muspellsheim - the home of the other primal polarity - fire. Paired with ice, the two forces provide the dynamic motion of Norse myth and magick. Muspellsheim has obvious associations with the elemental quality of fire.

7) Vanaheim - the realm of the Vanir, a tribe of gods more attuned to earthly concerns than with heavenly ones. In a war with the Aesir, the Vanir were defeated. As part of the truce, the tribes exchanged gods. The Vanir gave the Aesir custody of Freya and Frey, the two primal gods sometimes seen as embodiments of the Lady and Lord. The realm of Vanaheim is one of natural balance. Vanaheim is sometimes connected with the forces of elemental water by modern pagan practitioners.

Underworlds

8) Svartalfheim - the mirror image of Alfheim, being home to the dark elves, the dwarves, and the spirits of nature that dwell below. They are considered mischievous and sometimes even malicious. Svartalfheim, in our inner world, is the realm of emotion.

9) Hel - the lowest of the worlds. Hel is the realm of the Underworld, the realm of the dead ruled by the goddess Hel. This is simply the realm of the dead, not of punishment or torture. In our inner tree, Hel is the unconscious realm. When you become more aware of the lower energies of Svartalfheim and Hel, you are in contact with your lower self.

The Norse Rede of Honour

1) In all that you do, consider its benefit or harm upon yourself,
your children and your people.

2) All that which you do will return to you, sooner or later, for good or for ill. Thus strive always to do good to others, or at least strive always to be just.

3) Be honest with yourself, and with others.
“This above all; to thine own self be true”.

4) Humankind, and especially your own family and folk, has the
spark of divinity within it. Protect and nurture that spark.

5) Give your word sparingly, and adhere to it like iron.

6) In the world, your first trust and responsibility should be to your own people. Yet, be kind and proper to others whenever possible.

7) What you have, HOLD!

8) Pass on to others only those words which you have personally verified.

9) Be honest with others, and let them know that you expect honesty in return, always.

10) The fury of the moment play folly with the truth; to keep one’s head is a virtue.

11) Know which battles should be fought, and which battles should be avoided. Also, know when to break off a conflict. There are times when the minions of chaos are simply too strong or when fate is absolutely unavoidable.

12) When you gain power, use it carefully and use it well.

13) Courage and honour endure forever. Their echoes remain when the mountains have crumbled to dust.

14) Pledge friendships and your services to those who are worthy. Strengthen others of your people and they will strengthen you.

15) Love and care for your family always, and have the fierceness of a wolf when you must.

16) Honour yourself, have pride in yourself, do your best and forgive yourself when you must.

17) Try always to be above reproach in the eyes of the world.

18) Those of our people should always endeavour to settle any differences among themselves quietly and peaceably.

19) The laws of the land should be obeyed whenever possible and reason, for in the main they have been chosen with wisdom.

20) Have pride in yourself, your family, and your folk. They are your promise for the future.

21) Do not neglect your mate and children.

22) Every one of our people should work according to the best that s/he can do, no matter how small or how great. We are all in this world together, thus we must always help each other along.

23) One advances individually and collectively only by living in harmony with the natural order of the world.

24) The seeking of wisdom is a high virtue. Love of truth, honour, courage, and loyalty are the hallmarks of the noble soul.

25) Be prepared for whatever the future brings.

26) Life with all its joys, struggles and ambiguities is to be embraced and lived to the fullest!