Nine
Worlds Riding
by Vedhrfolnir
Nine worlds I rode on the eight-legged horse,
where wisdom wide I won.
Nine worlds I made in primal time,
born together from the churning void.
From fire & ice when silence spawned
all life arising came;
out of the night & day ever turning
the Norns have woven fate.
I rode the storm
on the eight-legged horse
and Sleipnir bore me
on secret ways.
From Asgardhr I came, the abode of the gods,
great halls of gold where joy is sung,
wide fields where mighty warriors meet
yet shed no blood in the sacred place.
Here beyond the rainbow bridge
are judgements made around Wyrd's well;
here we feast on meat and mead
while golden apples make us young.
This is the gate to the highest heaven,
holy above all.
out I rode
and valkyries followed;
across the skies
we rode to love and war.
In Niflheimr of ice and mist,
the soul of darkness forms;
living shadow walks the night.
In Muspellsheimr of force and fire
stars fly like sparks from the forge
where the fate of days is hammered out.
In the yawning void charged with power
nine worlds began their dance.
There was I in the beginning,
there I slew Ymir and made the worlds,
giving life and form from the slain giant's flesh;
at the heart of nothing giving birth to all.
Swift I rode
over straight paths
and four winds
were my wings.
I have ridden to Vanaheimr
where friends I found and foes,
love's magick from Freya learned.
There all is green and growing,
all trees bear fruit, all years fair harvest
under a brilliant sun.
I have ridden to Jotunheimr
to test my wisdom against giants,
grim titans of the elder race.
Amid rough mountains and storms of ice,
where forces rage at the edge of the world
have I seen destruction itself.
on Sleipnir I rode
over wind and wave
with nine worlds whirling
beneath our feet.
I have been in Hel, the hidden place,
raised up the dead and bade them speak.
Nine days did I hang upon the world-tree,
I am god of the hanged and they are mine;
power of death and life have I.
on Sleipnir I rode
in every realm
with ravens and eagles
and wolves of war.
I have soared above the earth
on wind and cloud in abodes of light
and danced on spiral rays
with bright elves of Ljossalfheimr.
I have journeyed secret caverns,
tunnels dark beneath mountains;
from dwarven smiths won by trickery
great weapons from Svartalfheimr.
I rode nine worlds
on the eight-legged horse
while valkyries followed
the wild hunt and the storm.
To Midgardhr I came and the sons of men,
wide I wandered in deep disguise;
unknown I came in cloak and wide hat
to work dire judgement and depart.
I have found the secrets and the signs
that lurk at the center of things.
I rode to battle
with warrior-maids
to choose the slain
for the heroes hall.
With spear have I come
and mead for the skald,
holding secret runes of blood
and a nine-fold ring of gold.
Black ravens about me,
fierce wolves at my feet;
enthroned on the high seat
in the highest hall,
watching nine worlds
with a single eye,
binding the cords of fate
that weave the web of Wyrd;
riding swift as a comet on the eight-legged horse.
Odin is my name, I have many others!
* * * * *
* * * *
As an addendum, this is my brutal reconciliation of the NorseNine
Realms of the fabled World-Tree called Yggdrasil with the Hebrew
qabala, which serves to show the overall flexibility of both systems:
1. Kether is Asgardh, Kingdom of the Aesir or Sky Gods
2. Chokmah is Muspelheim, the realm of Light, Fire and Energy
3. Binah is Niflheim, the realm of Darkness, Ice and Matter
0. Daath is Ginnungagap, 'the yawning void' full of magical energy
4. Chesed is Vanaheim, land of the Vanir, Earth Gods or fertility
deities
5. Geburah is Jotunheim, land of Giants similar to the early
Greek Titans
6. Tiphareth is Bifrost, radiant Rainbow Bridge linking human and
divine worlds
7. Netzach is Alfheim, home of the aerial bright elves (angels?)
8. Hod is Svartalfheim, dwelling of subterranean dwarves &
kobolds (demons?)
9. Yesod is Hel, misty realm of the Dead
10. Malkuth is Midgardh, the 'middle garden' or human world, which is
better known to us all as Professor Tolkien's famous Middle Earth.
