From: "Shannon Teague" 



A symbolism of Yggdrasil.

-'The tree that would grow to heaven must send its roots to hell.'
---Nietzsche

Yggdrasil connects the nine worlds.  As such it forms the axis between
those worlds,  a connection between them.

 The World Tree may also be taken as a representation of therelationship
between the Aesir, Vanir and humanity here in Midgard.  Each of the three
major sections of the tree can represent on of the a fore mentioned. The
Aesir are represented by the leaves and branches of the tree.  The trunk is
Midgard and humanity while the roots are the Vanir.  Each part of the tree
has a specific purpose that benefits the whole as well as making it possible
for the whole to survive.  Take away one section and the whole perishes.

 The leaves and the branches take the energy of the sun and convert into
sustenance for the tree.  They represent the Aesir, the sky gods and goddesses.
  They are  the rulers and the shapers.   In this respect the
leaves and branches also represent the day and the self conscience. 
The leaves are the light and the sky.

 The roots of the tree are the Vanir.  The roots bring the nutrients and
water to the tree.  This represents the material that is shaped by
consciousness.  It is the body and the subconscious.  It is the dark and the earth.

 The trunk represents Midgard and humanity in who these two groups have
their influence.  The trunk is the axis connecting the two.  Humanity is the
balance between the light and the dark.

So what lesson can we learn from this symbolism?  For me it is this. For
the tree to be healthy it must have the leaves to bring it sustenance by
converting light into food.  It must also have the roots to bring it water,
minerals and nutrients from the soil.  We are like the trunk of that tree.
We need to have the influx of the Aesic influences (the leaves of the tree)
and the influx of Vanic influences (the roots) to be healthy.  Balance
between Aesic and Vanic, dark and light, consciousness and sub- consciousness
to be healthy and to be able to advance our selves closer and closer to
the goal of our journey here in Midgard.


By Godhi Nehil Draca Narcassis