Yggdrasil is the great Cosmic Tree upon whose mighty length all rotates. There
is some debate as to whether the Yggdrasil is Ash or Yew. It is commonly
described in the sagas as being “evergreen” in quality and possessing needles.
In truth, the Yew is a conifer. Another name for the Yggdrasil is the “needle-
ash”. The ash also has connections with concepts of death, the end cycle. The
Yew is associated with the ever-life healthy and prosperous cycle. Thus the Yew
more strongly lends itself to the concept of a Cosmic support.
Some sources say the great yew sprang from Ymirs body. Other sources say that
Odhinn himself formed the great tree, which filled the world. In either case,
the stories agree that three of its roots each extend down to a separate well.
In Asgard, a root extends near the Urdar fountain. In Midgard a root extends
itself near Mimir’s well, and in Neiflheim a root extends to the spring
Hvergelmir.
The tree was ever green, its leaves never withering. The Yggdrasil grew to such
heights that the highest branch, called Lerad, overshadowed Odhinn’s hall. Other
far reaching branches towered over the worlds. Upon Lerad was perched an giant
eagle, and between his eyes was perched a falcon, Vedfolnir, who peered to all
the realms and reported all that he saw.
Odhinn’s goat Heidrun fed gently upon the leaves, which supplied a mead to the
gods and the four stags which stood about the tree (Dain, Dvalin, Duneyr, and
Durathor). In the seething spring Hvergelmir there dwelt the dragon Nidhug, who
continually gnawed at the root of the Yggdrasil. Running along its trunk and
branches was the squirrel Ratatosk (branch-borer) who incessantly bore the tales
and comments of the dragon and the eagle to each other, inciting them both.
