Gollinkambi Kindred

There are said to be nine "worlds" in Heathen cosmology.  Each is distinct, a universe to itsself.  Each world is connected to other worlds invarious ways and all are connected to Yggdrasil, the World Tree.

The worlds seem to be arranged thusly, visualizing a vertical, tree-like axis (although it is difficult to pin down Norse cosmology and other, equally valid constructions have been made):  Asgard, Vanaheim and Jotunheim above, with Asgard specifically connected to Midgard by Bifrost.  All these realms are home to Gods or God-like beings, even Jotunheim as the inhabitants of Jotunheim as not always opposed to the oder of the universe, the inhabitants of Midgard nor of the Gods, with whom they share kinship.  Midgard appears to be in the middle and about it may be pictured Alfheim and Svartalfheim, worlds with wights less mighty than the Gods and with which there is substantial interaction both with the worlds above, and those below.  Below all the worlds is Helheim, a place neither excessively alien nor cruel.  Niflhel lies at the bottom of Helheim and is an unpleasant place of punishment.  All of these worlds and their inhabitants appear to be knowable in some part to the human mind.  Framing this cosmological structure, then is Niflheim and Muspelheim on opposite sides, North and South, placing all the other worlds on Yggdrasil between Niflheim and Muspelheim partially filling Ginungagap.  These latter two worlds are the most alien to human perception, the most hostile to human existence and divine order and are the home of very dangerous and destructive god-like beings of chaos. 


Asgard

Vanaheim

Jotunheim

Midgard

Alfheim

Svartalfheim

Helheim

Muspelheim

Niflheim

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