yggdrasil, the world tree

"An ash I know, | Yggdrasil its name,
With water white | is the great tree wet;
Thence come the dews | that fall in the dales,
Green by Urth's well | does it ever grow."

– Voluspa, Verse 19, Bellows Translation

The Nine Worlds, filled with the many creatures of lore, rest imbedded in the World Tree that has grown around them, custom fitted to provide each world with the support it needs. The deeds of gods and humans; giants and elves; and the creatures of ice and fire, drain like rivers out of each world, “with water white is the great tree wet.” The deeds roll down the Tree like dew, dripping down into the great well, Urth’s Well, the well that nourishes the tree.

Our actions fill the world, that feeds the tree, that supports our world. We are but one part of the circle, and our actions matter. How do you nourish the World Tree?

I based my painting off of the ink drawing I did for Verse 19 from one of my Viking books the “Illustrated Voluspa.”

The original fantasy painting was done in oil and measures 18" x 24".